BLACKWOOD.

The Presbytery then adjourned to meet at Morpeth, in the vestry of the Church there, on the first Wednesday in December, at twelve o'clock, and the clerk was instructed to give due intimation of the same to absent members. Sederunt closed with prayer.

PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE.

On the 5th of last month, the Rev. Robert Cowe, late of Portobello, Scotland, was inducted into the pastoral charge of St. Andrew's Church, Manchester. The Rev. Andrew M'Lean, of Ramsbottom, preached and presided; and the Rev. D. Fergusson, of Liverpool, delivered the charges to the minister and people. The audience was large and respectable, and Mr. Cowe was welcomed with hearts and hands by his future flock. This was altogether a most gratifying occasion, and from Mr. Cowe's talents, piety, and experience, we anticipate the most happy results from his appointment. A soiree of the congregation was held on the 6th, at which the various members of Presbytery, and several ministers and members of other denominations spoke. The whole proceedings were most gratifying to all the friends of the congregation, and of the Presbyterian Church in England, of which it forms a part. Mr. Cowe was introduced to his flock on the succeeding Sabbath by the Rev. Henry Grey, ex-Moderator of the general assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.

In Newcastle-upon-Tyne the new congregagation, assembling in the Music-hall as a temporary place of worship, is in a prosperous condition. On Thursday evening, October 2d, the Rev. W. Storie, of South Shields, by appointment of the Presbytery, preached in the above room, and afterwards moderated in a call in favour of the Rev. William Blackwood to be pastor of that church. On conclusion of the services, Mr. David Thorburn, one of the secretaries to the Committee of management, in a very appropriate address, presented Mr. Blackwood with a handsome pulpit-gown, the offering of the ladies and others in the congregation. Mr. White, the other secretary, on behalf of a few friends of Mr. Blackwood, presented to him also a purse of gold, being a slight memorial of the regard they entertain towards him as an able preacher of the Gospel. He was inducted to the pastoral charge of the congregation on Monday evening, October 20th, on which occasion the Rev. Dr. Patterson, of Sunderland, the Rev. G. J. Duncan, of North Shields, and the Rev. J. Gordon, of Bexham, took part in the

services.

JUVENILE SOCIETIES.

To the Editor of the Presbyterian Messenger.

SIR,-On Sabbath 14th, the Rev. James Fergusson, of John Knox Church, Stepney, delivered the first of a series of Addresses on the subject of Missions, to the young people connected with his congregation and Sabbath School. The Teachers of the Sabbath School about two months since, resolved on the following plan of educating their children in

THE foundation-stone of this Church was

laid on Monday, the 29th September last, by Sir John Pirie, Bart., and ex-Lord Mayor of several ministers of other denominations, and London, in the presence of the Presbytery; a large concourse of people, who took the liveliest interest in the proceedings of the day; The services were commenced by praise, led by the Rev. James Fergusson; prayer offered by the Rev. William Nicolson, and an address delivered by the Rev. Josias Wilson. The foundation-stone, (in which were enclosed a copy of the "Westminster Standards," the "English Presbyterian Messenger," &c.) was laid with all due solemnity. The Rev. Joseph Fisher, Minister of the intended Church, returned thanks to Sir John Pirie; the Rev. Dr. Alliott, of the Congregational denomination, expressed his gratification at the proceedings and their object, and the Rev. James Hamilton closed the services with prayer and the apostolical benediction. In the evening a social party, crowded with friends of the cause, was held, presided over by the Rev. Joseph Fisher, and addressed, in appropriate speeches, by the members of Presbytery and other ministers. The church will be a large and chastely elegant building. In that densely-peopled district a Church is urgently needed. The present congregation is but in its infancy, It has, however, been doubled since Mr. Fisher's incumbency a few months ago. But they are not wealthy, and need the countenance and liberality of all friends. May we be allowed to press on all the friends of the Gospel to extend that countenance cheerfully and liberally, and soon?

1st. That four Sabbath Afternoons each year, be devoted to the giving of Addresses on subjects pertaining to Missions.

