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Psalm cxii. 6

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Mr. Smith, Convenor of the Committee on the Examination of Students, gave in a Report. It recommended a yearly examination of the students within the bounds of

the Presbytery, at the close of the long vacation, on subjects previously prescribed. It suggested,

For first-year students,

Latin.-Six odes of Horace, or 200 lines of Virgil; with a questio from Turretine or Calvin.

Greek.-Luke's Gospel, with a limited

1 0 0 portion of Xenophon or Herodotus.

10

5 0

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Natural Theology.-Paley.

Moral Philosophy and Logic.-Smith's

Miss Coleman, per Mrs. Patison.... 0 10 0 Moral Sentiments, and Whateley's Logic.

Mathematics.-First six books of Euclid.
For second-year students,—
Latin.-A book of the Eneid or of the
Odes of Horace, with a "locus" from Tur-
retine, or Calvin..

The Rev. V. M. White was elected Moderator for the next six months.

ing he would call the attention of the PresThe Clerk gave notice that at next meetbytery to the continuous irregular attendance both of ministers and elders, in order that steps may be taken to remedy the evil.

The Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances of the proposed preaching station at St. John's, near Douglas, in the Isle of Man, was given in by the Rev. Thos. Robinson, and read; after which it was moved by the Rev. A. Munro, and seconded by Mr. Robt. Baird, and unanimously agreed to, "That the Re

Greek.-Romans, and a book of Homer. Hebrew.-A chapter of Genesis. Natural Theology and Evidences.--Chalmers' Bridgewater Treatise, Campbell on Miracles, Leslie's Short and Easy Method. Moral Philosophy and Logic.-Mackintosh's Preliminary Dissertation. Ecclesiastical History.-The 16th Cen- port of the Committee be received; that the

tury.

Third-year students,

Latin.-A Satire of Horace or a Georgie. Greek. Hebrews, and a portion of Thucydides.

Hebrew.-A portion of the Psalms; or some other of the poetic books.

diligence of the Committee be approved of; and that the Presbytery, having received further information, independent of the Report of the Committee, from authority which cannot be set aside, feels bound to suspend the sanction formerly given to the opening of a temporary preaching station at St. John's; that the minister and session of Douglas Presbyterian Church be summoned to appear at next meeting of Presbytery, for their interests; and further, that Messrs. Muter, the memorialists, be summoned to appear at the same meeting, for their interrise in the field of natural science. ests, and the interests of those whom they Ecclesiastical History.-The first three represent; and that the Presbytery deal Centuries. further with the case as may seem good for edification."

Natural Theology and Evidences.-Some work (as Smith's, Miller's, or King's) on the theological errors which have lately taken

Moral Philosophy and Logic.-Morell's History of Philosophy.

On the motion of Mr. Munro, the following resolution, in reference to the trust

Pastoral Theology.-Baxter's Reformed deeds and constitutions of the churches

Pastor.

A memorial was read from a congregation in Windsor, praying to be received into connexion with the Presbyterian Church in England. The memorial was most respectably signed, and was accompanied by a list of subscribers for the support of the ministry. The Presbytery received the memorial with much cordiality, and appointed the following supplies, viz. :-Jan. 18, Professor Lorimer; Jan. 25, Mr. Chalmers; Feb. 1, Mr. Weir; Feb. 8, Mr. Alexander; Feb. 15, Mr. Fisher; Feb. 22, Dr. Hamilton.

An application was made by the Session of Carlton-hill Church, St. John's-wood, for the moderation of a call; but as no communion-roll had been prepared, in order to give time for its completion, the Presbytery adjourned till the first Tuesday in February.

PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE.

Jan. 7, 1852.-Met at Manchester, and was duly constituted.

within the bounds was agreed to: "Inasmuch interests of Christ's kingdom among us, the as this matter is of great importance to the peace and prosperity of congregations, and the maintenance of the standards and principles of our Presbyterian Church generally, as well as to the ends of discipline when in the providence of God the occasion arises, the Presbytery agree to appoint a Committee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. Munro (Convener), Foster, Trail, Kemp, and Cromar, Ministers; and Messrs. Adam, Lamont, Morton, and Halliday, Elders, to communicate with the different ministers and sessions within the bounds, in order to procure exact information as to their trusts and constitutions in each particular case, and enjoin sessions to aid as much as in them lies in this inquiry, furnishing the said Committee with all available documents bearing upon the trust, and the conditions transmit a copy of this resolution to the different Church Sessions."

of the trust. And the Clerk is instructed to

PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

Met at Glanton, January 13, 1852, and was duly constituted. The roll being called,

sederunt, Messrs. Blythe, Anderson, Hoy, Lennie, Gillespie, Cathcart, Bannatyne, Fergus, Walker, and the Clerk. In the absence of the Moderator, Rev. N. Blythe was chosen Moderator, P.T. Commission in favour of Mr. George Davidson, as ruling Elder, from the congregation at Branton, was given in, and sustained. The minutes of last quarterly meeting, together with the minutes of subsequent pro re nata meetings, were read and sustained.

