shall's, and Dr Johnston's, having been put to the meeting, and a show of hands taken on them, Dr Johnston's was carried by a large majority.

COMMITTEE ON PROVISION FOR AGED

MINISTERS.

Dr M'MICHAEL made a short verbal report on behalf of this committee. The committee, he said, had been at considerable pains in connection with the subject remitted to them, which they considered to be one of great importance to the church. They had been devising tables of the premiums required securely and effectually to carry out the scheme; and had received valuable gratuitous assistance from several eminent actuaries. From the steps they had taken, the committee were more and more convinced of the practicability of the scheme. He (Dr M'Michael) had always regarded, as one of the weakest points, he would not say in the Voluntary principle, but in Voluntary practice, the manner in which aged and infirm ministers were treated; and it was his earnest wish, as he believed it was that of all his brethren, that he might not outlive the time when he was unable, from age or infirmity, to discharge the functions of the ministerial office with efficiency and success. He was glad to see a spirit of liberality arising in the church, which he hoped would go on increasing, in regard alike to the home and the foreign field; and it would enable them to carry out successfully such benevo lent schemes as that now under consideration. To show the practicability of the scheme,Suppose a person at the age of twenty-five were to pay a premium of 15s. 6d. a-year, or an entire payment of L.15, 12s. 2d., he would be entitled to an annuity of L.10 at the age of sixty-five; or suppose that a person at the age of thirty paid a premium of L.1 a-year, or an entire premium of L.18, 17s., he would be entitled to receive an annuity of L.10 at the age of sixty-five. Again, suppose a person at the age of thirty-five paid L.1, 6s. 10d. a-year as premium, or an entire sum of L.23, he would also be entitled to an annuity of L.10 at sixty-five. Suppose, on the other hand, that the Synod were all young men, an annuity of L.20 for each could be secured by a payment of L.840 a year; or L.30 for a payment of L.1260 a-year; or L.40 for a payment of L.1680 a-year. He suggested, in conclusion, that the committee should be re-appointed, and instructed to report to a future meeting of Synod.

The Synod approved of the diligence of the committee, recommitted the subject for the reasons which they had adduced, that they might farther consider it and report to next Synod, with power to send the report, if completed before the next meeting of Synod, to individual ministers, or adopt whatever other course they might deem best, in order to communicate the matter to the church previous to that time.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES.

An overture was read from the Presbytery of Kilmarnock in favour of a summary of

principles to be used in the admission of members. The overture stated that such a summary had been in use in one of the branches of the now united church; and was still adhered to in many congregations; but as the Synod had not pronounced any judgment upon it, its continuance could hardly be said to be in accordance with presbyterian order. The presbytery believed that if such a form were prepared by the Synod, it would lead to unity of operation, and tend to strengthen the church at large.

Mr CAIRNS, of Stewarton, supported the overture, He considered that their symbolical books were too voluminous and too intricate; and that it would be productive of great advantage if a short abstract were made of the leading truths of the Gospel, prefaced by a short historical statement of the circumstances which had brought them together as a church, to be put into the hands of all their sessions.

Mr ELLES, of Saltcoats, as the seconder of the overture in the presbytery, made a few remarks in its support.

Dr M'KERROW thought there would be no diversity of opinion in the Synod in regard to the adoption of this overture, and the appointment of a committee. When the joint committee met, previous to the union, it was talked of by them, and he thought it was the opinion of the committee that such a document as this should be prepared at some future period for the benefit of the church. The last summary of principles he had found exceedingly useful in the admission of young communicants, and he had no doubt that if the proposed one were drawn out with care, it would be equally useful. He moved that the overture should be adopted.

Dr ANDREW THOMSON, in seconding the motion, said this was not a time to encourage any laxity in regard to matters of doctrine. Such a document would operate as an additional security to unity of doctrine, in reference to all fundamental matters. It would form an excellent test-book for examination, previous to the admission of members into the church. There was not a little importance in indoctrinating their young applicants more generally than they were at present, in what might be called their denominational principles. They ought to rejoice that their denominational principles and historical associations were such that they had no reason to be ashamed of them.