2d. That on the first Monday of each month, the children be convened together, when information shall be communicated in reference to the operation of Missionaries the difficulties they had and have to contend abroad-when they went there, the nature of with, and the character of the triumphs which have accompanied their efforts.

which library shall contain the juvenile and 3d. That a missionary library be formed, other Missionary Magazines connected with our Church, for the special use of collectors to the Juvenile Missionary Fund.

4th. That the subjects of Addresses be as much as possible in the following order; Home, Colonial, Foreign, and Jewish

Missions.

Yours,

A SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHER. London, Sept. 20th, 1845.

BRANTON SABBATH-SCHOOL.

from

similar kind in the neighbourhood. Since its commencement to the present time, the attendance of scholars has been very numerous. During the present year the names of nearly 300 young persons were placed on the books, many of whom are above the age of children, and are members of the Church. It has pleased Divine Providence to raise up, time to time, pious, devoted, and active teachers, whose labours have, in many instances, been eminently blessed by the Head of the Church, in bringing home to the heart "the truth as it is in Jesus," with demonstration of the Spirit and with power. It may be mentioned, that Branton Sabbathschool has enjoyed the services of some teachers for upwards of twenty years, to whom, children, and the parents of children, connected with the congregation, are laid under deep and lasting obligations.

On the

As the district is altogether rural, and the young people come from a considerable distance, it is found impracticable to carry on the school during the winter months. last Sabbath in October, after sermon by the Rev. J. Blythe, a solemn and scriptural address, on their privileges and obligations, was delivered to the classes, (fifteen in number,) when a collection, amounting to 7. 11s. 4 d., was made to defray the expense incurred for Catechisms, &c. The surplus is to be appropriated to the purchase of books for the library.

May the Church be more earnest in prayer for the abundant outpouring of the Spirit, that ministers may be aided in their arduous and important work; that scripturally organized Sabbath-schools may abound, and that teachers, themselves taught of God, may be honoured to turn the feet of the young into the path of eternal life!

DISRUPTION IN THE VAUDOIS
CHURCH.

THE following intelligence has arrived too late in the month to permit us to offer any till next month. All that need here be said remarks upon it, while, at the same time, it is too interesting and important to be delayed is, that the reasons that led to this result are very much the same as those which issued in the disruption of the Church of Scotland.

The following letters were sent to Dr. Candlish, and were, by him, laid on the table of the Commission of Assembly of the Free Church, which met at Edinburgh last month. We extract them from the "Witness" news

paper, but have no space for the remarks to which they gave rise in the Commission. There were other letters also read, one of them from Dr. M. D'Aubigné, and others from M. Malan. We can find room only to enable our readers to understand this for the following, which, however, is enough for our Vaudois brethren, and let such as interesting event. Let all our people pray have the means contribute liberally to that support. They need both prayers and contributions.-[ED.]

"This afternoon, (19th November,) on my return home (said Dr. Candlish) from the former diet of this Commission, I found a second letter from Dr. Malan, giving so full, and touching, and graphic an account of the whole transaction, that I must ask leave to read it entire.

who had been sentenced to three (not one) months of suspension from his ministry. The same day another pastor of Lausanne also gave his demission, equally from the pulpit; and so great things begin to be put into motion, by the Supreme Lord of the Church. "There is a confederacy of feelings and actions among all the faithful-I mean the truly evangelical-ministers of the Canton de Vaud, which is the largest number of them, if not even the whole. By the last law, there was a possibility to call a general Synod of the classes or Presbyteries; but, as the calling was in the hands of the State, the pastors preferred to meet spontaneously in Lausanne; and that Assembly, composed of nearly 250 members, pastors and young ministers, met the 11th and the 12th, and solemn things, indeed, were resolved.

