-

Highly as I prize it from its own worth, there attaches to the Testimonial a double value, — coming, as it does, from those to whom I am related by the Pastoral tie. And the expression of their regard is peculiarly gratifying in my present circumstances, and calls for special thanks, not merely on my own account, but on account of one who has come a stranger into the congregation. I feel assured that Mrs. Fergusson will receive and reciprocate much kindly sympathy in her new sphere; and I trust that my altered circumstances will have the tendency of making me more useful than I have been in the Lord's vineyard.

May the Lord grant that His own holy work may prosper daily more and more amongst us, so that our church may be a nursery for heaven.

To yourself, and to those kind friends whom you represent, permit me to offer my warmest acknowledgments, and my earnest prayers that they may be enriched with every good blessing from a covenant Father. My dear Sir, believe me, ever yours, faithfully, D. FERGUSSON.

James Adam, Esq.

MISSION FUND.

St. George's Presbyterian Association, Liverpool, per Mr. Wm. Hastings050

Mr. Normand Yule...

for communications from your readers on any | thematical line, and the steps of it are all-
points bearing on the Church's prosperity, and all of them-mathematical points, "without
suggestions likely to promote the success of length, breadth, or thickness." Ministers,
its missionary and educational undertakings, elders, deacons, churches, are all unsub-
in the hope that the following remarks may stantial-ghosts that elude his eager grasp.
be of some service to the cause you have so
He takes his stand beside one of those stone
often and so forcibly advocated. Contrary to and lime abstractions, called Presbyterian
my original intention, I have decided on churches, and he is informed, for his satisfac-
subscribing my name; and while avowing tion, that there lies upon it a very positive ne-
my perfect willingness to accept the undivided gation of all his hopes,-that most solid of all
responsibility attaching to it, I have only to conceivable incubuses,-A DEBT. His eyes are
request my friends in the metropolis, who look opened now, and he sees the line stretching
upon me as the most insatiable beggarman, away to the far horizon, inscribed on its every
and the most ill-omened croaker, to judge of inch with the hopeless legend, debt, debt, debt!
this letter on its own merits, without reference At this rate, he concludes, the process of for-
to its obnoxious author; and to bear in mind, mation will never be completed; but which
that it is meant, not for London alone, but is going on. May there not be laborious, de-
for all, throughout the Church, whom it may voted, ministers undergoing a process of
starvation, and millions of immortal souls,
both at home and abroad, perishing of a "fa-
mine of the word of life? If the maxim is
urged, that "we must be just before we are
generous," I answer, that the Bible misleads
me if the practice of Christian generosity be
not the only way of fulfilling the precept,
"Owe no man anything." "There is that
scattereth, and yet increaseth; there is that
withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth
to penury. Give, and it shall be given you,
&c. He that soweth sparingly, shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bounti
fully, shall reap also bountifully."

concern.

In reply to every remonstrance regarding our deficient organization, that we must have patience, for we are only in process of formation, and "Rome was not built in a day;" our ears have been so familiar with this plea for the last two years, that it seems only fair to inquire, what is the precise meaning and amount of weight to be attached to it. No one needs to be told, that our position and CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE prospects have wonderously altered since 1844, TREASURER IN AID OF THE HOME-strangely so since October, 1843; and my question is,-Has the excuse the same meaning and the same weight Now, as it had THEN? Far from that being the case, not a month has elapsed, during all the twenty-four, so rapid has been our improvement,--but has materially altered the one, and diminished the other. In one sense, the excuse is a most admirable one. It may be termed, in mathematical language, a constant variable; like the chameleon, despite its continual changes of mien, it always retains its identity. Mark well the phrase, we are in process of formation. How beautifully indefinite that o process of formation! Will any one venture to prescribe a limit to its extension, or to define its tangibility? I can compare it to nothing but the definition of a mathematical line, "length without breadth or thickness." The advocate of Congregational Associations, being informed that there is a process going on, and supposing that he has got something palpable and definite to deal with, naturally

050 0 5 0 0 10 6

Mr. George Hunter.....

Mr. James King

Mr. James Blenkensopp..