Mr J. S. TAYLOR, of Glasgow, said when this matter was formerly under consideration, it was not thought advisable to draw up a summary of principles. The reasons then existing for coming to that conclusion were as strong as ever. In the drawing up of such a document, there would be so much discussion, and so many suggestions and alterations, as to impart to it but little ecclesiastical authority; leaving the church at large, therefore, in no better position than it was at present. It was far better to leave this matter to individual members of Synod to act in it as in their wisdom they might see fit. In the admission of members, they ought to ask

their assent to the great doctrines of divine truth, and not go into historical questions regarding their distinctive principles as a religious denomination. He moved that, "In existing circumstances, the overture be dismissed."

Mr JEFFREY, of Glasgow, was of the same opinion. In the Shorter Catechism they had a sufficiently succinct summary of principles.

Mr BELL, of Newcastle, moved that the overture be sent down to presbyteries to consider and report; and that, in the meantime, it should be printed in the appendix to the minutes of Synod.

Mr THOMAS, of Mauchline, said that, as a christian denomination, they had principles which they were bound to assert and defend; and he held that to admit persons into the membership of the church who were not prepared to carry out their organisation, would just in effect be neutralising the design of their religious existence. He was decidedly in favour of the proposed summary of principles.

Mr MARSHALL, of Coupar-Angus, thought the overture contemplated rather much. He did not believe such a summary could be secured as would have that authority which ought to attach to such a document. It would be better to draw up a formula for the admission of members similar to that used in the admission of ministers and elders-embracing all in the Shorter Catechism which entrants into the fellowship of the church should formally espouse. He moved that a committee be appointed to consider the overture and the whole subject, and report to next meeting of Synod.

Mr M'INNES, elder, Blantyre, moved, seconded by Mr HAMILTON, that the overture lie on the table, to be taken up and considered at next meeting.

Mr TAYLOR having withdrawn his motion, the other three were put to a vote, and that of Mr Marshall remitting the matter to a committee was carried. The following committee was accordingly appointed :- Drs Struthers, Robson, King, Lindsay, Andrew Thomson. Messrs J. Kirkwood, P. Cairns, W. Marshall, J. Symington, D. Marshall, R. Frew, ministers. J. MInnes, W. Lambie, J. Logan, J. Munsie, R. Harvie, J. Peddie, elders. P. Cairns, convener.

DEBT LIQUIDATING FUND.

Mr JAMES GREIG gave in a report on behalf of the Debt Liquidating Board. Last year, he said, the Synod had authorised the Board to receive subscriptions, and to supplement these by a collection, with a view of raising funds to meet the demands made upon them. But, from various causes, it had been found impracticable to raise the necessary funds. The chief cause of this was the circumstance of so many congregations being engaged in efforts to pay off their own debts. Besides giving collections for the missionary schemes of the church, many of their congregations were engaged in mission work of a very heavy kind in their own localities. In these circumstances, the Board came to the conclusion

that they could not make use of the powers intrusted to them. They had before them a number of applications for aid. In one case the Glasgow section of the Board had become pledged to grant a sum of money, but their exchequer was empty. They had five or six very urgent cases, and a grant to these of a few hundred pounds would completely relieve them. About L.1800 would be required to meet all the applications before the Edinburgh and Glasgow sections of the Board, but if they got by a collection even L.600 or L.700, a great deal of good would be done in the urgent cases; and if they thought they could not spare a collection for the Debt Liquidating Fund, he had to request that the Board be no longer kept in existence as a merely nominal thing.

Mr DAVID ANDERSON, convener of the Glasgow section of the Board, said that past experience led him to hesitate about the expediency of setting about raising another subscription. The Synod, however, might recommend a collection, which would put them in possession of funds to do something towards the relief of the most pressing cases.

