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vacant by their removal, interim moderators were appointed, and the usual measures adopted for a regular supply of sermon. moderation was appointed to the High Street congregation, Brechin, the report of which was received at a subsequent meeting of presbytery, held on the 4th day of January, when a call was sustained for the Rev. James Gibson, late of Dunfermline. The call was signed by 333 members in full communion, and was adhered to by fifty ordinary hearers.

Berwick. On the 21st December, a letter from Mr Dickie, probationer, was read at this presbytery, declining the call from Zion Chapel, Berwick. Mr John Stark delivered discourses, with a view to license.

Dundee.-The monthly meeting of this presbytery was held 5th January. In reference to a communication from the Synod's Committee on the junction of small congregations, it was found that there were no churches in the bounds coming under the cognizance of said Committee. A proposal that the moderator should continue in office during the pleasure of the presbytery, was lost by a majority of 7 to 6 in favour of a semi-annual election to the moderatorship. A plan for the increase of churches in large towns was left over for discussion at next meeting.

Edinburgh.-At a meeting of this presbytery, 4th January, the Committee on College Street case reported, that a reconciliation had been effected between the ses sion and the memorialists on the following terms:-"1. The disavowal by each party of any intention to encroach, by what they did, on the rights of the other. 2. The giving credit to each other for this disavowal of injurious intentions. 3. The recognition by the session, apart from the peculiar circumstances in which the meeting was called, of the right of the minority to hold a separate meeting for considering what steps to take in their own case; on the other hand, the recognition on the part of the memorialists of the session's right to precognosce in cases of fama. The session, after withdrawing to consider these terms, gave in the following declaration of concurrence:- While the session admit the three principles submitted by the Committee as a basis of reconciliation, they feel relieved from the apparent severity of the presbytery's deliverance on their deed, inasmuch as the memorialists' refusal to answer the question proposed to them by the session, not having been stated in the session's record of the case, it was not duly brought under the notice of the presbytery in the judgment they came to upon it. As to the session's desire for an expression of regret from the memorialists, the session,

on learning that the presbytery's judgment was not meant for their administration, waive this point, and agree to the recommendation of the Committee." The presbytery unanimously approved of this report. -Mr Brown, Dalkeith, read draught of pastoral letter to the churches of the presbytery, which was adopted and ordered to be printed. It was also agreed that a deputation of ministers and elders be appointed to visit the churches. Mr Thomson, Peebles, was appointed to moderate in a call for a minister to the East Congregation, Peebles, on the 19th January.-A Committee was appointed to obtain and furnish certain information required, respecting the state of churches in the presbytery, by the Synod's Committee, on the union of weak pointed for the new church in Newington, congregations. Supply of sermon was ap

which was to be opened on the 9th January.

Elgin. On the 14th December, this presbytery met at Forres. The clerk reported the death of the Rev. William Stewart of Wick, which took place on the 10th December. The members of presbytery united in expressing their sense of the piety, zeal, faithfulness, and prudence, with which Mr Stewart had discharged the duties of the ministerial office. Having been ordained on the 18th October 1808, Mr Stewart had just entered on the fortieth year of his ministry. Mr Bisset, Nairn, intimated his resolution to decline the call from Lethendy. A call from the church at Chapelhill, to Mr John Munro, preacher, was laid on the table, and sustained by the presbytery. It was signed by 95 members, and there were 227 adherents. The case of the Free Bible Press Company was brought under notice, and the presbytery unanimously agreed to recommend strongly to the several congregations to express their sympathy with Dr Thomson, by each purchasing a stock of Bibles from the Company's depot. Reports as to what might be done by the congregations in this matter, were appointed to be returned within two months.