"The whole clergy of the Canton of Vaud amounts to 172 pastors, and about 100 young ministers. The number gathered was, therefore, remarkably complete; and in their first meeting, after prayer and an exposition of the cause, many discourses were delivered in the same sense (or to the same effect), namely, "The absolute freedom of the Church of Christ, under the principle of union of the Church and State, but of no dominion from the last over the Church." Those speeches were felt something excited; for the character of such men is firm and passionate, and they are wounded in their very hearts both as free citizens and as ministers of God; but, by degrees, the gentle Spirit of Jesus southened the feelings,-(so it is in the letter of Dr. Malan, and how fine the idea! southened, as with a genial breath from the region of light and love), and the discussion received a more high and also a more deep tone of faith and obedience.

"That first day, however, nothing was resolved, and the members were dismissed with a serious intimation to be prepared for the next day by prayer and concentration.

"Letters were received by the Committee, especially one from the students in divinity, declaring their adhesion to the pastors, and beseeching them to consider attentively the present state of the Church and the rights of her King.

"The second meeting, less numerous than the first, because many pastors had been recalled to their parishes by duty, was, how ever, more solemn than the first. Prayer was in it more copious; and, after one of those supplications for teaching and guidance from above, the decision was taken. But, before its settlement, many affecting scenes were seen. A very old man, for instance, rose and said: "That he was a pastor in a country parish for a long while, that he had passed as such through many revolutions, and that he had seen his labours blessed in a great measure, being also a missionary in his three large schools;" and with tears he said, "How could I leave and forsake my parishioners, my children, my beloved flock? Am I not from God among them, and as their father?" Another pastor said, "I am a father of nine children, poor, and without any saving or resource but my living. Ah! how difficult is to me now my duty' But there is a Father above me, and he will not forsake his servant," &c. At length one of the members, a very eloquent man, after having pronounced an impressive allocution (or speech), took in his hand the Deed of Demission, which was prepared by the Committee, and, turning to the President, he said," Mr. Chairman, we want to hear no more words; acting is to-day required. You, Sir, you will sign this document the first of all!"

"One hundred pastors alone, and fifty young ministers, had already signed yesterday night, and many others are expected to do the same.

"A Free Church is, therefore founded in the Canton de Vaud; and it is begun in a very different position from that of the Scottish one. In this, the pastors were received with opened arms by the people,--by their very parishes; and so their parting with a mother was to be welcomed by dear sisters. Here, in Vaud, the people are averse; the majority in it are Infidels; and most likely, also, the Government will not allow the formation of meetings, and especially of another Church. England is free, and Scotland is free, but Vaud is not; and it is not to be conceived how that secession from the Establishment will be constituted in one.

"But the Lord knows his own ways. He has already moved a beneficent and pious man of that country to offer 2,400/. for the beginning of a fund, which is, for this land, a very large sum; and if our God is pleased to have a living and Free Church in Switzerland, he knows also how to form it. The Council of State of Lausanne met immediately after the assembly of the pastors. They must be very anxious, for they expected that forty, perhaps, of the pastors should give their demission, and that they (the Council) would at length get rid of those forty momiers, they were far from supposing that such a number of pastors would do the same.

"We wait as do the servant, "looking to the hand of our Lord;" and this we know, that all His decrees will stand, and that his beloved Church will be agreeable in his sight.

"God bless you, dearest Sir. I thought that you would receive willingly such particulars. May the Lord bless indeed every deed and obedience committed into the hands of his servants!—I am, &c.' "Extract Letter-Dr. Merle D'Aubigné to Archibald Bonar, Esq.

"Geneva, November, 13, 1845. "Dear Sir and Brother,-The news are of great moment,-one hundred and fifty pastors of the Canton of Vaud have given in their demission. Students, matured men, and aged men, are all of one mind. The majority of the others will follow without doubt. I have just been interrupted by the visit of one of the principal laymen of Lausanne, Mr. Dorat, our president of Watterville, and of the Count St. George, who brought me this intelligence, and asked what was to be done. We have resolved upon a public meeting for prayer to-night, and our general Committee has nominated a commission for corresponding with our Vaudois brethren. I have also advised, that the Vaudois ministers (for instance, Rev. Messrs. Scholl and Beauf, formerly ministers in London) should write, to Dr. Chalmers, to ask him for his detailed advice in regard to the founding of a Free Church in our country. Be so kind, while thanking him for his letter, to recommend the thing to him. At the present

"It has just been told us, that a Vaudois layman has already contributed 60,000 francs in behalf of the Free Vaudois Church.I am, &c.'"