Mr. Murdo Maclaine

0 26

Mr. William Dalgleish

1 0 0

Mrs. Matheson

1 0 0

From JAMES NISBET, Esq.

(Being his second donation of publications issued by the enough imagines, that its course will be

Calvin's Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, effect; and his hopes derive strength from see

3 vols. Calvin's Commentary on the Psalms, 1st vol.

From Miss C. FRASER, Bath. Drummond's Exposition of the Last Nine Chapters of

John.

FOREIGN AND JEWISH MISSION FUND.

As but comparatively few of the collections ordered by Synod in aid of the above fund have been received in time to be announced this month, it has been deemed preferable to announce the whole in next number. All parties, therefore, are requested to forward their donations, subscriptions, and collections, to the Treasurer, James Nisbet, Esq., 21, Berners-street, London, on or before the 16th of this month.

CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
MESSENGER.

MY DEAR SIR,-I avail myself of a little lei-
sure afforded me by an attack of indisposition,
which confines me to the house, to comply
with the desire you have frequently expressed,

99

Let me now state a few special reasons for the formation of Associations.

1. We need them, First, because we are undergoing a process of formation. It is in the absence of a settled ministry, of a full staff of office-bearers, and of a permanent place of worship, that congregational effort is indispensably necessary, in order to retain and consolidate the body of worshippers already gathered in; to strengthen each other's hands and encourage each other's hearts; to maintain and diffuse among the worshippers a spirit of mutual sympathy, good-will, and hearty cooperation; and to set up a high standard of Christian liberality. An infant Church preeminently requires combination and concentration of effort. Its available resources must first be drawn forth, and then economized to the fullest extent; and this cannot be done without Associations, nothing else will so surely or so speedily bring order out of confusion. Let every zealous and willing-hearted wor shipper have some work to do, and let every one conscientiously discharge the duty assigned him; and so, by God's blessing, we shall soon "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: our eyes shall see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken."

ing that certain very important steps of the
process have actually been completed. Two
or three years ago, peradventure, he was told,
Why, you are too hard upon us, we've got no
minister. Well, the minister at length ar-
rived. Then, perhaps he was told—We've got
no session, or a very small one. A session 2. We have reached that stage of develop-
was formed or strengthened by an accession ment at which, unless we mean ignominiously
of numbers; but then there were no dea- to recede from the position we have taken up,
cons, and the spiritual office-bearers ought we must exert ourselves more diligently and
not to mix themselves up more than was abso-
more systematically than hitherto. Whatever
lutely necessary with the temporal affairs of may be thought to the contrary, we have to
the Church (the best of all reasons, by the deal with other realities quite as substantial
way, for devolving a part of that burden as debts on buildings; and it is just because I
upon the willing and zealous members of the wish to see every trace of them effaced, and
congregation); and, above all, it was urged, am thoroughly convinced, that this will NEVER
We have no permanent place of worship, and be the case so long as they are made the prin-
are much hampered for the want of one; only cipal objects of congregational solicitude;
have patience till we have got comfortably that I long for the time when our College,
housed, and you shall see what we will do. with its staff of Professors, our Home and
But when this notable and, as it was hoped, Foreign Missions, our School Fund, our Sy-
conclusive-step has been taken, it turns out nod Fund, and though last, not least in impor-
to have been quite as shadowy as all that pre-tance as regards London, our London Church
ceded it. A dreary succession of negatives
this, which makes our anxious inquirer long
for something positive. The process is a ma-

Extension Society, should receive at least an
equal share of attention.
Who would not
loathe the very idea of a debt, were he called

upon for a contribution towards its liquida- | that the Birmingham Congregation, without | to neglect their duty, then, in the special regution-and for that object alone-twelve or a pastor, and in the face of difficulties such twenty times in the year? I confess, for my- as few of our Churches have to contend with, self, I should feel strongly inclined to show has raised, during the past year, a sum exthe collector to the door. Having mentioned ceeding, by from £27 to £79, the contributhe London Church Extension Society, I may tions of any Congregation in the Presbytery be permitted to remark, that I do not preach favoured with a settled ministry, with the without practising; for, though anxiously de- exceptions of River Terrace, London Wall, sirous to see a larger amount of countenance and Regent Square. and aid bestowed on that Society than it has hitherto obtained, I have studiously, and on principle, abstained from urging its claims to the exclusion or prejudice of other undertakings of equal importance, wishing only that it should have its fair share of support, which it has certainly not yet received.

