being absent from the meeting of presbytery, the clerk was instructed to summon him to appear at next meeting, and also to summon the congregation of Drymen, and, in the mean time, to give the congregation supply of preachers.-A moderation in a call was granted to the Thornliebank congregation, and Mr Dick of Busby appointed to moderate on the 28th February.-Dr Eadie gave notice, that at next meeting he would move that the presbytery petition Parliament to reform the parochial schools of Scotland, and to free them from sectarian distinctions. The presbytery met again the following day, and licensed Messrs Mitchell, Bell, Baxter, and Smith, to preach as probationers.

Kirkcaldy. This presbytery met at Kennoway on 19th January last; the Rev. Wm. Cowan, moderator pro die. The moderator reported, that, in accordance with the appointment of the presbytery, he had dispensed the Lord's supper at Anstruther on Sabbath last. He also reported that Mr D. Douglas was confined at Pittenweem by severe illness, and could not possibly be ordained at present. The presbytery unanimously agreed to express their deep sympathy, both with Mr Douglas and the congregation of Kennoway in the painful circumstances in which the providence of God had placed them, and agreed to supersede the present appointment, and postpone the consideration of appointing another day for the ordination, till the result of Mr Douglas' illness should be known. Appointed the Rev. Wm. Harper, Arch. Muir, Wm. Cowan, and J. Mitchell, with the elders of their respective congregations, and Mr John Dick, Kennoway, a committee, to meet in Leven on the first Tuesday of February, in order to hear the discourses of students; said committee to report to next ordinary meeting of presbytery. The presbytery met again on 15th February. Mr John Logie was licensed to preach the gospel. Intimation was received that Mr Douglas, minister elect of Kennoway, was convalescent; but the presbytery had again to delay arrangements for his ordination. On a petition from Colinsburgh, craving aid from the Home Mission, and a moderation in a call, it was agreed to defer granting the latter, till the result of a conference with the Cupar presbytery, on the junction of the Kilconquhar and Colinsburgh congregations, should be ascertained. A committee was appointed to confer on the subject with the Cupar presbytery. The moderator and clerk were instructed to dispatch, in name of the presbytery, a petition to the House of Commons, for the removal of Jewish disabilities. The Synod's remits in regard to the Theological Library, and the Home Mission Fund, were brought under review; but the

further consideration of them was delayed till next meeting.

Lanark. This presbytery met at Lanark 21st December; the Rev. Andrew Scott, moderator. Mr Banks, preacher, who has accepted a call from the vacant congregation of Braehead, gave the remainder of his trial exercises with a view to his ordination. These were sustained, and his ordination appointed to take place on the 18th of January; Mr Maclaurin to preach on the occasion; Mr Kininmont to ordain and give the charge to the minister; and Mr Scott to address the congregation. A report from the committee appointed by the presbytery to consider the whole question of Sabbath school education, containing several useful suggestions on the subject, was read and laid on the table. The diligence of the committee was approved of, and it was agreed to consider the report more fully at a subsequent meeting. The next meeting of the presbytery was appointed to be held on the 14th of March, at Lanark, when there will be an annual conference with the elders and Sabbath-school teachers within the bounds of presbytery.

Newcastle. This presbytery met on 11th January. After hearing from Mr James Robertson trial discourses, with a view to ordination, it was agreed that his ordination at North Middleton should take place on 27th January. Mr Rattray of Swalwell was chosen moderator for the next six months, and Mr Pringle of Newcastle, clerk. The presbytery met again on 1st February. The mission committee reported that they had visited the congregations of Wallsend and Walker, but found no plan on which the two congregations would agree to unite. The presbytery, approving the diligence of the committee, while regretting that the union proposed in this case had not been effected, consigned the congregation of Walker to the care of the committee, to procure the location of a preacher there on the most profitable and practicable terms. From this decision, Messrs Bannatyne, Wilson, and Houston, with Mr Cochrane, elder, dissented, for reasons to be afterwards given. The Rules of Procedure, remitted by the Synod, came next under consideration, when some alterations were proposed. It was agreed that a list of statistical queries be printed and circulated among all the sessions of the presbytery.