Glasgow. This presbytery met on Tuesday, the 11th of last month, Dr Beattie, moderator. The committee appointed at last meeting to prepare a minute expressive of the mind of the Court in regard to Mr Boyd, lately minister of the United Presbyterian congregation, Belfast, laid on the table the following minute:-" Certain statements which appeared to affect the moral character of Mr Boyd having been brought before them, the presbytery, after ample inquiry into all the circumstances, and after hearing Mr Boyd's full and candid explanations, agree to record that, while they give Mr Boyd all credit for the purity and benevolence of his intentions, they re

gret that in his zeal to do good he had been so far indiscreet as to give rise to suspicions; but they rejoice to find that there has been no criminality in his conduct, and that there is no ground for any farther trial or investigation. The presbytery finding that the statements submitted to them, concerning Mr Boyd, have been embodied in a congregational minute of the church in Belfast, contrary to all law and form, order that minute to be expunged." Having heard this minute, the presbytery adopted it, and agreed to insert it in their record, at the same time instructing the clerk to transmit a copy of it to Mr Boyd, as also a copy to the preacher officiating at Belfast, to be read from the pulpit in the hearing of the congregation at the close of public worship. Messrs Mitchell, Baxter, Bell, and Smith delivered trials for license, which were sustained. Dr Taylor's motion, in regard to increasing the number of churches in Glasgow in a regular and systematic manner, was delayed till next meeting. Subjects of trial were appointed to Mr George Brown, preacher, with a view to his ordination, he having accepted an appointment as a missionary to Caffraria by the Mission Board.

Kelso. This court held their ordinary meeting at Kelso, on Tuesday 21st December; present, six ministers and four elders. The Rev. Mr Somerville, Missionary Secretary, being present, was invited to correspond. A case of appeal against a decision of the Session of the First Congregation, Kelso, was dismissed, and the appellant remitted to be dealt with by the session. Mr Monteath of Greenlaw, agreeably to previous intimation, submitted the following motion :-"The presbytery, impressed with the desirableness of a larger measure of religion in all the congregations under their care, and believing that addresses on this specific subject would, under the blessing of God, be attended with profit, shall appoint a committee of their number to visit the congregations seriatim, and to deliver pointed and faithful addresses on such particulars as the following,—the duty of personal, family, and public piety, the claims of Sabbath schools, and of prayer meetings, and the duty of larger practical sympathy with the cause of missions." The presbytery, after long deliberation, unanimously and cordially agreed in expressing their approval of the objects in general contemplated by the motion, and appointed a committee, Mr Monteath, convener, to make arrangements for carrying it into effect. Meanwhile, it was agreed, at the request of Mr Hume, Yetholm, that Messrs Cranstoune, Renton, and Jarvie, ministers, and Messrs Black and Greenlaw, elders, should make such a visitation at Yetholm, on the 12th January, the fast-day there.

The presbytery, after adjournment, resumed for the purpose of meeting with the collective eldership of the churches. It was found that twenty-five elders from the different churches within the bounds, had assembled on the occasion. Mr Renton proceeded, according to appointment, to deliver to them an address on the duties of their office. It was thereupon unanimously agreed, that the presbytery should express their high satisfaction with the manner in which Mr Renton had discharged the duty entrusted to him, and that he should be requested to give wider publicity to the address, in such a way as should be found most convenient. The presbytery then respectfully invited Mr Somerville to address the meeting, which he did, making the principles of personal and official piety to bear impressively upon the duty of missionary effort. Next meeting was appointed to be held on 18th January.

Kilmarnock. This presbytery, at Ayr, January 18th, licensed Messrs John Weir, David Barclay, and William Meikle, to preach the gospel; granted to the congregation of Cumnock the moderation of a call, to take place February 2d, Dr Bruce to preside; and, after some business of less public interest, appointed their next meeting to be at Kilmarnock February 29.