3. If we consider seriously the circumstances of our Church's history during the last two years, we cannot fail to see that our extraordinary enlargement has arisen, not from any efforts of our own, for these have been sadly disproportioned to the occasion; nor from the completeness of our ecclesiastical machinery, for that has confessedly been, and continues to be, deplorably defective; but from the undeserved mercy of our God, who looked upon us in our low estate, brought us up from the depths of despondency into which we were plunged, and set our feet upon a rock, establishing our goings;"-to His name be all the glory. But let us not presumptuously expect that if we "stand still," we shall "see the salvation of God." Let us rather "go forward, setting up our banners in His name, and He will fulfil our petitions." If He has done so much for us, shall we reckon it no honour to "be fellow-workers with Him?"

TIONS

66

But let me ask (for here, I am convinced,
lies the solution of the problem), What have
the Sessions done to implement the "special
instructions" of the Synod? Are there yet,
at the end of thirteen months, thirteen Asso-
ciations "in active and efficient operation,"
throughout the Church. Need we disguise
the fact, that it is the office-bearers of the
Churches who are the recusants? They deny
the people one of their religious privileges,
when they obstinately refuse them the oppor-
tunity of giving to the extent of their ability;
and they are further guilty, by their tacit
refusal, "to submit to, and concur with," the
'special instruction of the Synod, of a
solemn breach of their ordination rows. (See
p. 49, "Minutes of Synod," held at Berwick-
upon-Tweed.) What right, I ask, have Ses-
sions to consider themselves wiser than the
Synod? What right have they to libel the
members of their respective Churches by say-
ing, We know they will not give, before they
have made trial of their Christian liberality?
What right have they to set up any favourite
object of their own-the liquidation of a
building debt or anything else-in opposition
to the lawful command, and the dearest inte-
rests of the Church collective? There need
be no opposition or collision in the matter.
The fault lies with those who fancy there is
a collision, where there is none, and act ac-
cordingly. Let elders and deacons imple-
ment their ordination vows by carrying out
the Synod's injunctions, and I have no fear
that members of our Churches will fail to
perform their duty in this matter. But,

66

lations I have referred to, congregations are likewise enjoined to carry out the instructions of the Synod. Let them do their duty whether the office-bearers will or no. My muchvalued friend, Mr. Cousin, who, I doubt not, will very soon have a vigorous Association established in Chelsea, lately observed to me, (and the remark is a most valuable one,) People think there is something very formidable in the name of an Association. If you could convince them, that four individuals are an Association, the difficulty would be overcome." Now I believe, that in all our congregations, the Christian liberality of many of the members continually flowing forth in a hundred different channels, despite the anxiety of the office-bearers to turn it into one or two-but owing to the want of Associations to receive and register their bounties, the congregations to which they belong and the Church at large are none the better for their example. In Marylebone Church, for example, as the office-bearers know right well, there are those whose liberality is as untiring as the calls upon it are numerous and varied. Now, not to speak of the many others who would willingly give for the asking, a few spirited individuals might do essential service to the congregations and the Church at large, by forming themselves into an Association for the purpose of receiving and regularly reporting the offerings of those who are already in the habit of giving. The influence of their example during the past year-a year of much effort and manifold difficulties in that congregation— would have been incalculable; during the current year, though less, it will still be great, because, knowing its present circumstances, others would point to it, and say, "See, there is the Church, of all others in the Presbytery the most heavily burdened, contributing its hundreds of pounds annually to general objects-what do you say to that?" Such an example would put the debtor's plea at once and for ever out of court.

