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CONGREGATIONAL FINANCE.

Mr HAY, of Arbroath, convener of the committee appointed on this subject, which was brought before the Synod by an overture from the presbytery of Arbroath, gave in the report. The committee had found the importance of the subject increasing in proportion as they advanced in its consideration, and that it required so much deliberation that it was not practicable to prepare a final report for the Synod in the short time which had elapsed since their appointment. They had, therefore, resolved to present an interim report on the subject. The report, after referring to the defects of the present system of congregational finance, detailed several suggestions, which the committee had agreed to submit to the Synod.

Mr HAY, after reading the report, stated that the committee agreed to recommend that the report should be sent back to them, to be printed in some form or other. It might then be sent to presbyteries for consideration, with a list of queries appended, in order that the mind of the church might be ascertained on the subject.

Mr JAMES GREIG, as a member not only of the large committee appointed to consider the subject of finance, but also of the sub-committee appointed to take the initiative in the matter, craved permission to make a few remarks. The committee were deeply impressed with the importance of the subject. The matter was both delicate and difficult to deal with-difficult abstractly considered, but doubly so in consequence of the variety of different ways in which their congregations had hitherto managed their financial affairs; and every one must feel the difficulty of introducing uniformity in this matter by force, and that a gradual change was infinitely preferable. There were two ways in which the committee might gain a knowledge of the state of the church. The first was by issuing queries to congregations, by the answers to which, the information desired might be obtained; but, again, they did not wish to alarm the church by proposing to them a long string of queries about finance. In the next place, they need not ask from congregations what they could better obtain from presbyteries, - viz. suggestions respecting difficulties, local or otherwise, which might prevail in different parts of the church; and therefore they thought, if the Synod would agree to their request, to remit this report to the committee to be put into the shape which had been indicated, and authorize it to be published in this form, or in any other which might be thought best,-that before next meeting of the Synod they would have the

reports of the various presbyteries before them, and thereby learn the mode in which the accounts were presently kept in the various localities, suggestions regarding the improvement of the scheme, and also the objections, if any, to the proposals of the committee; and having all this before them, they could be in a much more prepared state for bringing before next meeting of Synod such a report as they could still more heartily recommend for adoption. These were the views entertained by the committee, and he trusted that the Synod would adopt their recommendation.

On the motion of Mr Ronald, seconded by Mr Hogg of Haddington, the Synod unanimously agreed to adopt the recommendation of the committee, and ordered the report to be printed.

DISTRIBUTION OF PREACHERS.

Mr SMART gave in the report from the committee on the distribution of preachers. After referring to the inconvenience of the present system of allocation, the report proposed that the allocation should be vested in one man, so as to secure unity of system and fairness of distribution; the committee conceiving that the concentrated responsibility would operate favourably for all parties. In order to ensure greater weight to the allocation, the committee also propose that the allocator submit a draft of his appointments to a committee of three individuals, who, for the sake of convenience, shall all reside in the same locality. It was also thought highly desirable that the appointments should be made monthly, at once to lessen the amount of business, to secure greater accuracy, and to meet cases of emergency which were continually occurring. The committee further recommended, that the plan be regulated according to three classes,-vacancies, missionary stations, and the pulpits of ministers; and that a preference be given to vacancies over missionary stations, and to missionary stations over the pulpits of ministers,-the preachers being taken according to the date of their license-those of the first year being first sent to vacancies-so that all the preachers might have the same opportunity of being called. It was also proposed that no preacher should get the same appointment on two successive Sabbaths, and that he should not be sent a second time to the same pulpit till the other preachers have been heard, unless at the special request of the congregation, which must at all times be attended to. With regard to the standing of preachers, it was proposed that, should a preacher be compelled to retire for a time from his labours, his license should be put

back according to the period of his necessary and permitted absence; as, for instance, if a preacher of twelve months' standing was laid aside for three months, on receiving his appointment he stands as of twelve months' standing, and not of fifteen months. These were the principal features of the scheme detailed in the report, which, however, contained several other propositions.

On the motion of Mr PATERSON, it was agreed that the Synod receive the report; approve of the diligence of the committee; and direct that the plan and the regulations proposed, together with a scale of remuneration for the services of preachers in different congregations, be printed in the appendix to the minute, that the attention of presbyteries may be given to the subject.

COMPLAINTS RESPECTING PROBATIONERS.