Kirkcaldy.—The presbytery met Dec. 21st. last. Reports were received from congregations respecting their collections for the Synod's general fund, when it was found that all of them had collected with the exception of one or two. A communication was read from the committee appointed to effect the junction of small and struggling congregations, requesting to be informed whether there existed within the bounds of the presbytery any congregations in such circumstances; and, after a short consultation, it was unanimously agreed to report as follows. That the congregation of Colinsburgh, in their opinion, is in such circumstances, and might happily be united with the congregation of Kilconquhar, under the inspection of the presbytery of Cupar, and that to this union the presbytery have reason to believe there are no serious obstacles. A petition was presented from the congregation of Inverlevers (Dubbieside) to the Home Mission Board, praying for inquiry into their circumstances, with a view to their minister's stipend being supplemented. The presbytery agreed to transmit and recommend the petition. Mr Cowan was appointed to dispense the Lord's supper in Anstruther, on the third Sabbath in January. Mr Daniel Douglas, under call to Kennoway, delivered the various discourses, which were sustained, and the ordination appointed to take place on Wednesday the 19th January, Mr Mitchell,

Leven, to preach, and Mr Cowan, Buckhaven, to ordain and give the charge. Mr John Logie, student, transferred from the presbytery of Glasgow, having previously been examined at great length, received various subjects as trials for license.

Perth.-At a meeting of this presbytery on 21st December, a letter was read from Mr Bisset, Nairn, declining the call of the Lethendy congregation. Mr Ramsay of Crieff was appointed to moderate in a call at Comrie on the 5th January. On receiv ing the report as to the collections appointed for the Synod Fund, it was found that all the congregations had made the collection; but the amount collected appearing to the presbytery to be disproportionate, in some instances, to the ability and extent of membership of the congregations, a committee of ministers and elders was appointed to consider the matter, with a view to induce, in these cases, greater liberality. Several students gave discourses as parts of trials for license.

Banf-On Thursday, 30th of December, the Buchan presbytery met at Banff, and ordained Mr William Inglis, probationer, as minister of the United Church there. The occasion was celebrated by a soiree, held in the church, in the evening, at which fully 500 persons were present, belonging to the various christian denominations in the neighbourhood.

CALLS.

Aberchirder. The congregation of Aberchirder have given a unanimous call to Mr William F. Swan, preacher, to be their minister. The call, which was moderated in by Mr Fisher, New Leeds, was sustained by the presbytery of Buchan on the 30th December.

Brechin. On the 23d December, the congregation of High Street, Brechin, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. Goodwin, gave a harmonious call to the Rev. James Gibson, formerly of Dunfermline. The services on the occasion were conducted by the Rev. W. T. Rankine, Brechin, and the Rev. W. Allan, Arbroath.

Comrie. On the 5th January, the congregation of Comrie gave an unanimous call to Mr William F. Swan, probationer. The Rev. Wm Ramsay, Crieff, presided on the occasion.

MR E. THOMSON.

MR EBENEZER THOMSON was born at Balfron, Stirlingshire, in 1813. His father having died in 1821, the family, consisting of the widow and nine children, removed in the following year to Glasgow, but were there only about twelve months, when the sole remaining parent was taken from them by death. From this period the subject of our sketch became the head of the orphan household-a position which, young though he was, he occupied with exemplary faithfulness and piety-being the chief support of his brothers and sisters, rearing among them the altar of domestic worship, and setting them an example of virtue and godliness. At the age of seventeen, as appears from a record which he has left behind him, he entered into a solemn personal covenant with God, and consecrated himself to the Lord's service. In 1835, though still but a youth of little more than twenty years, his singular piety and devotedness had so much commended him to the esteem and confidence of his fellow members of the church, that he was elected an elder of the Gordon Street congregation, Glasgow. On the occasion of his being ordained to the eldership, in December of that year, he appended the

following note to the covenant already mentioned, showing with what earnest solemnity he regarded the office to which he had been called by his brethren:-" Almighty Jehovah! as I am this day to be ordained to a high and responsible office in thy church on earth, I hereby desire to renew, in a peculiar manner, my covenant with thee. Thou hast called me now into a situation in which my conduct may have great influence on others, and in which I have more opportunity of promoting thy glory. Lord, well may I exclaim, who is sufficient for these things? Lord, what am I? O make thy grace sufficient for me!"