A. P. STEWART.

4. We profess to be Presbyterians; let us show by our deeds that we are so. I have yet to learn that silent disregard of the INJUNCnot recommendations of the Supreme Court is a mark of sound Presbyterians. I have before me the minutes of Synod held at Birmingham, in April, 1845. The sixth and concluding article (Appendix iii. p. 5. The Presbyterians of London, as well 37) of "Special Regulations for forming and as the Presbytery of Lancashire, are under working Congregational Associations, and peculiar obligations to form, and vigorously If even this suggestion is not attended to, obtaining funds in aid of the schemes of the to work, Congregational Associations. If the then let every willing-hearted individual, Church," is as follows:-"That, inasmuch as Presbytery of Lancashire overtured the Synod who wishes well to the cause, transmit his or the success of the various schemes must, under last year, I cannot forget that it is now about her donation to head-quarters with a request God, depend on the manner in which they sixteen months since the London Lay Union, that the reason of its being thus sent may be are organized and worked, it be a special in- not only with the consent, but with the appa- stated in the "Messenger," viz.:-That the struction to all Presbyteries and Congrega-rently hearty approval of the representatives of donor had no opportunity given of contributing tions to have such Associations organized our different congregations, issued an address through a Congregational Association. Such without loss of time, and to see to their active to the whole Church, recommending, in the a list published monthly, would, if I mistake and effective operation." The regulations strongest terms, the instant formation of Asso- not, quickly produce a change for the better. (to p. 25)" were UNANIMOUSLY adopted, and ciations. How many members of the then Believe me, my dear Sir, directed to be communicated to all the minis- existing Committee are there, who have done Yours most truly, ters and other office-bearers of the Church." anything to carry out their own earnest reIt is not my province to inquire, what the commendation? It will not do for any genmembers of Synod have done to enforce their tlemen to say, that they gave a tacit assent Own UNANIMOUS Resolution, or to carry out, to the issuing of this address, rather than ap"without loss of time," their own Special pear to throw cold water on a well-meaning, instruction," during the thirteen months that but ill-judged and ill-timed proposal. It would have elapsed since the regulations were have been a manly and straightforward adopted; nor whether the Presbytery of Lan- course, to have given it a prompt and decided cashire, whose overture (p. 18) led to their negative. But the course actually pursued adoption, have Associations "in active and is doubly wrong; first, because to stir up effective operation" in all or a majority of its others to the discharge of duties, which we seventeen Congregations; nor whether Pres- ourselves systematically neglect, is to "offer byteries generally have "taken special care," to the Lord our God that which doth cost us or "given diligent heed," that the "special in- nothing;"--and secondly, because it necessarily structions" to whose promulgation their mem- destroys all confidence in the sincerity and bers, in their synodical capacity, were parties, good faith of those who adopt such a line of should be attended with the respect and conduct. These may be unwelcome truths, alacrity due to an injunction of the Supreme but displease whom it may, the truth must be Court. We have, I believe, within the bounds spoken, and if spoken rather strongly, I pray of the Presbytery of London, the modest my esteemed brethren in office to answer me, number of three or four Associations, one of Is there no cause for it? them being in Birmingham. If any proof were required of what may be done by systematic efforts, we shall find it in the fact,

66

I must wind up these lengthened observations with two or three practical hints. If the office-bearers of our Churches continue

130, Mount-street, Berkeley-square,
21st May, 1846.
[N.B. We exceedingly approve of Dr.
Stewart's concluding suggestion, and most
urgently press upon our friends to reduce it
to practice. We will take special care that a
prominent place shall be assigned to all such
communications.-ED.]

LONDON LAY UNION.

THE Fifth Annual Meeting of the London Lay Union was held, in Regent-square Church, on the evening of Tuesday, May 5, William Hamilton, Esq., the Chairman of the Society, presiding. The Meeting having been opened by prayer, by the Rev. Joseph Fisher, of Southwark Church, the Chairman, after a few remarks, called for the Committee's Report of the proceedings of the past year, which was read by the Secretary.

The Report, referring to the operations in progress at the period of the previous Annual Meeting, stated, that in regard to the endeavours then and since made to relieve the Journeymen bakers of London from the almost compulsory labour so many engage in on the Sabbath, the Committee, after consultation with the Lord's-day Observance Society, the London City Mission, and other bodies, had been obliged to come to the resolution, that farther proceedings in this matter, on their part, would be beyond the scope of those rules by which the action of the Lay Union is regulated. They, therefore, recommended to the master bakers, with whom they had been in communication, to continue their exertions, promising that, in the event of their convening a Public Meeting with the view of arousing a more general attention to this painful subject, the Lay Union would lend its hearty aid in promoting so desirable an object.

