mittee on Statistics had to give this year was in some respects much less satisfactory than last year. As the committee had strictly obeyed the injunctions of the Synod in sending out schedules, and a circular or address stating the reasons why the Synod had adopted the scheme, they had expected to receive numerous returns, but in this they had been disappointed. The number of congregations in the body was 514, and of these only 371 had sent in returns. Last year the number of congregations was 507, and of this number 408 had reported, that is to say, the number of defaulters last year was 99, and this year it was 143. In three presbyteries, those of Arbroath, Kelso, and Buchan, every congregation had sent returns. In the Glasgow presbytery there were forty-nine congregations, only twenty-seven of which had reported; and, in the Edinburgh presbytery, there were forty-eight congregations, but only thirty-nine returns had been received. The committee were of opinion that the Synod must either abandon the scheme altogether or take other measures for enforcing attention to it. What those means should be, they did not pretend to say, but the scheme could not serve the purposes for which it was intended, unless it were made more complete. As the returns were getting more incomplete, the committee had very little heart to proceed with the scheme. They were anxious, however, to proceed with the scheme, but it was impossible for them to do more than they had done. A second circular had been sent to the defaulting congregations, which had produced a few more returns, but as yet the returns had been so incomplete as to preclude the possibility of making up a complete return. If the Synod could devise means for getting in more complete returns within a month or so, the statistics received could be printed, as usual, at the end of this year's proceedings. He was of opinion that complete statistics were not received, not so much from the existence of objections to the scheme, as from carelessness on the part of ministers.

Mr THOMAS moved that the Synod give effect to Dr Peddie's suggestion about the sending in of returns, so as to allow the statistics to be completed within a month or two. The scheme was a very useful one in many ways, and particularly in its helping to get the management of their congregations into a state of greater efficiency. If the ministers and office-bearers procured the needful books, and kept them in a regular business-like way, all that would be necessary in making up the returns, would be the transference of the required facts from these books, which would not cost above a quarter of an hour's trouble.

Mr MEIKLE, Beith, thought it would be better to have a complete return once in the three years, than an incomplete return annually.

Some discussion ensued in which several suggestions were made for the purpose of remedying the evil, but it was ultimately agreed, as the Synod had found that a considerable number of returns had not been

sent in, to enjoin all the presbyteries of the church to attend annually to this matter, and transmit the returns of the congregations within their bounds before the 1st of February, and that the committee give all the defaulting congregations another opportunity of sending in returns for the present year.

THE DEACONSHIP.

Mr DAVIDSON, of Stockbridge, submitted a report from the committee on the deaconship. The committee were of opinion that in the primitive church an office existed under that name; but as in respect to the particular work which the elders had to perform, contrary opinions exist among the members of committee, and may be supposed more or less widely to pervade the Synod, they were not prepared precisely to recommend the adoption of any new enactment, but rather advised that the matter should remain for the present as provided in the Synod's rules and forms of procedure-"That where a congregation judges it proper to have deacons to serve the Church, they are intrusted with the management of the whole financial concerns, as well as the distribution of the contributions to the poor, subject always to the observance of the rules or constitution sanctioned by the presbytery."

Mr R. GEMMELL, Dundee, moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to without remark.

RULES OF PROCEDURE.

An overture was read from the presbytery of Stirling in favour of an alteration in certain rules of procedure. The purport of the first part of the overture was, that in cases where students left the Divinity Hall, and went to presbyteries different from that from which they entered the Hall, they should be required to take with them a certificate, not only from the professor but also from the presbytery which they had left.

After some remarks from Dr M'Kerrow, Dr Taylor, and Mr France of Paisley, that part of the overture was agreed to. The next part had reference to the rules of procedure generally, and set forth, "That when changes are made in the rules of procedure, these shall be specifically intimated to presbyteries."

Dr M'KERROW explained the object of the presbytery in this case to be, that in case of alterations in the form of process, these ought to be recorded in the minute-books of presbyteries, so that they might be referred

to.

Mr HAY, Arbroath, approved of the object of this part of the overture, but the question came to be, Was it necessary to adopt a specific rule in order to put presbyteries in possession of the necessary information?

On the motion of Mr THOMAS, it was unanimously resolved-" That annually there should appear in the appendix to the Synod's minutes the whole of the alterations that have taken place since the last edition of our forms of process up to the present time," so that regularly the presbyteries of the church

CHANGES ON THE ROLL OF MINISTERS.

The following changes were reported as having taken place on the roll of ministers since last meeting of Synod:

Removed by Death (8).-John Craig, Avonbridge, 18th July 1851; Francis Christie, Kilmaurs, 30th August; James Bow, Canal Street, Perth, 15th September; James Gardiner, Craigs, Old Kilpatrick, 28th October; William Brash, East Campbell Street, Glasgow, 24th November; George Clark, Chapelknowe, 23d February 1852; Daniel Gorrie, Kettle, 31st March; James Harrower, Denny, 7th April.

Demitted their Charges (8).-D. C. Browning, Blackett Street, Newcastle, 8th July 1851; James Caldwell, Stockton-on-Tees, 5th August; James Watson, Walker, 2d September; Alexander Walker, 4th Congregation, Newcastle, 9th September; Alexander Tillie, Burgh-head (on account of bad health), 20th April; David Forrest, Troon (on account of bad health), 13th April; Alexander Cross, West Linton (on account of bad health), 3d February.