Messrs. Anderson, Bannatyne, Cathcart, Fergus, and Hoy, reported that in their congregations collections had been taken up for the College Fund. Mr. Gillespie had made collections for the College and School Funds. Mr. Lennie had made a collection for the Foreign and Home Mission Funds. Messrs. Blythe and Walker had made col

lections for the School Fund.

The Presbytery resolved to take up the subject of the Hymn-book at the next meeting. Mr. Bannatyne then laid upon the table an extract minute of a meeting of Session. held at Crookham, on the 11th of January, authorising him, in their name and on behalf of the congregation, to apply to the Presbytery to take the necessary steps for the moderating in of a call with a view to the settlement of a pastor over the congregation there. The Presbytery having heard Mr. Bannatyne in support of said application, did and hereby do agree to grant said application, and appoint Messrs. Anderson and Walker to conduct public worship at Crookham on Sabbath, 25th January, and thereafter to preside in the election of a minister to the vacant charge, and to moderate in a call to the person who may be chosen by the major part of the congregation. Mr. Blythe was appointed to serve the edict to the above effect, in the usual way at Crookham on Sabbath, the 18th.

School schedules, given in from Branton, Glanton, and Crookham, were read, examined, and ordered to be attested by the Moderator, which was done accordingly.

The following Committees were appointed to examine the day-schools within the bounds of the Presbytery :-Morpeth, Messrs. Anderson, Hoy, Gillespie, Edwards, and Walker; Glanton, Messrs. Lennie, Huie, and Bannatyne; Branton, Messrs. Blythe, Cathcart, and Fergus; Warrenford, Messrs. Bannatyne and Blythe; Wooler, Messrs. Huie, Lennie, and Blythe; Howtel, Crookham, Messrs. Bannatyne, Lennie, and Huie. The respective clergymen to be conveners.

The Presbytery resolved, that the next quarterly meeting be held at Branton, on the second Tuesday in April, at twelve o'clock. Adjourned, to meet at Alnwick, on Thursday, 29th current, at twelve o'clock. Closed with prayer.

Local Notices.

CALL.-The Presbyterian congregation at Chester have unanimously agreed to give a call to the Rev. Joseph Sloan, of London, to be their minister. It is satisfactory to the friends of our College to find generally, as in this instance, that the young preachers whom it sends forth, are so highly appreciated by all the congregations of our Church where they have an opportunity of being heard.

TESTIMONIAL.

Branton, in Northumberland, having reThe congregation at solved to present their senior pastor, the Rev. Newton Blythe (who is now the father of the Presbyterian Synod in England, having been fifty-five years in the ministry), with some tangible token of their affection and esteem, met in the church at Branton, on Christmas-day, when the Rev. James Anderson, of Morpeth, in their name and by their appointment, and in a speech of considerable length, presented Mr. Blythe with a very splendid tea and coffee service of plate, as a testimony of the respect entertained for him by his congregation, and of the gratitude which they cherish for his long and faithful labours as a Christian pastor among them. In accepting the gift, Mr. Blythe made a very touching and interesting reply, in the course of which he reviewed the history of Presbyterianism in Northumberland during the last fifty years; and it was gratifying and encouraging to hear the testimony borne by our venerable father to the fact, "that the former times" were not better than these. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev. Messrs. A. Hoy, Bannatyne, Cathcart, Murdoch (of Berwick), Gillespie, Fergus, and Lennie, in very suitable and impressive speeches. We regret that we are constrained to notice so briefly this most solemn and refreshing meeting.