The conferences with the Young Men's Christian Association, respecting a course of Lectures on literary and scientific subjects, resulted in the appointment of a joint deputation from the Committees of that body and of the Lay Union, to wait on the Rev. James Hamilton, of Regent-square, who kindly sketched out a useful and interesting course, which was gone through during summer, he himself delivering three of the Lectures.

Some members of Committee having signified their intention of being present at the meeting of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, to be held in Inverness, in August 1845, the Chairman, the Treasurer, and other gentlemen, were appointed a Deputation to express to that Assembly the increasing interest felt by all the members of the Union in the prosperity and advancement of the Free Church of Scotland, and their warm sympathy with their much tried brethren in the Highlands. The deputation was most cordially received, and, after addresses by two of its number (Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Nisbet), the thanks of the Assembly were returned by the Moderator, for the welcome and highlyprized assurances of interest and sympathy expressed by the Lay Union, and for the striking and very gratifying proof of these which the presence of the deputation there afforded.

In regard to one of the principal objects contemplated at the formation of the Lay Union, viz., Endeavours on the part of its members to put themselves in communication with young Scotchmen arriving in London, in order that they might prevent their being led astray by the many temptations of so vast a city, and might, if possible, bring them into connexion with a Church: it was stated that, probably, at no period of the history of the Institution, had this important and beneficent work been more sedulously prosecuted. For the farther promotion of this good end, the Committee reported that it had been resolved to send to Scotland,-not only circular letters to the Clerks of the various Presbyteries of the Free Church, as previously determined, urging all its ministers to give introductions to young men leaving their parishes for London, to some minister or elder of our Church, or to a member of the Lay Union,-but to forward to each minister of that Church a card, containing the names and localities of the Presbyterian churches in London and its vicinity, the names of the ministers, of the Secretaries of the Lay Union Branches, and of the Registrars of Lodgings. (We are happy to state that this Resolution has since been carried into effect.)

Account was also given of a scheme for establishing day and evening schools, and a preaching station, in a part of London, where

"I. Respecting the peculiar duties of El

all education, secular or religious, is still
very deficient, as reported by a Sub-Commit- ders:
tee appointed to consider a motion on this "1. That they sit in Session along with the
subject, submitted to the General Committee minister, and assist in the administration of
in February last. Although the Report, how-discipline, and in the spiritual government of
ever, was approved of, it was resolved, that the the Church.
Lay Union could not then enter on such an
undertaking, and the Report was ordered to
be laid on the table for future consideration,
when circumstances should render it advi-
sable.

The state of the funds of the Institution
were reported as unfavourable, and the Com-
mittee recommended, that a Resolution for-
merly agreed to, but never acted on, should
now be carried into effect, by a request to the
Kirk Session of each Presbyterian Church in
London and the neighbourhood, to make a
congregational collection in aid of the funds
of the Lay Union, as soon as might be con-
venient.

The Report was unanimously adopted, and ordered to be printed.

During the evening, addresses were delivered by Professors Campbell and Lorimer, the Revds. Messrs. Nicholson, Cousin, Chalmers, M'Lymont, and Ferguson, and other members. Mr. M'Lymont, who had very recently left a charge in Northumberland, gratified the Meeting by stating, that the London Lay Union was well known in the northern part of England, and that it was held in much esteem there, a strong sense being entertained of the important service it had rendered to the cause of the Presbyterian Church there, by its address of January, 1845, which had been widely circulated and read, and by other friendly and encouraging communications from the Secretary.

"2. That they take a careful oversight of the people's morals and religious principles, of the attendance upon public ordinances, and of the state of family and personal religion. "3. That they visit the sick from time to time in their several districts.

"4. That they superintend the religious instruction of the young, and assist the minister in ascertaining the qualifications of applicants for admission to sealing ordinances.

"5. That they superintend and promote the formation of meetings, within their districts, for prayer, reading of the Scriptures, and Christian fellowship, among the members of the Church.

II. Respecting the peculiar duties of Deacons :

"1. That they give special regard to the whole secular affairs of the congregation.