Mr ROBSON, Lauder, thought the best thing they could do was to allow the Board in the meantime to die a natural death. When it was once gone, congregations would know its worth, and be more likely to engage in active efforts for its resuscitation.

Mr THOMAS moved that the committee be re-appointed with the powers given at last meeting of Synod.

Dr BAIRD asked where was the congregation that was not able to send up at least a pound? If each congregation contributed only this amount, some L.500 or L.600 would be realised.

Dr YOUNG suggested that the committee be instructed to address a short pithy appeal to all the congregations of the church, giving a brief history of the fund, and showing the urgent necessity which existed for farther supplies.

Mr MACGILL said it was necessary either that the Board cease to exist, or that it exist vigorously. At present it was something like a pump when the well was drained. handle invited people to go and rattle at it, and the consequence was that the machine was pulled down.

The

Mr FRANCE, Paisley, thought the two sections of the Board should be joined, and have only one secretary. He suggested that deputations should be sent to delinquent congregations to stir them up to a sense of their duty.

Mr MARSHALL, Coupar-Angus, said they wanted more money for the fund, and they had wanted more money for a great variety of important purposes since the Synod met on Monday evening. What was the reason of this? Was it not that canker at the root of their whole financial system, the want of anything like equal effort on the part of all their congregations in sending contributions to the treasury of the church? He believed they would only have a trifling collection until they reviewed their whole financial system.

Mr J. PEDDIE, W.S., strongly urged the propriety of maintaining the Board in a state of vigour, by supplying them adequately with funds. He believed that if L.3000 were placed in their hands, they would be able, by rightly apportioning their grants in aid, to sweep off L.20,000 of debt.

After some farther discussion, the Synod agreed to express their strong sense of the importance of the Debt Liquidating Scheme; re-appointed the Board, and in addition to the powers given them last year, appointed a general collection to be made on the second Sabbath of February; enjoined presbyteries to see that it has been made; and authorised the Board to send deputations to such congregations as should neglect making a collection.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION.

Mr DAVIDSON, Stockbridge, read a report from the Committee on Theological Education, which entered into a number of details, in the first place, as to the superintendence of students. Referring next to the Synod library, it stated that, since last meeting of Synod, 295 volumes had been added to it, at an expense of about L.110; and the committee requested a renewal from the Synod fund of the grant of L.100 for the purchase of books. The report then adverted to the subject of ministers' libraries. The subscriptions in behalf of this scheme amounted to about L.1600; but after deducting expenses, the committee would only have at their credit from L.1400 to L.1450. Already thirtyeight libraries had been ordered by congregations; and other twenty congregations had signified their approval of the scheme. There had been despatched, at this time, by means of this scheme, books of the value of L.450.

Dr A. THOMSON moved the adoption of the report, and felt somewhat disappointed that the plan which had worked so well in the Edinburgh presbytery, and other two of the presbyteries, which contain within them a university, in regard to the superintendence of students-the plan of sending an annual report to the Committee on Theological Education-had not been adopted by the Glasgow presbytery.

Dr BEATTIE, after a few words in vindication of his presbytery, moved that an injunction be issued to the Presbytery of Glasgow to have a report on the subject in readiness, and sent up at next meeting of Synod.

After farther discussion, in which Mr Paterson, Stonehouse, Mr Thomson, Slateford, Mr Elles, Saltcoats, Dr Anderson, Glasgow, Mr Cooper, Fala, Mr Paterson, Kirkwall, &c., took part, the following resolution was come to:-"Having heard the report of the Committee on Theological Education and Congregational Libraries, receive the same, and return thanks to the committee for their diligent attention to the various matters entrusted to them: agree to grant for library purposes such a sum as, after the payment of the librarian's salary and the charge for the accommodation, shall leave a clear surplus of L.100 for the pur

chase of books: authorise the committee to send such copies of duplicate books as might be spared for the use of the Theological Institution of Nova Scotia, in accordance with a request from that institution, reserving one half for the use of the Theological Academy of Canada."