Paisley and Greenock.-The ordinary meeting of this presbytery was held in the Abbey Close Hall, Paisley, on the 15th of February; Rev. Mr Clapperton, moderator. A transference was received from the Glasgow presbytery of Mr John B. Logan, student. After some routine business, a motion, of which the Rev. Mr Sinclair of

Greenock had given notice at last meeting, was considered. The object of this motion, of which a printed copy was sent to each session, was, to have every congregation of the presbytery visited annually by a deputation, who should meet with the session and managers, to inquire into its spiritual and temporal circumstances; and subsequently with the members and adherents, that suitable addresses might be delivered to them for their direction and encouragement. For carrying out this scheme, he proposed that the ministers of the presbytery should, at certain periods, exchange pulpits with each other, for the purpose of delivering a series of discourses on subjects calculated to excite them to the diligent and persevering discharge of their duties; and further, that once a-year all the elders of all the congregations should be invited to attend a meeting, when reports might be made respecting the working of the scheme, and when the whole elders assembled, might hold a conference as to the most efficient methods to discharge their official duties, and promote the interests of the congregations. The reports of sessions having been heard, and members of court having expressed their sentiments, the presbytery agreed to approve generally of the principle involved in the proposed plan, but to delay the consideration of its details till after the meeting of synod. Delayed the consideration of a Representative Assembly till next meeting of presbytery, which is to be held at Greenock on the first Tuesday of April. Proceeded to the consideration of the rules and forms of process, and agreed to propose certain alterations in that portion which refers to the supplementing of small stipends, and to the board for liquidating congregational debt. object of the alterations proposed is, to bring both schemes more fully under the cognisance of the presbyteries; to have measures taken for realizing one hundred pounds as the minimum stipend, exclusive of the value of manses; and to secure the privileges of the supplementary scheme to collegiate charges, so that aged ministers may be properly provided for in their declining years.

The

Selkirk. This presbytery met at Melrose 18th January. Transferences were received of Messrs James Rennie, and John Ballantyne, students of divinity of the fourth year, from the presbyteries of Edinburgh and Dundee. A letter from Mr Smart, the clerk of the Synod's committee, on the junction of weak congregations in the same locality, was read; but the presbytery agreed to delay answering said letter at present. Messrs Lawrence and Riddel delivered discourses, which were unanimously sustained, as parts of trials for

license. Read a petition from the West Congregation, Earlston, requesting a moderation in a call. Another petition from certain members of the congregation was also presented; but as it had not been transmitted through the session, the presbytery could not receive it. The commissioners from the congregation having given such information as was deemed necessary, the presbytery delayed the further consideration of this matter till next meeting. At the request of the commissioners, the presbytery appointed the Lord's Supper to be dispensed in the West Congregation, Earlston, on the second Sabbath of February; Mr Baird to preside, and to procure such assistance as he should find necessary. The consideration of the rules and forms of procedure was delayed till next meeting. The presbytery met again at Melrose on Tuesday, the 15th of February. A petition from certain members of the west congregation, Earlston, against the application for a moderation on the part of the congregation, lying on the table of the presbytery, and transmitted, cum nota, by the session, was presented. The note of the session was also read, and an extract from the minutes of session, certifying that eight persons who had signed the petition against the moderation, wished their names to be withdrawn. The presbytery then resumed consideration of the petition for a moderation. The commissioners from the congregation, and the petitioners against the moderation, were fully heard. And the presbytery having proceeded to give judgment in the case, after long reasoning, a motion was made and seconded, to grant the prayer of the petition for a moderation, with a recommendation to the congregation to reconsider the matter of stipend, with a view to its increase; which, upon a vote being taken, was carried by a large majority. The moderation was then appointed to take place at Earlston, on Wednesday, the 1st of March, at twelve o'clock, noon; Mr Blair to preach and preside, and Mr Williamson to assist. Mr Walter Riddel gave in his remaining trials, which were unanimously sustained, and he was licensed to preach the gospel. Next meeting of presbytery is to be at Selkirk on Tuesday the 4th of April.