"Yesterday, I received a letter, in which, after describing a meeting of pastors on another business, Dr. Malan says:

"We prayed also for the pastors of the Canton de Vaud who are about to decide of their adhesion to the judgment passed over forty-three of them by the Council of Stadtz, or of their disruption from the National Church. After the meeting, I heard a letter read, in which was stated, by an eye-witness, this very important circumstance.

"Lord's-day last, the pastor, Scholl, preached before a crowded assembly, on the text: "The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church." His sermon, powerful and impressive, was heard in the deepest silence; and the two first leaders of the Government were present. After the preaching, he said, in a grave and effective way, that, because he had preached in the Oratory, he was suspended from his functions for one month by the supreme authority; that his duty of minister was to obey his Master, the Lord Jesus, and to acquiesce to no hindrance to his service; that, in consequence of that command of Jesus, he could not submit to that suspension: and that therefore he was actually parting with his flock, and leaving his national charge. He expressed to his flock, moved and in tears, his affection and sorrow; begged them that, though they should be no more his flock, he should be allowed to visit them in their afflictions, or at their death-bed, and also to show his interest to their children; and so that pious and worthy minister of Christ parted with a Church connected with an oppressive authority.

"The scene was affecting. Every member of the congregation was desirous to hold the hand of his pastor, who receded rapidly, and whose courageous and disinterested conduct will be followed by many of his equally pious colleagues.

"So you see, dear brother, that the Spirit of Jesus is blowing upon his true Church, and that everywhere his love will evidence itself in those who indeed have "heard from the Father," and who "see him who is invisible."

"On us, also, is imposed the duty to stand steadfastly for the "truth as it is in Jesus," and to prove both to the world and to the Church, that there is no accord between Christ and Belial, but also that nothing is more congenial and one, now and for ever, than truth and love, since true love is indeed to give the truth, and to prefer it to human ties and tears.

"In that blessed connexion, most dear and honoured Sir and brother, I subscribe myself, &c.'"

THE EDITOR'S OWN COLUMN.

Most of the members of the London Presbytery have kindly promised us contributions; two of which have been received, and appear

HOME MISSION COLLECTION.

On the second Sabbath of February next, the Synod has appointed that collections are to be made in all the churches in aid of the funds of the Home Mission. We hope all ministers and elders, with the deacons and collectors, will bear this in mind--that intimation in due time will be made from all our pulpits, and that all our local Associations will be ready to hand in their funds to their respective treasurers in sufficient time to be remitted to the Treasurer of the Home Mission, Robert Barbour, Esq., Manchester, the old, liberal, and long-tried friend of the Home Mission, and of the Church at large. In short, we are anxious that nothing be omitted that everything be done, to make the Home Mission collections and contributions so liberal as to bear some proportion to the importance of the object, the urgency of the case, and the sense which the Church entertains and ought to entertain of the claims which this scheme has upon its liberality.

It is true, as our columns for last month and the present bear witness, that the Church is beginning in some degree, at least among certain of its members, to be aware of the importance of the Home Mission, and prepared to respond to its claims. But this is by no means to be taken for granted of the Church at large. Our people do not yet seem to understand the objects the Mission contemplates, or to appreciate the importance of its labours, or yet the urgency of the demands that are made upon its funds. The sums already received do little more than pay off the debts previously standing against the funds, leaving the ensuing year to depend upon the forthcoming collections. This should be most distinctly borne in mind.

And what are the objects contemplated by the Home Mission? They are threefold; and objects of greater moment cannot press upon the attention of any Church.

I. To send the Gospel among the millions in England who are perishing for lack of knowledge; to appoint missionaries, and either in whole or in part support them in itinerating labours, or in raising up new congregations.

