GENERAL AND LOCAL SCHEMES, PER ASSOCIATION NATIONAL SCOTCH CHURCH, REGENT SQUARE.

49 14 1224 19 2 269 2 10 322 0 5 114 2 9

57 0 3129 2 9 484 14 5

REV. DR. CHALMERS PREACHING TO prematurely old appearance, spoke of abject | collection would be taken up for purposes

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT OF THE NEW YORK and steep close, or entry,--the very location

manner, that "now" is the time. To the second part he next gave his attention, and here he spoke with the voice of a pleader, beseeching all to come to the Saviour, who willeth not the death of any, who says, "Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die." True," he said, "ye have no power to save yourselves, but come to the fountain which is opened for you." In the warmest, but at the same time, the most chaste and beautiful language, he besought his congregation to come to the Lord Jesus Christ. He entreated the people to be in earnest, and they would most assuredly find the Lord gracious and willing to help them by the influence of his Holy Spirit. Free grace,-grace free to all, was the burden of his theme, and surely the Spirit of God was with him. The congregation were perfectly absorbed, and when in closing he prayed his Father "to break the hard heart, and to bind up the broken heart," more than one heavy sigh told of hearts there that felt much, though a sense of decency and decorum prevented them from giving way to their feelings.

Before dismissing, the Doctor told us that schools for the poor, in this portion of the city, had done much good, and there were at least three hundred poor children in attendance, and that a sum is now about to be collected to supply this neighbourhood with a library.

and simoniacal practices in the Church of for a sum, left in blank, to be paid to him, in
England. A young divine of our acquaint-case the marriage should not be solemnized.
ance, when asked by his bishop what were This he afterwards filled up himself with a
his chief motives in entering the ministry, very large penalty. These transactions, on
frankly replied, “ "Chiefly pecuniary, my being made known, excited suspicion that M.
Lord." There was nothing rare in this Corbiere, the husband, had been poisoned,
avowal, except the honesty of it. We have and the magistrates ordered an exhumation
been told, with reference to two or three and autopsy of his body. No traces of poison
men of genius and learning on the could be discovered, but Dousset was indicted
bench of bishops, that their attachment for an attempt to murder the deceased by a
to what Mr. Carlyle would call "shovel- blow with an iron bar, and also for en-
hatism," is a sign and a measure of deavouring, by fraudulent means, to deprive
the amount of vitality still in the system. M. Vidal, the brother and heir of Mme. Cor-
We confess that we are more struck with biere, of the property to which he would
the power there is in a large revenue, a
succeed on her death. After a long hearing,
dignified station, and a seat in the House in which all the facts stated were fully investi-
of Lords, than with the vitality of Church of gated, the jury delivered a verdict, declaring
Englandism, when studying the characters the prisoner guilty of fraud, but acquitting
of these personages. There is a strong feeling him of the charge of attempting murder.
of the necessity of discipline; but, however, The Court condemned him to close confine-
it remains to be seen whether the present ment, with labour, for eight years, and to be
impression will have any permanent results. exposed on the pillory in the market-place of
Northern Warder.
Montpellier. When this judgment was pro-
nounced, Dousset spoke not a word, nor did
he show the slightest emotion.-French
Paper.

HORRIBLE CASE.

A TRIAL took place at the last assizes of the Herault which created great sensation. The following are the circumstances of the case, as stated in the indictment:-Emelie Vidal, the daughter of a man of large property at St. Pons, was married to M. Corbiere, a physician, and in due time had a child, of which she became so fond as to neglect all her other duties. To divert her mind into the right channel she was placed particularly under the direction of M. Dousset, the curê of the village of Felines d'Hautpoule, near St. Pons, in which the Corbieres lived, with the hope of exciting in her the religious sentiments in which she was deficient. Soon afterwards the child died, and the priest took the opportunity for turning the affections, or THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH OF himself, and ultimately succeeded in seducing rather the passions, of the mother towards

Edinburgh, Scotland, the world, owes much to Dr. Chalmers. His unwearied exertions in the cause of the poor, for more than thirty years, have done much to meliorate their condition. The blessing of those who were ready to perish rest upon him; God spare him yet for many years to his country and the much-revived Church of his fathers, free now, as it ever should have

been.