Stirling. This presbytery met, 18th January; Mr Fraser of Alloa, moderator. A petition was presented for supply of sermons at Bridge of Allan, with a view to the formation of a church. Three elders, appointed by the petitioners, supported their request; they stated that ground for the erection of a church had already been secured, and that it was expected the congregation would, from the first, be a selfssutained one. The presbytery appointed

intimation of this petition to be made to the nearest adjacent churches, viz. those of Stirling, Dumblane, and Blairlogie, and agreed to enter on the merits of the case at next meeting.The court having met, 15th February, it was found that the neighbouring sessions offered no opposition to the erection of a congregation at Bridge of Allan, and it was agreed that supply of sermon should be granted, as petitioned for. Mr Steedman was appointed to preach, and open the station on the 27th February; and it was resolved that a member of presbytery should preach at Bridge of Allan every alternate Sabbath till the roll should be exhausted. A letter was read from the Synod's committee, for uniting weak congregations in the same locality. After considerable discussion, it was agreed to report, that there are two congregations at Dunblane, one of which corresponds with the above description, but that no wish for union had been expressed by either congregation, and the presbytery had not interfered in the matter. Mr Muir, student, read an exercise, as part of trials for license.

ORDINATIONS.

Braehead. The presbytery of Lanark met here January 18, for the ordination of Mr Alexander Banks. The Rev. Robert Maclaurin began the public services of the day by preaching a discourse on Ephesians iv. 11, 12. The clerk narrated the previous steps taken by the congregation to obtain a pastor and proposed the questions of the formula. The Rev. Alexander Kininmont presided at the ordination, and addressed the minister, and the Rev. Robert Scott the congregation. The services of the day were solemn and impressive-the audience numerous and attentive.

North Middleton.-On the 27th January last, the presbytery of Newcastle ordained Mr James Robertson as pastor at North Middleton. Mr Wilson of Walsend preach ed, Mr Pringle of Newcastle offered up the ordination prayer, Mr Duncan of Warkworth addressed the minister, and Mr Bannatyne of Hexham, the congregation.

CALLS.

Peebles, East Congregation. On the 19th January, this church gave a harmonious call to Mr John Semple, preacher. Mr Thomson of Peebles presided.

Cumnock-On the 2d February, the church at Cumnock gave an unanimous call to Mr Matthew Dickie, preacher. Dr Bruce of Newmilns presided.

Midmar. On the 27th January, the church at Midmar gave an unanimous call to Mr Archibald Cross, preacher. Mr Dickie, Aberdeen, presided.

CENTENARY MEETING.

Elgin. A meeting was held at Elgin on the evening of 20th January, in Mr Pringle's church, to commemorate the introduction of the Secession into Morayshire a hundred years ago; Rev. Mr Pringle in the chair. After praise and prayer by the Rev. Adam Lind, Elgin, the chairman having briefly adverted to the rise of the Secession in 1733, proceeded to give a variety of interesting details connected with its introduction into Morayshire. For these, he mentioned that

he had been much indebted to the labours of the Rev. Dr M'Kelvie, Balgedie, in the preparation of materials for the statistical work contemplated by him. Out of fifteen Synods of the Established Church, seven petitioned in favour of the "four suspended brethren" at the meeting of the Assembly's Commission in November 1733. Of these the Synod of Moray was one. Application for supply of sermon was first made to the "Associate Presbytery" by persons resident in Elgin, and some of the adjacent parishes, in 1741. Mr Alexander Troup, the first Secession minister in Morayshire, was ordained in 1748 as minister of Elgin and Boghole (nearly twenty miles distant from each other). He was translated to Perth in 1763. Mr Thomas Duncan was ordained in 1770 minister of Elgin and Forres (twelve miles apart). The chairman read to the meeting the call to Mr Duncan, dated Forres, 3d July 1769, and subscribed by fifty-four persons. In the year 1770,

about two months before Mr Duncan's ordination, the congregations in the north of Scotland were disjoined from the Presbytery of Perth and Dunfermline. In 1772, the members of Mr Duncan's congregation resident in Forres were disjoined from those in Elgin, and Mr Duncan appointed to Elgin exclusively. He died in 1818. The Rev. Robert Crawford (previously of Auchinleck, Ayrshire) was inducted in 1817 as colleague to Mr Duncan. He departed this life in 1828. Mr Pringle was ordained in 1829. The chairman then gave a rapid view of the history of the various congrega tions of which the Presbytery of Elgin is at present composed-noticing the date of their formation, and the ministers who have successively presided over them; and mentioned also the names of those ministers and probationers who had been brought up within the bounds of the Presbytery. Appropriate addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs Bisset of Nairn, Lind of Elgin, Simpson of Forres, and M'Donald of Lossiemouth. Mr Tillie of Burghead closed the meeting with prayer. The church was filled on the occasion, and the deepest interest manifested in the pro ceedings throughout.