"2. That they attend to the gathering of the people's contributions to the General Fund for the Sustentation of the Ministry; and that they receive the donations which may be made for other ecclesiastical purposes.

"3. That they attend to the congregational poor.

"4. That they watch over the education of the children of the poor.

"III. Respecting the duties which are common to Elders and Deacons :

"1. That both Elders and Deacons may receive the Sabbath-collections of the people, according to such arrangements as shall be made by the Deacons' Court.

After the usual routine of business, the unanimous thanks of the Society were voted "2. That, for the better discharge of their to the Chairman, not only for his conduct in peculiar duties respectively, as well as with a the Chair then, but for the steady and unvary-view to increased opportunities of doing good, ing interest he had taken in the operations of both Elders and Deacons visit periodically the Union, and the personal assistance he had the districts assigned to them, and cultivate uniformly been ready to give, in carrying these an acquaintance with the members of the forward. The Chairman having replied, the Church residing therein. benediction was pronounced by the Rev. James Ferguson, and the Meeting closed.

DEACONS AND DEACONS' COURTS.

[Applications have been made to us from various quarters regarding the status and functions of deacons, the constitution and powers of Deacons' Courts, and the parties entitled to sit in them. This is a subject on which the Church will soon have to issue an authoritative deliverance; and, indeed, we wish it had done so at last meeting of Synod. It were, perhaps, improper, in the absence of such a deliverance, although we have very much made up our minds on the subject, to enter at any length or very minutely into it in this place. We have, therefore, thought we could not do better than to give, as we now do, the Interim Act of the Free Church Assemblies of 1844 and 1845, with some remarks of our own appended. The act is as follows:-]

"Whereas it has become necessary, in consequence of the restoration of the scriptural order of Deacons, and in consequence of the late change in the outward condition of the Church, to point out and regulate the duties of Elders and Deacons respectively, and to define and describe the power of the meeting of congregational office-bearers for secular business, the General Assembly agree to transmit to Presbyteries the following Rules and Resolutions, as an overture, for their opinion; and the Assembly farther pass the said Rules and Resolutions as an Interim Act, viz. :—

"3. That it is competent for Elders to be employed as Deacons, when a sufficient number of Deacons cannot be had.

"4. That Deacons may assist the Elders with their advice, whether in Session or otherwise, when requested so to do.

"IV. Respecting the meeting of Minister, Elders, and Deacons, for secular affairs, which meeting, may be called the Deacons' Court.

"1. That the minister preside in said meeting, when he is present; and, in his absence, any elder or deacon whom the meeting may fix upon.

"2. That the said meeting, or Deacons' Court, is convened by citation from the pulpit, or by personal notice to the members thereof, and is called by authority of the minister, or at the requisition of any three members; said requisition being addressed to the minister, or, in time of a vacancy of the pastoral charge, to the clerk of the said Court; and the proceedings are opened and closed with prayer.

"3. That this Court has the management and charge of the whole property belonging to the congregation, including church, session house, manse, school-buildings, &c., and of all its secular affairs, including, of course, the appropriation of seats, with the determi nation of all questions relating thereto; and it is the province and duty of said Court to transmit, from time to time, to the treasurer appointed by the General Assembly, or their Committee, the funds raised for the general sustentation of the ministry; also to apply the remaining congregational funds, in fitting proportions, to the support of the minister, the payment

their studies during the vacation throughout their curriculum.

"1. That as it is of the last importance, so every are enrolled in the the College, as students for the ministerial office in this Church, shall have previously passed through an undergraduate course at some chartered university. "2. That all such as have passed through such a course shall, before they are enrolled, pass an examination before the Presbytery within the bounds of which they reside; but where any party resides beyond the bounds of any of the Presbyteries of the Church, that he pass such an examicertificate of having passed through such examination before the Presbytery of London; that a nation must be produced before he be enrolled; and that it be an instruction to Presbyteries further to examine the students upon the doctrinal standards of the Church.