The committee on complaints respecting probationers reported, that Messrs David Mudie, John Kelly, and Wm. Barlas, had requested their names to be withdrawn from the list of preachers taking Synodical appointments; that Mr Claude Lambe had been removed by death; that the Rev. T. Adam had intimated withdrawal from communion of the church; and that the Rev. Arch. Ritchie was deposed from the office of the ministry by presbytery of Arbroath. The report recommended the Synod to ordain that those preachers who, in consequence of some private engagement, were confined for a time to a particular locality, and therefore not at the disposal of the committee, should not be placed on the list for Synodical appointments; and, further, the committee agreed to request of the Synod information as to the extent of the powers entrusted to them in "revising annually the list of probationers, and inquiring into their acceptability and usefulness." The Synod agreed to grant the first request, and instructed the committee to append to the list of appointments the names of preachers confined to a limited district in consequence of private engagements, that they may be employed for occasional demands within their reach. The Synod further instructed, that when it is found that there are objections against receiving any probationer on account of want of acceptableness, the committee shall correspond with such probationer, and, if they judge it necessary, instruct the committee of distribution to withhold from him appointments, reserving to the probationer the right, if he feel dissatisfied, to bring the case before the Synod.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION.

An overture was read from the Presbytery of Edinburgh, craving the Synod to

adopt a uniform system of examinations for the students throughout the different presbyteries of the church. The Synod having

agreed to take up this subject in connexion with the Report of the Committee in the Divinity Hall, Mr THOMSON of Stateford, Convener of this Committee, gave in their report.

The report, after adverting to the changes proposed on the draft of regulations, proceeded to press on the attention of the Synod the importance of a uniform plan throughout all the presbyteries of the church for the superintendence of students. All presbyterian bodies held by the principle, that one of the functions of presbyteries was to superintend the studies of the students under their care. In the constitution and practice of this church the principle was specially recognised. But for the care exercised by presbyteries over the students residing in their bounds during the intervals of the session of the Hall, the shortness of that session could not be vindicated. If there were defectiveness here in the arrangements of the church, the apology usually offered was that the work of the Hall was supplemented by the superintendence of presbyteries. Accordingly, therefore, to the principles of the church, the fidelity of presbyteries in this matter had a close connexion with the efficiency of their plans for the training of the ministry; or, in other words, for securing a succession of faithful and well qualified men who should teach others also, and for fulfilling the great end for which they existed as a section of the visible church. Hitherto presbyteries had been left to adopt their own plans in the superintendence of students; and hence great diversity had arisen in the amount of work prescribed to students in examinations and exercises by different presbyteries, and even by the same presbyteries at the same time. By giving its sanction to a well devised, practicable, and moderate scheme of examinations, which might be applied with equal ease to students in every part of the church, the Synod would employ its influence and authority in a way fitted at once to stimulate all presbyteries to zeal and diligence in fulfilling this part of their functions; elevate the standard of attainment among the students, and equalize the amount of labour required at their hands during the recess. It had become all the more necessary that a measure of this kind should be adopted, that the scheme of scholarships for students in theology had directed the attention of the students themselves to the unequal demands which were made upon them by different presbyteries. [The views of the students were here stated by Mr Thomson, as expressed in a petition of their

own, signed by forty-three students, and addressed to the Synod.]

While such views were entertained by students, there was reason to believe that they were participated in by not a few presbyteries. The report then proceeded to state, that a uniform scheme should prescribe such a series of examinations, graduated according to the year of a student's course, as would take him in four years over a pretty extensive range of theological reading and study. There should also be a substantial agreement between the subjects of examination prescribed by this plan, and the course of study prescribed to competitors for scholarships. A scheme had been prepared by the committee according to these principles, which they now laid upon the table. A proposal had been made by Mr Renton, during the course of the committee's deliberations, to the effect, that the scholarship committee should be appointed to examine annually all students; but though it was thought proper to mention this proposal as worthy of being attentively examined by the church, the committee were not yet prepared to recommend its adoption. The report then proIceeded to narrate all that had been done for the library during the last year. It now consisted of upwards of 7000 volumes. Donations to the amount of 168 volumes, many of them of great value, had been presented by Mr Oliphant, Dr Brown, A. G. Ellis, Esq, Mr R. Ogle, and others, to whom the thanks of the Synod were due. The elegant and suitable accommodation now furnished for the library was, in a great measure, the result of the praiseworthy zeal with which Messrs Boyd and Peddie, the chairman and clerk of the Synod-House Committee, had endeavoured to meet the views of the Library Committee in fitting up the library rooms. The report concluded by recommending and enforcing the appointment of a librarian on a salary, and other measures which were indispensable to the regular and steady improvement of the library, so as to place it in a condition which would make it a source of great utility, and commensurate with the demands of the age."

Along with this report, the committee presented a scheme of examinations, which, after instructing the committee to insert a clause for examination in natural philosophy, was adopted by the Synod.

On the motion of Mr Smart, Leith, the Synod, through the moderator, tendered their thanks to Mr Thomson and the Theological Committee for their valuable labours.

The following were appointed to act as members of this committee in the room of those who retire :-Rev. Jas. Kirkwood, W.