DOWNING STREET AND THE VATICAN.

ANY credit which our Queen's ministers may be supposed to have gained for attachment to the Protestant truth, by their recent conduct in the matter of the bishoprics, will be lost to them in the estimation of many, by a proposal they have made to enter into diplomatic relations with the Pope. By the Act of Succession passed after the expulsion of the Stuarts, and by a subsequent Act "for the further limitation of the Crown," the sovereign forfeits the allegiance of his subjects if he be reconciled to, or hold communion with, the See of Rome. Lord Lansdowne, the ministerial leader in the House of Peers, has introduced a bill which, after reciting the acts just referred to, proceeds thus:-" That notwithstanding any thing contained in the said recited Acts, or either of them, or in any other Act or Acts now in force, it shall and is hereby declared to be lawful for her Majesty, her heirs and successors, from time to time, whensoever it shall seem fit to her or them to appoint and accredit to and employ at the Court of Rome any ambassador, envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotentiary, or other diplomatic agent or agents whatsoever, and from time to time, at her or their pleasure, to revoke and determine any such appointment and employment, and also from time to time to receive at the Court of London any ambassador, envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotentiary, or other diplomatic agent or agents whatsoever, of and accredited by the Sovereign Pontiff; and that all ambassadors, envoys extraordinary, ministers plenipotentiary, and other diplomatic agents so respectively appointed, accredited, employed, and received as aforesaid, shall respectively have and enjoy such and the same rights, privileges, and immunities as are now by law, usage, or otherwise, had and enjoyed by any other ambassador, envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotentiary, or other diplomatic agent or agents accredited by her Majesty to any foreign Power, or by any foreign Power to the Court of London."

For our part, we do not suspect the ministry of any liking for Popery, or any design to promote it, by this measure, reciprocated though it be at Rome. We regard its proposal as a challenge to a game of diplomacy between the Court of St James and the Vatican, each party trusting to its diplomatic skill to out-manoeuvre the other, and come off gainer. But what if Lord Minto or Lord Palmerston prove more than a match for the Pope and the most

skilful of his Jesuitical Nuncios? We have little faith in any success which Protestantism may gain from courtly intrigue or sly negotiation; and as for the political advantages which may possibly accrue to tionship, these, we fear, are not likely to this country from the proposed new relacompensate for the loss our Protestantism will suffer from parties so constantly on the watch for the ecclesiastical aggrandizement of their chief, as the counsellors of the Bishop of Rome may be supposed to be. On another ground we are hostile to the proposal. The main reason, we apprehend, which has led to it is, that scandal of British government that stumbling-block of successive administrations-the state of Ireland. This, to our minds, is put beyond a doubt by the result which has already followed Lord Minto's visit to Rome as a kind of ambassador; namely, the issue of a rescript from the Pope to the Irish priesthood, admonishing them against that interference with politics which has recently proved so troublesome to our government. Whigs managed Ireland formerly by O'Con nell. Now that the agitator is no more, and has left no successor to his more than

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regal power, the difficulty of ruling Ireland has become as difficult to the Whigs as to the Tories. The best substitute they can find for Daniel's rod is the crosier of Pius IX.; to secure the use of which, it is indispensable that an intimate relation be established between Downing Street and the Vatican. We dislike the measure for the very reason which, we suspect, chiefly commends it to Whig rulers. We condemn it as treating deceitfully the hurt of the Irish people. We reprobate it as putting off the day of reckoning with the gorged and

bloated Irish Church.

PROGRESS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN

PARLIAMENT.