of the salaries of the various subordinate a minister of the word and sacraments to
functionaries, and the defraying of all neces- disqualify him from taking charge of financial
sary charges connected with the property, or matters, in other words to act as a deacon.
with the dispensation of Christian ordinances; But it may be supposed that the appointment effort shall be used to secure, that all parties who
to apply, moreover, any surplus which may of the office of deacons (Acts vi. 1-6) and
thereafter arise, to religious, ecclesiastical, the remark of the apostles, "It is not reason
educational, or benevolent objects; likewise that we should leave the word of God and serve
to make special collections at the Church tables," (ver. 2,) decides the matter, and proves
door, as often as may appear to them to be that thenceforth the ministers and elders
necessary, for the temporal relief of poor were to be restricted to the ministry of the
members of the congregation, and for the word, of ordinances, and discipline, while the
education of the children of the poor; and, financial affairs of the Church were to be
finally, to receive the Deacons' Reports of managed exclusively by the deacons. This,
their proceedings, to give them such advice however, is a mistake, and to those who would
and instruction as may be required, and to so reason we would reply "Ye do err, not
decide as to the payments to be made by knowing the Scriptures." Even after the ap-
them for the relief of the poor and the edu-pointment of the deacons, as well as before,
cation of youth.
the ministers of the word had charge of the
"4. That while the Church is solely at the dis- Church's financial affairs. This point can
posal of the minister for all religious purposes, very easily be established. Read I Cor. xvi.
the consent of the Deacons' Court, as well as
1-4;
2 Cor. ix. 1-7; Rom. xv. 25-31.
of the minister, is necessary, before any meet- Here we have an account of the public
ing not strictly of a religious, ecclesiastical, lections and donations which the apostle re-
or charitable nature can be held in it.
quired to be made for the Church's necessities.
"5. That the said Court shall have one or But who took charge of conveying these
more treasurers and a clerk, and a separate funds to their destination? The apostles and
record for the minutes of its proceedings. others, probably elders and deacons, if not
"6. That the record of the Court, with the also ministers. And to whom were these
treasurer's account of receipt and expendi- funds entrusted when conveyed to their des-
ture, after said account shall have been duly tination? Read Acts xi. 29-30. It was to
audited by appointment of the Court, shall be the elders; and the elders included both
annually exhibited to the Presbytery of the ministers and ruling elders-1 Tim. v. 17.
bounds, at the first ordinary meeting thereof All this took place long after the appointment
after the 15th of March, for the purpose of of deacons. It is therefore manifest from the
being examined and attested by the Presby-practice of the Apostolic Church that minis-
tery at said meeting.

7. That on the first Monday after said attestation of the record and treasurer's account, or of some convenient day of the first or second week following the attestation of the Presbytery, a congregational meeting shall be held, when the Deacons' Court shall present a Report of its proceedings for the preceding year,. give such information and explanation as may be asked for, and receive any suggestion which may be offered by the members of the congregation for the consideration of the Court, with reference to the future distribution of the funds. The congregational meeting shall be convened by intimation from the pulpit, and the minister, if present, shall preside în it,

"8. That to the said Court shall belong the appointment and dismissal of the churchofficers and door-keepers."

[Such then is the law in the Free Church on this matter. Now it will be noticed that according to this act the minister is ex officio moderator of the Deacons' Court, and presides whenever he is present; and it will also be noticed that elders are ex officio members of Court. This is undoubtedly in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Presbyterian Church. The usual reason assigned for this arrangement is, that as the greater includes the less, so the minister, in virtue of his ordination to the highest office, is both an elder and a deacon, and the elders are deacons also. This reason is perfectly sound; but we would prefer to found our ordinances on the precepts of Scripture rather than on the principles of mathematics or metaphysics. Now that ministers and elders are er officio deacons, in other words are entrusted with the management and superintendence of the financial affairs of the Church, is manifest both from the precepts and practice of apostolic times. That the apostles at the very commencement of the Christian Church had charge of its pecuniary affairs is a matter of express Divine testimony (Acts iv. 34-37, v. 1-2), and this fact besides decides the principle that there is nothing in the office of

"3. That although in present circumstances it be not declared indispensable that every candidate for admission shall have passed through such undergraduate course, yet it be required as the micol-nimum of qualification essential to admission (1) that the candidate be able to read in Greek the New Testament, and Xenophon's Anabasis; and in Latin the Odes of Horace, and the first five books of Livy, and pass an examination on these books ad aperturam libri; and (2) that he have studied logic, mathematics (viz., the first six books of Euclid, plain trigonometry, and algebra, as far as quadratic equations), and pass an examination in

ters of the word and elders have charge of
the Church's financial affairs; and sure we
are that any deacons will be very happy to
find that men so well qualified to act in such
matters are by divine warrant members of the
Deacons' Court.