II. To aid weak congregations to maintain Gospel ordinances among themselves; to prevent old though poor congregations from being broken up and suffered to lapse into the mass of Heathenism around them, and to supply them with the means of making a

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Subscriptions towards the Repairs of the Morpeth Presbyterian Church
Collections for the School Scheme ..
Donations to the College Library...................

vigorous aggression upon the kingdom of darkness in their neighbourhoods. And,

III. To bestow a retiring allowance upon aged ministers disabled by infirmity from the efficient discharge of their functions, and to provide them with assistants who may either in whole or in part assume the pastoral superintendence over the congregations.

Such are the objects which the Church has intrusted to the Home Mission: and need we say one word to prove their importance, or urge any arguments to stimulate the liberality of our people on their behalf? Is there one man in our congregations who does not know the fearful condition of England; the Sabbathbreaking; the neglect of ordinances; the practical Heathenism that prevail? Or is there one that bears or deserves to bear the name of Christ who requires to have his sensibilities quickened by any appeals in order to prompt him to do his duty-his bare duty in circumstances such as exist around us? Or is there one, enjoying himself the means of grace, who yet would shut up his bowels of compassion, wrapped up in the selfish enjoyment of his own privileges and utterly indifferent to the condition of others, would say, Am I my brother's keeper? or what are his afflictions to me? Is this the spirit of the Gospel? Is it but it were a mockery to ask such questions.

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present necessities, now find themselves in old age reduced to helpless penury. If they resign their charges they have no other means of support. If they retain them, their popularity and activity being gone, the congregations scatter, and are lost to them and lost to us, and lost, it may be, to the Church of Christ. And what would you have us do, brethren, in such a case as this? Is there a man in our Church who will not answer at

once-Do? why, bestow upon the aged servant of God a decent competency, and let him retire to spend the evening of life in quiet communion with his God, and in gladdening and confirming the Church by his lessons of experience, and by his life of faith and of love.

And this is just what of all things we are most solicitous to do. It is for this very purpose we make our present appeal, and we trust that the second Sabbath of February will prove that we have not appealed in vain; but on the contrary, that the responses of that day will cheer and gladden many a cottage home-that many fathers and mothers in our Israel will bless God and take courage

that congregations now trembling, lest their candlestick be removed, will find it burn and shine brighter and steadier than ever, and that some of the dark and desolate places of the land will be made to rejoice and to blossom as the rose: which may God in mercy grant! And with this prayer we leave the case in the hands of the Church at large.

NOV. 11, 1845, BY THE REV. PETER LORIMER, PROFESSOR OF HEBREW AND BIBLICAL CRITICISM IN THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE.

Or is it then becoming-is it the spirit that should animate the different members of the body of Christ, for one congregation to feel no interest in the condition of sister congregations; to know that their poorer brethren are compelled to struggle painfully in order to maintain ordinances for INTRODUCTORY LECTURE, DELIVERED themselves and their families; to hear that there are ministers of Christ's Gospel worse paid than day labourers; men distinguished by talents and piety, abounding in good works, spending their strength amid distracting pecuniary cares, and oppressed with domestic burdens which cramp their energies and paralyse their powers? Brethren, ought such things to be? How much more blessed to act upon the apostolic law of brotherly love, and to see the wealthier and the stronger aid the weaker and the poorer.

And what shall we say about the aged ministers of Christ's Gospel? Men who have spent their health and their strength for Christ's sake and the Gospel's; who living upon a miserable pittance from which it was impossible to save, yea, which it required the forethought and the asceticism of the steward and the anchoret combined to render adequate for

THEOLOGY, as its name imports, is the science of God. The other sciences treat of the works of God-of the manifold products of his power and wisdom in the material and mental worlds—and of the stable and uniform laws by which his multifarious operations in nature are carried on. Theology treats of the great Creator, Preserver, and Governor himself-of his being, attributes, will, and purposes. Its subject is the greatest and most glorious of all Beings, and entitles it to be regarded as the greatest and most glorious of all the sciences.

Theology, in the form in which we possess it, is the science of God, in special relation to