Dr BEATTIE's motion was in substance agreed to as follows:-"The Synod having noticed that the Presbytery of Glasgow have not implemented the injunction of the Synod, with reference to the superintendence of students, enjoin them to report on this subject at next meeting of Synod."

SUPPLY OF PROFESSORS' PULPITS.

The following presbyteries were appointed to supply the professors' pulpits during next session of the Divinity Hall :-Dr M'Michael's, by the presbytery of Perth; Dr Brown's, by the presbytery of Edinburgh; Dr Harper's, by the presbytery of Berwick; Dr Lindsay's, by the presbytery of Kilmarnock; Dr Eadie's session were, at his request, left to provide supply for his pulpit.

PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY FOR CANADA.

The Mission Secretary reported that the mission board had recommended to the Synod of Canada the Rev. Dr Taylor of Auchtermuchty, as a fit person for the office of professor. The Synod of Canada had unanimously and cordially invited Dr Taylor, thanking the home Synod for the diligence and judgment which they had displayed in this matter.

Dr BAIRD, of Paisley, moved the adoption of the report, which was unanimously agreed to.

Mr Paterson of Kirkwall, Mr Robertson of Shamrock Street, Glasgow, and others, took the opportunity of expressing their high admiration of Dr Taylor as a scholar and theologian, and stated that he went out to Canada enjoying the entire confidence of his brethren, and carrying with him their earnest wishes for his welfare and success.

ANNUAL MISSIONARY MEETING.

The Annual Missionary Meeting was held in Bristo Church on Wednesday evening. The immense building was crowded in every part. The Moderator occupied the chair, and constituted the Synod in the usual form. Rev. Dr Taylor of Auchtermuchty offered up

prayer.

The

The Rev. Andrew Somerville, Mission Secretary, read an abstract of the Annual Report-for which we refer our readers to the Missionary Record for this month. Mr Peddie, Treasurer, read a statement of accounts, from which appeared that the receipts for the past twelve months amounted to L.9385, 3s., and the disbursements to L.11,732: 19: 8. The apparent deficiency was accounted for in a manner creditable to the liberality of the churches.

The MODERATOR then addressed the meeting on "The wrongs and claims of the Caffres." Britain's connection with the Caffres dates from her acquisition of the colony of

the Cape of Good Hope, forty-six years ago. The wrongs these people have since sustained will furnish a dark page in the annals of modern colonisation. The substitution of British rule for Dutch, instead of being associated in their minds with the benignant influence of Christianity, and a more just and humane policy, was followed by a series of acts, on the part of the government, and of private parties, fitted only to deepen the dread and jealousy of the white man which the contiguity of the Boers had previously inspired. First of all, the Gospel was denied them by the Cape government, which for many years prohibited European missionaries going among them. Then the system of Commandos continued to be carried on, under which, on the pretext of avenging offences committed by individuals, or of making reprisals for losses of cattle, large parties of armed colonists made sudden incursions upon the Caffres, slaughtering indiscriminately all who came in their way, and carrying off their herds and flocks. The formidable military invasions, conducted by the colonial government, were not more justifiable, and were productive of far more extensive and permanent injuries. Occasions were sought and pretexts seized for resorting to hostilities, by which successively we stripped those on our immediate frontier of half their territories. We found them in undisputed possession of all the land east of the Bushmans and Sunday Rivers. We drove them beyond the great Fish River, and declared it to be the boundary. Then we drove them out of the Kat River, and declared it to be annexed to the colony. Then we drove them beyond the Keiskamma, and declared it to be the boundary. Large tracks were alleged to have been ceded by verbal treaties with individuals who had no title to dispose of them: and when the chiefs and tribes to whom they belonged, and who had never been consulted, refused to acknowledge such treaties, their violent expulsion was the result. These invasions, undertaken without regard to justice, were executed with relentless cruelty. The approach of harvest was the season selected for one of these grand spoliations. Seizing many thousands of their cattle, easily vanquishing resistance by opposing fire-arms to javelins, and regular troops to undisciplined bands, our forces drove out whole tribes from their lands at the very time when they were about to reap the crops on which they depended for subsistence. This is the course followed by our expeditions still, save that the use of fire-arms, which our commerce with the Caffres has extensively introduced, and the tactics which some of their leaders have acquired, render the contest much more difficult. What have been all our military campaigns in South Africa-what is the present? A wholesale system of incendiarism, of cattle lifting, and of devastation of crops. It may be doubted whether, by the methods we pursue, we do not more exasperate than humble them, and gain a present conquest at the expense of entailing future wars. For many years after we had driven them beyond the Fish River, they were prohibited, without