LONDON. RIVER-TERRACE PRESBYTEbehalf of the Sabbath-schools was held on RIAN CHURCH.-The Annual Meeting on Monday evening, Jan. 12, 1852. William Stevenson, Esq., in the chair. The large school-room was crowded in every part, and a more united and enthusiastic assemblage we have not seen for many years. After tea, one of the elders, W. G. M'Kellar, Esq., in a very able and effective address, presented the Rev. John Weir, their minister, on behalf of the ladies, with a pulpit gown and cassock, a pulpit Bible and Psalm Book, together with a silver baptismal basin for the use of the Church. He expressed, in very appropriate and affecting terms, on

the part of himself and fellow members, their | unshaken attachment to their minister, their gratitude for his ministrations, so faithful and efficient, and for the very able stand he has been enabled to take against the encroachments of Popery in the neighbourhood, especially by the delivery of a Course of Lectures which have since been published, several of which have also been printed in the form of tracts by the Religious Tract Society, and circulated very extensively. Mr. Weir delivered an appropriate and affectionate reply. A report of the Sabbath school, of an extremely gratifying character, was read by Mr. M'Donald, the Secretary. Mr. Jackson, on behalf of the Deacons' Court, gave an interesting report of the result of an appeal to the congregation on behalf of the various Christian enterprises in which they are engaged.

Dr. Hamilton, in an eloquent and practical speech, spoke of the very great pleasure he had had in witnessing the continued prosperity of the River-terrace congregation. Considering the rapidity with which it had been increased,―of parties belonging to so many different denominations, and the popularity of their former pastor, he had ever regarded Mr. Weir's position as one of peculiar difficulty; it was therefore with extreme satisfaction he had witnessed so interesting a proof of their affection and prosperity, as he beheld that evening.

Addresses were afterwards delivered by the Rev. J. N. Harkness, Rev. W. H. Rule, Counsellor Payne, and Mr. A. Anderson. Mr. Payne concluded his interesting speech, with a number of verses, in which, after allusion to the gown and bands, concluded thus:

"But there is one, the gifts among,

Above all price we call ;

On which the destinies are hung
Of him, of us, of all!
The BIBLE-Book of source divine,
From which the Preacher gains
'Precept on precept,'-'line on line,'
In clear but lofty strains!
Our friend his zeal will never slack,

Till he with life must part;
But bind the gown about his back,
The Bible to his heart:
And the 'Baptismal Basin' take,
And cause the young to feel-
(Beloved for the Saviour's sake)—
The drops, his covenant seal.
Till he at last, in Canaan's land,

A different dress shall wear;
And walk in white, and joyful stand
Amidst the angels there."
GROSVENOR -
- SQUARE
CHURCH JUVENILE MISSIONARY ASSOCIA-

PRESBYTERIAN

TION.-This Association held its Tenth Annual Meeting in the church on Christmasday, when there was a large attendance of the children, and other members and friends of the Association. The Rev. Alexander Munro, A.M., presided. There were present, amongst others, the Rev. Dr. Duff, from Calcutta, the Rev. Mr. M'Hinch, and the Rev. Francis Tucker, of Manchester, who addressed the meeting. Mr. William Freeland read the Report, which was very satisfactory. It showed, amongst other things, that the members of this Association had collected about 757. during the byegone year, which was allocated to various important Missionary objects, viz. :-To the Home Mission, the Corfu Mission, the Old Calabar Mission, the East India Mission, the China Mission. The Rev. Dr. Duff addressed the meeting with his usual eloquence, and, after he had concluded, an extemporaneous collection was taken on behalf of the Mission Buildings of the Free Church of Scotland at Calcutta, amounting to 271. Os. 5 d., which was handed over to the Treasurer of that Fund. From the congregation in Grosvenor-square about 1,000l. has been collected for Dr. Duff's Mission Buildings at this time, making, along with other contributions from the same congregation during the past eighteen months, the sum of 1,400l. to the Free Church India Missions alone. It may also be stated, that from the Lancashire Presbytery alone, a good deal more has been collected than a third of the entire sum of 12,000l. wanted for Dr. Duff's Mission Buildings at Calcutta, on behalf of which he is now appealing to the liberality of the three kingdoms.

TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWCASTLE.-On Thursday, December 25, 1851, the select class of the Sunday-school in connexion with the above church, presented their teacher, Mr. John Noble, with "Professor Hitchcock's Religion of Geology,' and "Hail's Remarks on Volney's Ruins of Empires,' as a token of respect and gratitude for his able and zealous labours amongst them as their teacher.