From the year 1830, when it was first subscribed, this covenant was annually renewed and confirmed on the writer's birthday, up till 1840, when he entered into the married relation, after which the anniversary of his marriage forms the occasion of his yearly retrospect, and leads him to record many interesting notices of the goodness of God toward himself and his partner in life. The good resolutions he had so solemnly formed in his boyhood, and so frequently repeated in subsequent years, he was enabled, by divine grace, to fulfil with remarkable fidelity. For many years he

acted as secretary to the Missionary Society in Gordon Street church, in which capacity his prompt zeal and unwearied exertions for the advancement of the Saviour's kingdom secured for him the respect and affection of all the congregation, and especially of the brethren with whom he was more immediately associated. In all the other benevolent labours of the church he was an ever-active and valuable cooperator-particularly in those of the Dorcas Society, whose usefulness and prosperity were greatly promoted by his judicious counsels; first, in the framing of its rules, and afterwards, in seeing them carried into effect. In the session, too, the youthful elder, by his winning manners, the affectionate warmth of his friendship, and his zeal for the purity and prosperity of the church, won for himself a "good degree."

But no amount of excellence attainable on earth can secure for its possessor exemption from the stroke of the last enemy. In the midst of his usefulness, which grow

ing experience seemed to promise would yet be greatly enlarged, Mr Thomson was seized with typhus fever on the 13th October last, and on the 20th the Master called him to his account. His departure took place on the afternoon of the general communion Sabbath in Glasgow; and it was while his brethren were engaged in showing forth the Lord's death in the ordinance of the Supper, he was called away to realize the fruits of that death in the upper sanctuary. It is remarkable that Mr Thomson is the fourth elder of Gordon Street session with whom this coincidence has taken place; three before him having been removed by death, at a time when their former fellow-worshippers were celebrating the event by which death was deprived of its sting, and the grave of its victory. How blessed the consolation! Denied the privilege of partaking of that wine which is only a memorial of the Saviour's love, but invited to drink new wine with him in his Father's kingdom.

PARLIAMENT AND THE JEWS.

THE recess of Parliament, during the Christmas holidays, has abstracted considerably from the political interest, which ordinarily attaches to a four weeks' retrospect of public events; but there is one question which has been left over for early consideration by the legislature, and specially deserving notice from a religious journal. In the House of Commons, before its adjournment till the 4th February, a bill was introduced and read, "for the relief of her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish religion," from certain disabilities under which they now labour, in respect to the privilege of sitting as Members of Parliament. This is not the first time the question has been mooted in the House of Commons; but never before has the discussion been entered on so earnestly, or under auspices so favourable for the success of a liberal policy. It happened, that at last general election a member of the Jewish persuasion -Baron Rothschild-was returned, along with Lord John Russell, as a member for the city of London. The metropolitan electors having thus, by their powerful fiat, associated an avowed Hebrew with the Prime Minister of Britain, in the enjoyment of the highest political trust they can confer, the interests of the twain came to be closely identified in the estimation of the country; and Lord John Russell, it must be owned, has run very gracefully in the harness in which he was thus singularly

yoked. It happened, also, that a man of Jewish descent, and of strong Jewish nationality-D'Israeli the younger-a man of brilliant parts, which render him eminently serviceable in the skirmishing of Parliamentary debate, had been intimately associated with the extreme opposition party, the protectionists, headed by Lord George Bentinck. Here, for once, were these opposition interests found in harmony; and never, perhaps, since the enmity between Jew and Gentile first found a place in the statute-book of Great Britain, did so favourable a conjuncture present itself for a measure in behalf of Hebrew liberty. The premier's colleague in the representation of London, has not attempted to take his seat while the law stands as it is. The premier's constituents were thus, in fact, only half represented; and, as they were not likely to remain long patient under such a state of things, diligence must be used to obtain a speedy remedy. A bill, therefore, prepared under ministerial auspicies, and of which the First Lord of the Treasury, the Home Secretary, and Lord Morpeth, an other minister, are the promoters in the House of Commons, has been tabled, with a view to abolish, in the case of Jews, the oath of abjuration which members of Parliament are required to take before exercising legislative functions, and which, as being exacted "on the faith of a Christian," no Jew can consistently take. The effect of the bill, should it obtain the sanction of

the three estates, will be to render Jews, as such, eligible to every office of trust in the realm, with the exception of Guardians and Justices of the United Kingdom, Regent, Lord Chancellor, Lord Commissioner to the Church of Scotland, and similar offices involving ecclesiastical authority. In case a Jew should become a minister of the Crown, or hold any other office to which ecclesiastical patronage usually belongs (as the presentation to bishoprics by the First Lord of the Treasury), such patronage, according to this act, would belong for the time to the archbishop, or other church authority.