an express permission, from crossing the boundary, under the penalty, if they escaped being shot, of being made slaves in the colony. Under this infamous enactment, not only male stragglers, but women and children, were snatched and severed from their country and their families, and reduced to bondage. In their quarrels with neighbouring tribes, or among themselves, our colonial governors arbitrarily interfered, espousing one side, without hearing the other; waged war with those who were doing us no harm, and who deprecated our hostility or interference; gave to one chief unjust and invidious preponderance, and by our partiality offended and incensed others more powerful; and fermented jealousy and animosity between the tribes. The favour of the governors was sometimes as capriciously withdrawn as it had been bestowed, and those who had been the objects of it found themselves subjected to as wanton spoliation, and exposed to as base treatment, as avowed enemies. It was so with Gaika, for many years our principal ally. The treacherous attempt made in the midst of profound peace by secret orders of the then governor, Lord Charles Somerset, to seize that chief, was so flagrant a breach of every moral principle, that it struck a fatal blow at confidence in our military authorities. The refusal of Sandilli to meet the governor before the present war, arose out of the distrust produced in his mind by the perfidy with which he affirms he was treated under another governor at the close of the last war. We have had humane governors, and enlightened colonial ministers, who have sought to redress the evils, and to repair the deeds of their predecessors. But their task was one of extreme difficulty. The evil done is not to be undone, and sometimes their ameliorative measures were of doubtful benefit. Having glanced at their wrongs, Mr Renton adverted next to the claims of the Caffres. What are they as men? Physically, they are in stature, form, and muscle, a superior race; in the conformation of the head, and in the form of the eye resembling Europeans, though assimilated to the negro in wooly hair, and somewhat in breadth of nostril, and in thickness of lip, as well as in colour. Intellectually, they are subtle, reflective, and sagacious, quick to perceive the drift of an argument, and dexterous at evasion, though too perspicacious and manly to gainsay a fairly established conclusion. Morally, they are strongly marked by selfishness and deceit. Lying is their universal and inveterate vice. The custom of polygamy, the custom of circumcision, after attaining the age of puberty, with certain usages attendant on the observance of the rite, and some of their superstitious customs and dances, are productive of much and gross impurity. But in some respects they are not a licentious people, and in this contrast favourably with some other contiguous races. Under the influence of sorcery, they have sometimes committed deeds of horrid cruelty; and in war, have sometimes shockingly mutilated the bodies of Europeans, in revenge and imitation of simliar