A. Pettigrew, Wm. Smart, F. Muir, J. Robertson, sen., and W. Beckett.

REPORT ON SCHOLARSHIPS.

Dr King gave in the Report of the Committee on this subject. The scholarships which had been assigned in August last varied in amount from L.10 to L25. Out of thirty-three competitors twenty-one had received scholarships. The entire sum allocated was L.375. The examinations had been conducted both orally and in writing, and the manner in which they had been gone through by the students had been highly creditable to themselves, and full of promise to the church. The first regular examination under the Synod's scheme took place in November last, and was conducted wholly in writing, as it included students belonging to all our national universities, and it was not possible to bring them together, or to conduct an oral examination, while they were separated. The examination papers were the same for all the colleges, and all the students in the different university towns were engaged in writing their exercises during the same hours of the same days. When the exercises were finished, they were sent to the proper examiners, and were judged of irrespectively of local distinctions. By this method of conducting the examination, it had as much simplicity and unity as if all the students had been attending one university; and while the multiplicity of colleges is thus prevented from doing any harm, it may be productive of good, as professors and students will be naturally desirous to sustain the character and honour of their particular seat of learning.

"That the examination might be divested of all suspicion of partiality, it was agreed to keep the names of the competitors in sealed envelopes, and to know them only by numbers till the comparative merits of the exercises should be ascertained, and the scholarships adjudged. This plan could not provide against errors of judgment, but it effectually excluded all possibility of favouritism. The success of a student depended on the value of his exercises taken collectively, and the following was the mode in which their value was estimated. Each examiner had a printed paper of topics or questions. He supposed his questions, if all perfectly answered, to be worth a hundred, and assigned them individual values to bring them in all to this amount. In the case of each student, it was ascertained from the examiners how near he had come to the hundred of perfection in Latin, how near he had come to the hundred of perfection in Greek, and so in all the other provinces of trial. His answers might be worth fifty in one department, eighty in

another, thirty in a third, &c., and when these were added together, it was seen whether the aggregate placed him above or below his fellows. The students having the largest aggregate numbers were declared to be the successful scholars.

The report continued:-"The measure, so far as the committee are aware, has worked most smoothly. A plan embracing many classes, and not a few colleges, had necessarily a complicated aspect, and yet there was no omission or collision on the day of examination. Sixty-five students, presenting testimonials of character from our ministers or sessions, applied to be received as competitors. Six of these withdrew on account of bad health, or bereavement, or for some equally good and assigned reason, before the examination took place, so that eventually the number of competitors was fifty-nine. Twenty-one of these received scholarships, and many others acquitted themselves so well, that the committee lamented their inability to enlarge the list of successful candidates. Not a complaint, however, has come from a single student that he was injured by the mode of conducting the examination, or that the examiners had in any way violated the strictest equity. That the professors of our colleges thought well of our measure when it was set on foot, appears from their written opinions. (Dr King here read ap proving letters from a number of professors.)

"The actual working of the scheme has elicited from those gentlemen, and others, of like high position, still stronger expressions of approval. (Letters of like character as the former, and of more recent date, were here read.)

"We have communications from many of our ministers, telling how much good the measure had done to students in their congregations and neighbourhood, by quickening their diligence. (Dr King here alluded to examples.)

"The principal objection urged against the measure is, that the poorest students are the least educated, and therefore the least likely to obtain aid depending on scholarship. Some on this ground would prefer a plan that looked to poverty as well as promise, and made them jointly the grounds of pecuniary encouragement. It is evident, however, that the endeavour to ascertain who had the greatest need would involve much delicacy and much difficulty --that more might depend on the zealous representation of interested parties than on the actual circumstances of students, and that as the proportional weight to be attached to destitution and to talent respectively could never be fixed by any distinct principle or rule, it might, in too many in

Such

stances, be determined by caprice. has been the history of all bursaries placed on this footing. They have opened a door to importunity, partiality, and indolence; and, in the opinion of most informed and competent judges, have done more harm than good.

"Some who are aware of these evils attaching to the bursary system, when its benefits are extended to some students and not to others, have suggested that aid might be provided for all our students indiscriminately. Not to speak of the vast expense which this scheme would incur, and the absence of all stimulus by which it is characterised, it would have a palpable tendency to bring students to us who would do us little service and little credit. Other denominations have made the experiment, and they have found that no care of courts has countervailed the efficacy of such a lure to introduce a class of students of a worse than questionable description.

"It will be admitted that if competition could be so regulated as to meet the case of poor students, it has in other respects great advantages. If a student in straitened circumstances is also of inferior capacity, then no honest trial of qualification can make him a successful candidate. But ought such persons to be conducted to our pulpits? Is it kindness to the church, is it kindness to poor weak students themselves, to push them forward to responsible stations against all the remonstrances of nature and providence? If a student in humble life does possess good abilities, then the committee are of opinion that the present measure of the Synod admits of adaptation to his exigencies. In various ways a strict and impartial examination may hold out facilities to poor students, and, at the same time, do injury to no others.