THE second reading of the bill for the removal of Jewish disabilities, passed the House of Commons, 11th February, by a majority of 277 to 204. The discussion has served to evolve before the British legisla ture principles of the highest importance to civil and religious liberty, and which can not fail to carry forward the country in the direction of higher and more comprehensive measures in the same spirit. In favour of the bill we find Mr Gladstone, one of the members for Oxford, and the very pink of High Church toryism, uttering such sentiments as the following:-" Too much of substance and efficacy had been attached

to the bond of the christian name, vague and uncertain as that was, and not involv. ing any peculiar fixed truths. It would be difficult to become legislators of that House without proving that many who had already sat there, were, not as individuals, but as classes, at least equally unfit. The christian character of that assembly must in substance depend upon the feeling and character of the great majority of its members. They thought the Jews unfit to make laws; but who were the makers of the makers of laws? Whence did they derive their power? It was from its periodical return to its mother earth that that House derived new vigour. Then was it not a christian constituency?" It is not for us to reconcile these statements-which might be viewed as involving the ultra-radical doctrine of the sovereignty of the people, with the political creed usually avowed by Mr Gladstone, and particularly with his famous doctrine, of a national conscience in regard to religion; we only express the hope, that they will sink into his own mind and the minds of his party. If they do, they will assuredly dislodge certain notions which have hitherto been prejuIdicial to the interests of religious liberty.

Equally remarkable, and perhaps still more inconsistent with the professed creed of the speaker, are the sentiments uttered by the Roman Catholic master of the mint Mr Shiel: "The christianity of Parliament is the christianity of the country, and so long as the constitution remains, till Parliament itself shall perish, so long as this mighty mirror of the national mind remains untarnished and unbroken, so long will the religious feeling of the people of England be for ever reflected here. This is the true security for the religion of the country and the religion of this House; and it affords a far better security than any that can be supplied by a mere test, at which an honest man will pause, but which a sardonic sceptic will disdainfully overlook." Again, and still more to our purpose:"Where do you find authority in the scriptures themselves for the imposition of a temporal penalty for the propagation of heavenly truth? You may find it in the writings of jurists and divines, and in the dogmata of austere theologians; but you will not find it in the New Testament. You will not find it in the gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, nor in the epistles written by those humble men, to whose teaching all nations are called upon reverently to listen. Above all, you will not find it in any thing ever said, or in any thing ever done, or in any thing ever suffered, by the Divine Author of the Christian religion, who spoke as never man spoke,' who said he came to 'take a heart

of stone and change it into a heart of flesh;' who said, that 'blessed are the merciful;' and who, in place of ratifying the terrible anathema which the Jews invoked upon themselves, prayed for mercy to those who knew not what they did,' in consummating his great sacrifice. It was not by persecution that Christianity was then sought to be advanced. It was in despite of it. Yes; it was in despite of persecution, exile, spoliation, shame, and death,— it was in despite of beds of steel and couches of shame, that the Christian religion made its superhuman, miraculous way; and is it not repugnant to common sense, as well as to the elementary principles of this Divine religion, that it should be maintained and propagated by an instrumentality diametrically the reverse of that by which it was established ?"

One cannot help recollecting, in contrast with these sentiments, the uniform practice of the church which the eloquent speaker upholds. Without quoting language to the same effect spoken by other distinguished members, whose known opinions cause us to feel less surprise at what they advanced in the course of this debate, we only give further the following from Sir Robert Peel's speech. Referring to the argument which the exclusionists attempt to draw from religion, he observed:-" The precepts and spirit of Christianity should influence our legislation, and if our legislation were at variance with them, we could not expect a blessing upon it." We remark, by the way, that to the extent here contended for, the connexion between religion and the state is what every Christian voluntary would recognise. Again-" If he had a mission to inflict punishment for religious error, then it would be his duty to punish the Jew; but he had no such mission. the Jews had committed an inexpiable error 2000 years ago, even if he could prove the descent of existing Jews from those who then offended, he had no commission to punish the children for the sins of the father, not merely to the third and fourth, but also to the 300th and 400th generation. Vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord, and I will repay.' Having then no such mission, he proceeded to argue that, for religious error, the House had no right to inflict any penalty.

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Why, then, should Sir Robert and his state church subject Dissenters to the penalty of paying tithes and church-rates for the support of religious ordinances from which, for conscientious reasons, they can reap no benefit? Out of his own mouth we condemn him. If what he says be true, then is there not left a foot of ground to serve as the foundation of an Established Church. But Sir Robert Peel has shown