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SEATON DELAVAL.-At the Meeting of the Bible Association more recently held, it was reported that the Committee charged with the distribution of the Word of God in the surrounding district had disposed of 30l. worth of Bibles and Testaments during the last four months. It was truly gratifying to find that the demand for family Bibles has been considerable. Another Association in the neighbourhood, of twelve months' standing, under the care of a few energetic ladies, has effected a sale of upwards of 60l. worth of Bibles and Testaments. In both cases the distribution has

been exclusively among the working classes. Let us thank God, and take courage. FALSTONE.-HOLT SCHOOL.-The presentation to this school of a set of Johnstone's school-maps, by James Stevenson, jun., Esq., of Laygate House, South Shields, afforded an opportunity for a lecture on the importance and uses of geography. It was most gratifying to find that a few hours' notice drew together a full house of parents and pupils to hear a branch of knowledge commended which was not even known by name in the schools in which most of the audience were taught. As old and young inspected the maps, both delight and gratitude beamed from every countenance. Our excellent teacher, Mr. Falconer, is now able to make the lessons in Scripture history more interesting and memorable. Mr. Stevenson, the donor, is gratefully remembered in this district.

FALSTONE.-Mr. William Elliot, of Old Hall, on behalf of the Bible class, presented the minister, on New Year's-day, with a substantial and valuable eight-day clock. The same evening, at the close of a prayermeeting, Mr. Stuart had an opportunity of thanking those of the Bible class that were present.

Islington Presbyterian Church Mutual Improvement Society, Liverpool.—This Society was commenced last March, with a view to the mental improvement of the young men of the congregation, by writing essays, and gathering and expressing ideas on the subjects brought under discussion. The first general meeting was held on the 20th of October, 1851, which was attended by a considerable number of the congregation, who were ably addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Cromar, H. S. Brown, and V. M. White. The Report stated that the Society numbered seventeen members, and that fourteen meetings had been held, at each of which an essay had been read. Such subjects as the following were brought before the various meetings:-Memory and the Association of Ideas; Intemperance and its Effects; Goldsmith's Life and Writings; Introduction of the English Scriptures; Life of Sir A. Agnew, and the Sabbath Question; History of Writing Materials used in Ancient Times; Egypt and the Egyptians, &c. We hope that this Society, yet but in infancy, may prove of much benefit in bringing together the young men, and leading them to such habits of reading and inquiry as may benefit the mind. The sum of 37s. 6d., arising from subscriptions, was handed over to the Connaught Mission. Islington Presbyterian Church.—The Annual Tea Meeting of the Sabbath-school teachers and children was held on the 22d of December. Upwards of 300 were pre

sent. The Rev. Messrs. Graham and White, and Messrs. C. R. Hall and Woodward, who attended as a deputation from the Sunday School Institute, to urge its claims, addressed the children. During the past year, the missionary money collected in the school amounted to 87. 2s. 5d., which was allocated as follows:-Madras Mission, for the support of Ettirajooloo, two guineas; Corfu Mission, two guineas; Home Mission, two guineas; and the balance to our school in Connaught.

An interesting case occurred in the death of one of the children, a boy four years and ten months old. He was seized with scarlet fever, and for a fortnight was in great pain, when he died. One day, when his father came in, the child said he had been trying to sing, but could not, his throat was so sore:-" Will God be angry with me that I cannot sing?" He said he would sing when he went to heaven, but he feared there too his throat would keep him from singing, and that God would be angry. His patience was great. By his lips moving, he was seen to be praying, and on putting the ear close to him, his prayer was heard: -"God make me patient." The doctor was affected even to tears at the readiness of the child to do what he asked amidst much suffering. He always said, "I'll try." Shortly before his death he called his father and sister (his mother being unwell, and unable to be present), and said, "Father, I am going to die now." His father said, "How do you know?" "I see Jesus come for me, I see him smiling on me; more." On looking round, his father said. "What are you looking for?" He said, "I do not see God." His father asked him where he was going. He said, "To heaven, to Christ." "How do you know he will receive you ?" He replied, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." There was a simplicity and guilelessness about the child which almost precluded the idea of affectation or deceit.

I see

As cheering evidences of the benevolence and activity of our friends during the late festive season, our table is still replenished with " Notices," most of which arrived at the eleventh hour, after our columns were full. We shall try to give the substance of their contents:

At Dudley, the day-school was examined by a Committee of the Presbytery, on the 29th December; 120 children were in attendance, and gave evidence of being under very superior management. In the evening they were entertained by the teachers; the Sabbath scholars, 200 in number, assembled for a like purpose on the following Tuesday. On Sabbath, Dec. 28th, the Rev. Jas. Speers preached the

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