The bill, so far as it has gone, has obtained, of course, the able advocacy of the ministerial supporters; while Lord George Bentinck, Mr Gladstone, Mr D'Israeli, and other members of the so-called protectionist party, have acquiesced in it with much-seeming cordiality. It is alleged, indeed, that the question has caused a disruption among the section of politicians last named, and it would be strange, indeed, if it had been otherwise. The veneration for antiquity seems the grand bond of union between them; and we really believe, that the antiquity of the Jewish race, on which D'Israeli in his novels is accustomed to descant so eloquently, has proved the charm to disenchant some of the party of that conservatism which has hitherto resisted such proposals; but it was not to be expected that they should all go so far in their retrogression. With the ministers, however, and their supporters, with the still more liberal section of the House, and with so influential a portion of the ultra conservatives, as is indicated by the names we have mentioned, all on the side of equal rights for the Hebrew, we can hardly entertain a doubt as to the safety of the measure.

An

On the part of the opponents of the bill, the grand objection seems to be, that the admission of Jews into l'arliament will destroy the constitutional character of the House as 66 a Christian Parliament." excellent popular cry this, of "Christian Parliament," so long as people don't trouble themselves to think of the meaning of the words. The time was, when "Protestant Parliament " was the phrase, the object then being to exclude Roman Catholics from their right to sit in our legislative assembly; and the phrase served its day wonderfully the people never thinking that, by shouting it for such a purpose, they were making Protestantism the antagonist of equity and truth-declaring, that to be a true Protestant was to deny your neighbour common justice! Now, that this cry is not sufficiently comprehensive, it is turned into another; and it is now a "Christian legislature that is dunned in

our ears." Jews must be excluded from the rights of the other subjects of the realm, else we have no longer a Christian legislature! But such language, on the part of most of those who use it, is a mere play upon words. What do they mean by a Christian legislature? We call men Christians according to their works. "By their fruits ye shall know them." We must judge of legislatures by the same rule; and so long and so far as the British Parliament refuses to recognise and act upon Christian principles in relation to its own proper business, it is not Christian. But what are the principles of Christianity which concern the duties of a legislature? Not doctrinal points, but the principles of equity as affecting liberty and property between man and man; the principles directly compendized in the golden rule, "As ye would that others should do unto you, do you also so to them." In vain does a legislature attempt to make up for its want of Christianity in this, its proper sphere of action, by enacting Christian creeds and tests,-a branch of work with which, as a legislature, it has nothing to do. It is, as if the printer to whom we send this MS. to print, should, instead of putting it in types, as he is engaged to do, sit down and write to us a letter on editorial or ministerial piety. It might be a good counsel, but it would not prove its faithless author to be a Christian printer.

Be it so, then, that we must strive to have and to keep a Christian Parliament. If we obey this advice, we shall seek to abolish those disabilities, in virtue of which a multitude of our fellow subjects, equally industrious and peaceable with ourselves, are denied a voice in Parliament, in violation of Christian justice.

We observe that strenuous opposition to the bill is threatened by parties hostile to the principles of religious liberty; and that, on the other side, the committee of the London liberal electors have appealed to the country for support in their choice of Baron Rothschild. We confidently trust that the friends of the voluntary system will respond to this call, and seize the opportunity of testifying for the freedom of religious conviction, by pouring in petitions to Parliament in favour of the ministerial measure.

THE NEW BISHOPS.

THE agitation against Whig-nominated Bishops, within the last few weeks, has done more for the downfall of the English church establishment than the efforts of its avowed opponents, for years together, could possibly have accomplished. We alluded last month to the remonstrance of the thirteen bishops, and the dignified firmness with which it had been met by the Prime