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"First, the subject of examination may be of limited amount-searching, so far as it goes, but comprised within narrow bounds. On this narrow space a poor student may bring his natural faculties to bear, when he had not the requisite leisure to traverse a wider range of learning. Secondly, the subjects of examination may be announced long before the competitions. take place; and thus the student who has a little time each day will have a good deal upon the whole, and the elements of steadiness and perseverance, so important to the ministry, will tell powerfully on the result. Thirdly, the amount of mere knowledge displayed in the exercises of students, though an important element, may be regarded as only one of the grounds of judgment. One original thought, one acute observation incidentally elicited, one happy figure or vigorous expression, may be warrantably founded on as showing, in its own

measure, superiority, and entitling to preference; and it would be very extraordinary, if in an examination so deliberate and varied as ours is, natural talent failed to develope itself.

"The Synod will be glad to learn that such endeavours of the committee to adapt the examination to students in humble life have not been fruitless. A large proportion of the successful competitors in the late examination were of this class; and the student who shot ahead of all his fellows, and proved himself facile princeps in the competition, will think it no discredit to him to have it told that he is the son of a pious and intelligent father, who supports himself by humble though honourable industry. Several who got scholarships depended on them for attendance at college last winter. Such facts leave no reasonable doubt that if the scholarship fund be duly replenished, it will extend encouragement to every student whom it is proper to encourage in the prosecution of his studies.

"It appeared in the late examination that several students had experienced much inconvenience from wanting some of the books mentioned in our advertisement. To meet this evil the committee determined on purchasing a small supply of the most nccessary books for the use of students not having easy access to them. This is another accommodation to students having the strongest claims on kind consideration and encouragement, and while it is a boon in itself, it will evidently tend to equalise the examination.

66 Another objection urged against the measure has been, that it attaches more importance to scholarship than to piety. In reply, it should be observed that it does not remove or impair any fence of piety formerly possessed. The only effect of it in this department is to afford additional guarantees for scriptural knowledge and Christian behaviour. The students attending the universities must be certified by ministers and sessions. They are examined by the committee on their acquaintance with divine truth, and they receive suitable counsels as to the cultivation of devotion. In addition to all this they received each at the late examination a copy of "James' Earnest Ministry," kindly presented by John Henderson, Esq. of Park. Similar observations apply to divinity students with such exceptions as result from their different position, and therefore it can only be through misapprehension if any one doubts the tendency of this measure to promote godliness as well as diligence, or shall we rather say a godly diligence on the part of our aspirants to the ministry.

"The members of our churches have done themselves unspeakable honour in

contributing so promptly and liberally to a measure which, with all its importance, has few popular fascinations. They have shown the enlightenment they seek to promote by their public spirited munificence. Not only have large contributions and subscriptions been tendered, but one lady has expressed her willingness to found a scholarship. It is to bear not the name of the donor, but of a beloved and most estimable son. Charles Wilkie was a student in the University of Glasgow. He made a most creditable appearance, and carried off honours in the classes which he attended, first in a classical academy and afterwards in the college. He was not more distinguished by his talents and assiduity than by his benevolent spirit, his gentle unassuming deportment, and unobtrusive but serious and consistent Christianity. While he was engaged in his studies, his health began to fail, partly, perhaps, owing to his intense and unceasing application. By the advice of his physicians he determined to spend the winter of 1845 in Leghorn. This step he took with the deepest thoughtfulness; and the solemn and touching manner in which he expressed himself to the friends he was to leave, accorded more with the idea of a final than a temporary parting. Such, in the mysterious providence of God, proved to be the issue. The vessel in which Charles sailed was wrecked off the Isle of Man, and all on board perished! His mother desires to erect a monument to him-a monument according with his own standing and character-a monument that may cause his virtues not only to be remembered but imitated, and which may secure to many those benefits of mental culture which he, if he had been spared, seemed so qualified to shed on the church and the world. After considering the whole matter, she is disposed to make the scholarship of the pecuniary value of thirty guineas, and to give it to the student of the fifth year at the hall, who is found the most proficient in the scholarship examination. It may thus exert a prospective influence throughout the curriculum; and if any student should fall short of himself in any preceding competitions, he will have an opportunity of regaining his place by carrying off this mark and recompense of attainment. Although this form of the foundation is proposed just now, there is no pre-ference for it except as being the best, and there is a perfect willingness to modify it, if another way can be shown to be more excellent.

"May not this act of munificence prove a precedent? How many young men of promise descend into an early grave; and might it not gratify the hearts of parents whom God has blessed with plenty, to prc

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