ENGLAND.

A SERIES of trials have appeared in the
journals of late, which have profoundly
impressed the public mind with the neces-
sity of an improved discipline of the Church
of England. Clergymen have had guilt
proved against them of the most revolting
kind. They have been proved to be guilty
of incest and adultery. Practices have been
exposed among them revealing corruption
surpassing that of the railway world; and at
the same time it has been manifest that there
is no efficient system for bringing them to
justice and punishment. The power of
the bishops is extremely limited. The
inclination of the ecclesiastical courts seems
manifestly to be shamefully lenient to
clerical offenders. The case of Pemberton
. Colls revealed that curates were in the
habit of consigning to their clerical patrons
half the value of their livings, even when
these amounted to only one hundred and
thirty pounds a-year. The Rev. Dr. Colls
consented to do duty for twenty-three
shillings a-week. He gave his superior a
bond for two thousand five hundred pounds
as security for the payment of the other half
of his salary. At present, Dr. Pemberton,
the vicar of Wandsworth, rejoices in having
obtained a verdict against his victim, Dr.
Colls, for slander, because he said that the
wine must have been drugged over which
he entered into a compact so disadvantageous.
Neither of the Reverend Gentlemen shrunk
from the exposure of a compact so scandalous.
The trial only exhibits what everybody in
private life knows, the existence of corrupt

her. Availing himself of the influence he
had thus acquired over her, he got her to sign
notes of hand in his favour, and at last to
make a will, leaving him a large part of her
fortune, over which she had the control,
under the pretence of saying perpetual
masses for her soul. The husband was at last
made acquainted with these infamous pro-
ceedings, and went to the house of the priest
to reproach him with them. During the
altercation which ensued, Dousset made an
attempt to stab M. Corbiere with a knife, but
he escaped unhurt out of the house. As he
was going away, the enraged priest took up
a gun and fired at him. Again he escaped,
the charge having only touched his coat.
Another violent scene took place between
them some short time after, and the paramour
struck the husband a violent blow on the
breast with an iron bar. M. Corbiere was im-
mediately seized with phythysis, which he
attributed to this injury, and soon after died.
Dousset then conceived the following strata-
gem for securing to himself the whole of
Mme. Corbiere's fortune. He prevailed upon
her to consent to marry his own father, a very
aged man, to whom her property was to be
made over, and which he, the priest, would
inherit on his parent's death. But this plan
could not be carried into execution until the
legal term of her widowhood had expired.
To overcome this difficulty, and the conse-
quences which delay might produce, he made
the two parties sign a mutual contract of
marriage, under very heavy penalties. This
was on the 5th March last year, only a month
after the death of M. Corbiere. He at the
same time made each of them sign a bond

A PROPER LEADER OF PSALMODY.

A PRECENTOR ought to be a musician-not an individual who has nothing but a good voice to recommend him, but a musician in the broadest sense of the term-one who is thoroughly versant in the science, and is capable of teaching the art of singing; for he that would attempt instructing others on any subject must be intimately acquainted with that subject in all its parts, else his progress will be very small indeed. A teacher of singing, besides being perfectly familiar with the art, must be able to speak, to explain succinctly and lucidly various things that his the course of instructing a class, there will pupils may find difficult to comprehend. In necessarily be many demands of this kind upon him. I know some excellent musicians who cannot grammatically arrange three sentences. Mere capability of leading a congregation is not all that is requisite in precentors. But it will naturally be inquired-Is a precentor with the above qualifications to be expected for 157. or 20l. a-year? Certainly not; -40% or 50l. is little enough. This would make him independent of other means of support, and would allow him to devote his time and energies to the one subject. Were such a sum offered, it would induce men of talent to qualify themselves for the office. "Bless me," I hear some one exclaiming, "what a sum to give a precentor!" My good Sir, reflect a little. Don't some of our congregations expend about that amount on music as it is? Have not they large bands, which are not kept without considerable expense? Now, had they for a precentor a thorough musician, at a musician's salary, he would have nothing else to do but teach the people to sing; and I doubt not but he would find this work enough. He could have a number of practisings every week at the proper season; and there is no question but these would be well attended, espe cially by the young, from the interest that a real musician's teaching would impart to them. They would be quite different affairs from most of those of the present day, where perhaps three-fourths don't open their mouths at all. He would thus, in the course of time, be able to form the whole church into a bandwhich is the only kind of band that ought to be tolerated in the house of God.--Correspondent of the Greenock Advertiser.