M

enormities previously perpetrated by Europeans on their countrymen. But these are occasional acts, to which they have been instigated by the violent impulse of retaliation or of superstition. They are not naturally of a cruel and bloodthirsty disposition. They are a nation of herdsmen; their habitations consist of round huts of dried grass; their only covering is a mantle of tanned ox hide or sheep's skin, or as a substitute a blanket; their food in time of peace, milk, coffee, and Indian corn, and a few esculents which are cultivated by the women. Their government is patriarchal. The authority of the chief over the tribe, and of the father over the family, is supreme, and secures an amount of subordination, order, civility, and harmony in their civil and domestic relations, which one cannot contemplate without admiration. They are familiar with the nature and obligations of contracts; and though deceitful, yet in engagements deliberately and freely made they are honourable and to be relied upon. In some of their usages, as in their manners and their language, there are vestiges of a remote and advanced civilisation. For many generations they have been barbarians. Such they are now. They have the habits of the barbarian. They have the vices of the heathen. But viewing them all in all, where among barbarians or heathens shall we find another people having better claims to our recognition as fellow-men, or furnishing better materials for intellectual cultivation and christian instruction, or more likely, if brought under their influence, to be valuable instruments in their extension ? A striking evidence of their discrimination, humanity, and fidelity, was furnished in the interesting history of a mission family at one of our stations during the present war. Mrs Chalmers was reluctant to abandon her property, and not less to quit (without the last necessity), the scene and the flock among which her husband had laboured. She was left with her family at Chumie, when the other mission fa. milies quitted it. She continued there throughout the war, up at least to about the middle of February, the only white family among the Caffres, entirely destitute of all protection and assistance from British authority. Straggling parties and numerous bands of the insurgents have been passing the station at all times, sometimes chagrined with disappointment or exhausted with defeat and hunger. But in no instance has she or one of her household received the slightest molestation, or been pilfered of an article. On the afternoon of 10th December last, a day of close cold rain, there came pouring into the station a host of horsemen and footmen in very sorry plight, baulked of some project against Fort-Hare. The wretched sheep skins, which formed the only covering of most of them, were soaked with wet. They packed every house and hut under whose roof they could find shelter; and, among others, took possession of the kitchen of Mrs Chalmers, and one of her rooms. They had tasted no food since the preceding evening. The chief sent a request for some food to himself,

saying he would not refuse anything, and accepted some potatoes. A supply was sent for to the Amatola Mountains, and four large oxen arrived next day, which were instantly slaughtered and cooked. But they were insufficient; whole companies of men did not get a morsel. The total number was from 800 to 1000. They remained thirty-six hours at the place. Outside Mrs Chalmers' enclosure not a blade nor embryo fruit that man could eat was left undevoured. Within her enclosure were two large patches of potatoes fully ripe, the only staple for her family's subsistence. Many of the men had eaten nothing, yet not a shaw of these potatoes was touched, nor a fruit or plant in her garden injured, nor the slightest incivility offered to her or one of her family. Here was an instance of self-command, which shows what the Caffres are capable of. On the 4th of February last, when the soldiers who had been sent out to cut down the crops came to Chumie, they showed no such respect to a white family or a widow, though one of their own countrywomen. A party of the 74th, to the shame of a Scotch regiment be it spoken, pillaged her garden, heedless of all remonstrances, and nearly stripped it of all it contained, before a party of the 91st arrived, which General Somerset, on hearing of this outrage, promptly sent to stop it. Mr Renton referred in conclusion to their special claims on the United Presbyterian Church, as a people among whom, in providence, we had had missionaries labouring, and had reaped some fruits, and possessed an instrumentality for resuming labours if the door which was now shut was again opened. One who had travelled up and down Caffreland, had remarked that he "never met a group of two or three Caffres, among whom he did not find some knowledge of Christ, of his name, his death, and the object of it: and of those he met with, few had themselves been at mission stations or heard missionaries. Their knowledge had been gained from their own countrymen who had lived at those stations." Doubtless some professed converts had put away a good conscience, and concerning faith made shipwreck. But no doubt some who have fallen in the hour of temptation will rise again. The Moderator, whose address was loudly applauded throughout, sat down amid great applause.

The Rev. Mr BOYD, Campbelton, spoke on God's willingness to prosper the missionary cause. As it was the most prominent prophetic fact in the revelation of the Old Testament, that a spiritual Saviour should appear in the fulness of the times, so it seems to be the grand prophetic fact in the revelation of the Gospel, that, the Saviour having come, and having been invested with royal dignity, should claim the world for his empire, and all nations for his subjects. The former of these facts was presented to the minds of the Jewish people in all the ordinances of their worship, and typified in all their sacrifices; and the latter occupies so prominent a place in apostolic testimony, that the Gospel has no meaning without the distinct recognition of it. The corruption of the Christian Church begins