We do not know exactly what led the
Free Assembly to declare in their deliverance
that ministers are to preside in all congre-
gational assemblies. This is a point on which
it never occurred to us that any Presbyterian
would require even a hint. In all congre-
gational assemblies as such, whether for
spiritual or secular objects (if only congre-
gational) the minister (if present, and unless
he neglect his duties he ought to be present),
the minister, we repeat, is necessarily and
scripturally ex officio chairman. But upon
this and many other most important matters
contained in the above deliverance we cannot
for the present enlarge.]

ADMISSION OF STUDENTS INTO THE
THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE.

.

THE following overture having been at one
diet by the Synod remitted to the College
Committee, was, at a subsequent diet, accom-
panied by the approval of the Committee,
laid on the table, and after being read and
considered, it was moved by Professor Camp-
bell, seconded, and unanimously agreed to,
That the said overture be adopted, and its
various regulations passed into a law of this
Church, and the Senatus, Presbyteries, and
all concerned enjoined to observe the same.
The Regulations are as follows:-
At 16, Exeter Hall, April 14, 1846, which day the
Presbytery of London held its ordinary monthly
meeting, and was duly constituted,

Inter alia, the Presbytery then resumed con-
sideration of Professor Campbell's regulations for
the admission of students. After some of them

had been slightly altered, they were unanimously
instructed to transmit a copy of the same to the
Synod. They are as follows :—
"Regulations for the admission of Students into the
Theological Classes, and for the superintendence of

the and the Clerk was

these

"4. That every student who has not studied metaphysics and moral philosophy shall, before he is enrolled as a student of the second year, pass an

examination in these sciences.

"5. That every student who has not studied

natural philosophy must, before he be enrolled as a student of the third year, pass an examination in that science.

"6. That the Senatus, assisted by a Committee of the Presbytery of London, and such others as they may call in as assessors, shall be the examiners upon the subjects prescribed under regulations 3, 4, and 5, herein before contained; and that such examinations shall commence in the college rooms, on the 10th day of October, at 12 o'clock noon, in each year.

"7. That Presbyteries be instructed to superintend the studies of such students as reside within their bounds during the summer vacation, and to furnish certificates that the students have passed Presbytery, which certificate must be produced examination upon the subjects prescribed by the before the student is enrolled for the succeeding session.

"8. That as erudition without personal piety can never qualify for the ministry, each student must, is enrolled, produce to the Senatus a certificate of as an attestation of his personal religion, before he Church membership, and a Presbyterial letter bearing favourable testimony to his personal piety.

"9. That considering the importance of a learned and godly ministry, it be a special instruction to the Senatus and to Presbyteries to see to the stringent observance of the foregoing regulations, so that, by the blessing of God, our students may become able ministers of the New Testament, who can, from the stores of their own experience and knowledge, bring forth things new and old, shut the mouths of gainsayers, and edify the body of Christ, which is the Church,"

THE SYNOD FUND.

ON reference to the Accounts of the Church, for the year ended the 31st of March last, as printed and laid before the late Meeting of Synod, it will be perceived, that the contributions to this fund, up to the above date, amounted to 185l. 6s. 10d.; since then, the farther sum of 421. 7s. 3d. has been received, making in all, for the year, 2277. 14s. 1d.

It is satisfactory to state, that this is the largest amount contributed to the fund in any one year since its establishment; but, on the other hand, the claims upon it have been unusually great, owing to the very numerous attendance of members at Synod,--a circumstance highly gratifying in itself,—and there was also a balance of 41. 2s. 3d. due to

the Treasurer upon the previous year's Ac- THE TREASURER OF THE SYNOD fund

£. s. d. £. s. d.

45 12 O