SCOTLAND, ITS FAITH AND ITS

FEATURES.

“RELIGION IN SCOTLAND.

tion down to bribery most base, are employed to wean, not the parents, but their children from attending Dissenting places of worship. Owing to the rapid increase of scholars the supply of books necessary for the right working of the Sabbath-school, though greatly increased by the liberality of many friends, is still lamentably short. It is earnestly hoped that this notice may incline some kind Christian friend to forward Bibles, New Testa ments, Shorter Catechisms, and books for private reading, suited to the capacities of children, all of which are absolutely required.

diligently, both in conversation and in books | Meeting is in general attended by all the -the doctrine so generally recognised, and teachers. Children absent from the classes so closely embraced in Scotland is this:It are regularly visited and inquired after. Each [THE following extracts are from a newly- is held that the guidance and rule of the teacher at the weekly Meeting has his or her published work, entitled "Scotland, its Faith Lord Jesus Christ may be expected by the report to give in. It is not easy to foretel and its Features; or, a Visit to Blair Athol." Church, acting expressly as a Church, in a the importance of this Institution so devotedly By the Rev. Francis Trench. Mr. Trench, manner after which it could not be expected and methodically conducted, at a time when means of every sort, from threatened starvawe believe, is a clergyman in Hampshire, and to be exercised upon any ruling power or is already known to his countrymen as the authoritative body formed and maintained author of two pleasant volumes descriptive of for general objects of government and legishis journeyings in Spain. His visit to Scot-lation. And furthermore, I believe it to be land was paid in the autumn of 1845.] held that a distinct mode of administering spiritual and ecclesiastical matters is set forth in the Word of God, in a manner which must be upheld with the most strict accuracy of obedience to his holy will. On these subjects no interference can be admitted, nor in any thing which directly or indirectly bears upon them; for instance, in the "intrusion" (as it is called) of a minister in any parish against the will of the Presbytery or the parishioners. The persons, whose tenets on these questions I now endeavour to describe in a plain, practical manner, do not claim for the visible ruling body in their Church anything like Popish infallibility. They admit, in the strongest terms, their liability to err, but maintain that whether they may act rightly or wrongly, still the great principle of acting independently of any superior powers must be asserted in the Church, and thus that the honour and prerogative of Christ, as the sole Head of the Church, is maintained, and that He is thus honoured, and the crown rights of the Redeemer' (according to their common language) upheld in their inviolable and everlasting prerogative."

"The various religious professions, denominations, or Churches to which the upper classes in Scotland belong, present a singular contrast to the uniformity in that matter generally prevalent in England. In England, the far greater number of persons in that rank are of the Established Church; and, if you may hear any other account regarding any person in that class, their case is considered as peculiar. Under ordinary circumstances, you are accustomed to take it for granted that all present are of the Established Episcopal Church, Dissent only extending to a small and limited number among the upper classes of England. There are no less than four distinct Protestant bodies (speaking as to the religious profession of each), to which persons of corresponding rank in Scotland, met in society during a stranger's sojourn in Edinburgh, are respectively attached. Some are Scottish Episcopalians, some are English Episcopalians, that is, removed from connexion with the Scottish Episcopal Church, as, for instance, Mr. Drummond's congregation. Some are Presbyterians, adhering to the Established Church, and some belong to the Free or Secession Church."

"THE PROSPERITY OF THE FREE CHURCH.

"And here, with one remark, I end this part of the subject, which remark is, that among all parties, whether in this country, or whether elsewhere, whether among the friends and advocates, or whether among opponents of the Free Church, one testimony is never

withheld; I mean a recognition of its won-
derful prosperity. On all sides a feeling of
absolute surprise prevails at the progress
which it has made, at the activity displayed
in its behalf both at home and abroad, and at
the large pecuniary means placed at its dis-
posal. Some will account for these results in
one way, and some in another; some will
prognosticate the most signal advance of its
principles, power, and success; others will
prophecy future coldness on the part of its
adherents, diminution as to the zeal in its
behalf, and failure of its resources.
I pro-
nounce here no opinion on these matters,
but I only record as a fact its remarkable
prosperity at this present time, admitted by
all, whether friends or foes. Its friends,
though formerly expecting much, yet now
constantly refer to their lack of faith, and
declare it as having been small indeed in
proportion to present results. Its adversaries
own that their former expectations of its
being but a transient excitement have all
proved erroneous. The vessel, is now sailing
forth in full and gallant trim. The eyes of
the world are on it. A cloud of witnesses is
gazing intently on its course, and history will
have to record its rise and progress among
the great religious and political events of our
present time, even were it as this very day to
be no more, and to cease."

"THE DOCTRINES OF THE FREE CHURCH.

"So far as I, a stranger, can ascertain the truth on this subject and I have sought it

nexion), Gateshead; Rev. Mr. Frogget (In-
dependent), Morpeth, upon Christian charity
and candour. Rev. James Anderson, Morpeth,

then

gave

terianism.

RELIGION ON THE CONTINENT.

AT a recent Meeting of the Free Pres bytery of Glasgow, Mr. Lorimer gave an interesting detail of religious movements on the Continent. He commenced by reading the following extract:

"Since the publication of its last report the Société Evangélique has added to its work seven schools, fourteen stations, and has engaged in a temporary or permanent manner more than thirty labourers of different func tions. This increase of the work has been principally in the Haute Vienne, Yonne, and Charente Inferieure. In Haute Vienne, three things have confirmed the work in the stations already existing, the opening of the new school of Villefavard, and of the churches of Balledent and Limoges. pastors whom the Committee has sent into one of the new stations some months ago, writes thus: I could not have been better received than at Thiat. There is a population of nearly four hundred, and I do not know one who was not happy at my arrival. At several places in the neighbourhood, the whole population declares for us. We can count eight or ten villages who are ready to

One of the

"all

a man. a rapid sketch of the history of PresI confine myself to this number for byterianism in England. He was followed by fear of exaggeration. I have just been going Rev. Jas. Blyth, who addressed the Meeting through the company accompanied by a colupon the conversion of the Jews. The Rev. porteur. Everywhere there is the same Jas. Huie, Wooler, then gave a most admir- spirit as at Thiat. People shrug their shoulable address upon the subject of "Home ders when they speak of our little church, Missions," which was listened to with deepest although it is one of the largest in Haute attention, and called forth loud applause. Vienne. "Where will you put," they say, The Rev. D. Lennie, Glanton, wound up the this crowd which declares for you?'"" proceedings of the evening by an address In the department of Yonne we find the same upon the distinctive peculiarities of Presby-wants-the same eagerness to hear preached Although there were present the mercy of the Saviour-the same proofs of members of the different congregations in the encouragement and hope of spiritual blessMessrs. Donaldson (Relief), Richards (Inde- Aillant, writes Your Committee will hear town, and on the platform were the Revds. ings. The Evangelist who was sent to pendent), Ker (United Secession), Lucas with gratitude that the work of evangelization (Wesleyan), and Grundy (New Connexion), here gives me the greatest hope. Our meetthe utmost harmony prevailed, and the ings are become so numerous that people go an hour and a-half before the hour fixed for greatest good feeling was evinced. worship. At least a hundred persons cannot find room. All the surrounding parishes show the same dispositions. I cannot tell you what enthusiasm is shown at the news of a visit from a Protestant minister. I was expected lately at S The report spread three hundred people collected; and three that I was to be there, and more than men cleared away the mud, which would have made access difficult. On hearing this, Mr. V. and I went to pay some visits in that commune, and everywhere were received as well as possible. It is impossible to undertake the evangelization of a country in more

Next evening 235 children attending the Sabbath-school in St. James's Church held their first Annual Meeting in the Town Hall, when, after tea, addresses were delivered by the Revds. Messrs. Thomson, Blyth, Gillespie, Mr. Murray, and Huie. This Sabbath-school months back it did not number more than is in a most flourishing state. Twelve fifty scholars; it now numbers upwards of 240. The zeal and devotedness of the teachers (about thirty in number), male and female, is worthy of all commendation. They hold a weekly Meeting in the vestry of the church for prayer and mutual improvement; this

favourable circumstances. Indeed, I know Committee had, a few weeks ago, sent | country in the world where the power of the not where this movement will stop, and how 2001. to the Evangelical Society of France, example of the Free Church was more needit will be possible to supply all the demands; 2007. to that of Geneva, 100% to the ful than Germany, for slavery is the word but you will not leave me alone, without Book Society of Toulouse, 1007. to the Evan-which the spouse of Christ wears on her foredoubt.' We shall quote some passages of a gelical Society of Belgium, besides various head, and so long has she been accustomed to letter from the pastor of Sens:-I have made other sums. Passing thence to the Canton it, that she, like the negro slave, no more feels a tour with our colporteur in the department de Vaud, Mr. Lorimer, among other things the weight and blemish of her chains. Every of Aube. As I am strong enough, I take my said, that one of the most interesting points thing like a Church government is in the turn of the colporteur's load, and share the connected with the movement was an effort hands of State Ministers are his servants, fatigue with him. We go from village to made a few weeks ago by the Residuary and are, indeed, officially called so. No devillage, speaking to all whom we meet of Church there to prevail on the faithful to liberations, no decisions, no steps, no efforts the grace of God to sinners. We are asked return, They in the first place used their whatever, may be taken by the Church, as questions; the neighbours assemble, and influence with the State to make some con- such. She is no more than a branch of the numerous groups are thus formed in the cessions, so as to allow those who had made political administration, like the police, or the village. We are asked, 'If this religion is their demission to return to the State Church. Home Department. This begins to be felt, true, why have we not heard of it sooner?' But he rejoiced to say that the State treated but by whom? not by the faithful servants of Often we have the joy of seeing our hearers this overture with disdain. These same Re-Christ, generally speaking, but much more by touched, and beg us to remain in their siduaries addressed a circular to the demitting Infidels, who feel that they have not even the village. The Committee believes pastors, setting various reasons before them, liberty to be and to act as such, and who cry that whatever may be the motives which and imploring them to return to their charges. aloud for a free constitution of the Church. lead all these communities to inquire after Some might be afraid of the influence of such This is the cause of a very serious opposition, truth, the work is not an exterior and formal a movement, but he had no fear; and, he re- particularly in Prussia and Saxony, to which one a simple change of religious denomina-joiced to say, that the result, so far as I was alluding above. Thanks be tions-but it is in a great many souls an accounts had been received, was most satis- unto God our beloved Lord and Saviour has interior and real work-a change of disposi- factory. Not one of the demitting pastors also his faithful witnesses who become every tions and of life-a true conversion to had been moved by these overtures. So far day more numerous and decided in the Christ. Under this impression one of our from this, another of the Professors of Church; and in the schools of learning of agents wrote recently." Church History-had given in his demission, our universities there are very few in which so that the theological faculty of that College young men may not find one or many learned is now reduced to one. Three of the Pro- professors, who lead them to the fountain of fessors have come out and joined the Free the living Word of God. There is much to Church. Then of the candidates going into hope from that quarter for the next generathe vacant charges, out of 259 pastors and tion, and even for our own." ministers, there are only eighty-seven connected with the official Church who are capable for active duty. There are nine more, but these are so infirm that they are unable for duty. It was easy, therefore, to see that there must be many vacancies; however, there were only eleven candidates to supply them. Several of the candidates were from France, and it was remarked of them that they were not known for their orthodoxy. One of them a poor fanatic, thinks himself a prophet,and the other two are students in divinity,the one a Socinian. These are the men who are to supply the places of the demitting ministers. The Reformers continue to receive warm expressions of sympathy from France and Germany. The King of Prussia has sent them twelve thousand francs, which, in our currency, amounts to five hundred pounds. And through his Ambassador, his Majesty has used some influence with the Council of State to bring about an adjustment. This intervention has, however, been dishonoured. Mr. Lorimer then read the following extract from the letter of a German Correspondent, as showing the influence which the Free Church movement had exercised on the state of things in that land:

Thus it would be perceived that the work is spreading from one department to another. But passing from France to Geneva, they were aware of the existence of a Society in Geneva presided over by Dr. D'Aubigné, and which is called the Geneva Evangelical Society. The labours of this Society are devoted chiefly to France, and the same blessings which attend those of the Society of France attend the German Society. He had received very recent communications from this Society, and he found for instance, that in a small town, the name of which he did not at present remember, two schools have been established under its auspices-a school for adults and a school for children. They were only started on the 1st of January, and already eighty pupils are in attendance, many of them untaught Roman Catholics, who in six weeks were able to read the New Testament tolerably well. An interesting circumstance was also mentioned in regard to the attendance on Divine ordinances on the week-days as well as the Sabbath. The place of worship is quite full, to which the people travel the distance of six miles over very difficult and rough roads under the cloud of night, and all the worshippers take the most lively interest in the cause. A circumstance was noticed in the correspondence of a poor widow, who earned an humble livelihood by labouring on the Sabbath, as well as the other days of the week. Her conscience came to be awakened as to the obligation of the Sabbath, and though at great sacrifice, as she believed, yet, on principle, she renounced the course of Sabbath desecration she had followed, and the Lord blessed her exertions on the other days of the week so much, that the evangelist of the place where she resided was one day surprised when she came to him, and said that she had a contribution which she wished to give to the cause of God. He expected to receive two francs or so, but to his surprise she put down eighty francs, which is equal to about 31. 6s. 6d. of our money, and begged him to put down that sum as her donation to the cause of Christ. The communications from Geneva testified also to the extent of the religious movement in other departments. Unwilling to be retaining money in their hands when the wants of the Continent so pressing, without waiting for the Meeting of the General Assembly the

were

"From the very beginning of the noble and Christian movement which has forced you as a Church of Christ from the bondage of earthly powers to this hour, I have followed your steps with a heartfelt joy and a warm thankfulness towards our Lord and Redeemer. The blessings with which He has crowned your faithfulness' are not limited to your country. Your example has enlightened, convinced, rejoiced, strengthened the hearts of many thousands in our continent, and thrown an immense weight in the balance of opinion concerning the true station and character of a Christian Church in our times. The independency of the Church of Christ, which has been for centuries enslaved under political powers-this is the chief question in our days-a question which in Germany may become the cause of awful revolutions. May our merciful God prevent them, and for this end give wisdom and grace to his servants, and to the rulers of the nation! There is no

Mr. Lorimer proceeded,-It was not necessary to say anything of the new German Catholics after what he had submitted to the Commission, either in reference to the sound or the unsound parties in that movement. He expected to have a great door of influence opened up in connexion with the circulation of the Scriptures, which was necessary not more for the sake of the Roman Catholics than for the sake of the Protestants. It was melancholy to learn how little reading of the Scriptures there was even among the Lutherans. In the churches generally there was not a single Bible to be seen except in the pulpit. Only some 280 passages of the Scriptures were allowed to be preached from by the ministers during a whole life time, and it remained for the Germans to boast that they were not ignorant of the Bible, because they had read it at school, and were examined on it before confirmation-with them the Bible had then served its purpose. Now, the most interesting feature in this movement was, that it took its origin in the extensive dissemination of the Scriptures, and one of the first acts of the reform party had been to get the New Testament translated into German, and packets of the Scriptures are now from day to day being sent to the different congregations that are anxiously inquiring for them.

SUPERSTITION.

"A car

THE Cambridge Advertiser _says,
penter residing at Ely, near Bartingale, being
lately taken ill, imagined that a woman,
named Gotobed, whom he had ejected from
one of his houses, had bewitched him. Some
matrons assembled in the sick man's chamber
agreed that the only way to protect him from
the sorceries of the witch was to send for the
blacksmith and have three horse-shoes nailed
to the door. An operation to this effect was
performed, much to the anger of the sup-
posed witch, who at first complained to the
Dean, but was laughed at by his Reverence.
She then rushed in wrath to the sick man's
room, and, miraculous to tell, passed the
Rubicon despite the horse-shoes. But this