Inducted (5).-James M'Fadien, at Patna, 3d September 1851; Robert Paterson, at Aberchirder, 10th September; Alexander Henderson, at Hexham, 31st December; Alexander Leitch, at Wigton, Cumberland, 12th April 1852; William Gillespie, at Shiels, Aberdeenshire, 28th April.

Translated (3).-Alexander Wallace, to Potterrow, Edinburgh, from Bradford, Yorkshire, 2d September 1851; James Robertson, to Shamrock Street, Glasgow, from Portsburgh, Edinburgh, 6th November; David Sim, to Bradford, Yorkshire, from Girvan, 9th April 1852.

Ordained (25).-James Galloway, Sutton, Cheshire, 17th June 1851; John Mathison, Monkwearmonth, 18th June; Robert Nelson, Pitcairn, 24th June; John Scott Craig, Maryport, 1st July; James Muir, Bridge of Allan, 1st July; Samuel Huston, City Road, Brechin, 22d July; John Dobie, Linlithgow, West Congregation, 6th August; William M'Laren, Blairlogie, 12th August; Charles C. Leitch, (Missionary to India), ordained by Glasgow Presbytery 25th August; David Russel, St Margaret's, Dunfermline, 3d September; George C. Hutton, Canal Street, Paisley, 9th September; David M'Ewen, Cathcart Street, Ayr, 24th September; David Young, Chatton, Northumberland, 14th October; William Turner, Craigdam, 14th October; William Cochran, Muckart, 9th December; John Torrance, Queensberry Street, Dumfries, 20th November; Peter Leys, Strathaven, 1st, 17th December; William Limont, Clayport Street, Alnwick, 23d December; Matthew Orr, Dalreoch, 30th December; James Dunlop, Kilmaronock, Dumbartonshire, 6th January 1852; Peter Barron, Dunning, 14th January; David S. Goodburn, Waterbeck, 29th January; William Drummond, Whitehaven, 13th April; George Dodds, 4th Congregation, Newcastle, 21st April; John Thomson, A.M., West Calder, 27th April.

NEW PRESBYTERIES.

Petitions were read from the sessions of Huntly, Banff, Aberchirder, and Gardenston, in the presbytery of Buchan, and from the sessions of Grange and Keith, in the presbytery of Elgin, praying to be disjoined from their respective presbyteries, and to be formed into a new one under the designation of the "Presbytery of Banffshire," the reason assigned being chiefly the expense and fatigue entailed upon members of session in attending meetings of the presbytery, having to travel thirty, twenty-five, and nineteen miles for that purpose.

Mr OGILVIE, Broughty Ferry, moved that these petitions be acceded to, and that the new presbytery be formed as desired.

Mr MAILLER, Huntly, spoke briefly in support of the petitions, which were then agreed to, and the new presbytery was appointed to hold its first meeting at Aberchirder on the first Tuesday of June, at twelve o'clock-Mr R. Paterson, moderator.

Four sessions and congregations under the charge of the Dunfermline presbytery, namely, Balgedie, Milnathort, East and West Kinross, and two from the presbytery of Perth, namely, Pathstruie and Edenshead, were formed in the same way into a new presbytery, under the title of the "Presbytery of Kinross," and appointed to hold its first meeting at Kinross on the last Tuesday of May, at eleven o'clock-Rev. Mr Leishman, moderator.

SYNOD IN ENGLAND.

The reports of presbyteries on the remit regarding the formation of a Synod in England, subordinate to the General Synod, were laid on the table. Four presbyteries were in favour of the overture; two were in favour of it, provided the presbyteries and congregations in England were agreed upon the measure two were against it, and seven were not prepared to report.

Mr PARKER, Sunderland, was heard at some length in support of the scheme. After some remarks from Dr Robson, Dr M'Kelvie, Dr Struthers, Mr Pringle, and others, Mr Thomas proposed the following resolution, as the deliverance of the Synod, which was agreed to :--" After reasoning, the Synod agreed in approving generally of the object contemplated in the overture, in as far as it respects the bringing of the presbyteries of this church, situated in England, into closer correspondence with each other, but delayed taking any farther steps to form these into a Synod till a much more general and decided expression of opinion in favour of the measure be given by the parties immediately interested; and, in the meantime, recommended that the presbyteries in England hold friendly and fraternal correspondence on the subject, and that it be submitted by them, if they shall deem it desirable, to the consideration of the sessions and congregations under their charge."

COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS.

Dr PEDDIE said the report which the Com

mittee on Statistics had to give this year was in some respects much less satisfactory than last year. As the committee had strictly obeyed the injunctions of the Synod in sending out schedules, and a circular or address stating the reasons why the Synod had adopted the scheme, they had expected to receive numerous returns, but in this they had been disappointed. The number of congregations in the body was 514, and of these only 371 had sent in returns. Last year the number of congregations was 507, and of this number 408 had reported, that is to say, the number of defaulters last year was 99, and this year it was 143. In three presbyteries, those of Arbroath, Kelso, and Buchan, every congregation had sent returns. In the Glasgow presbytery there were forty-nine congregations, only twenty-seven of which had reported; and, in the Edinburgh presbytery, there were forty-eight congregations, but only thirty-nine returns had been received. The committee were of opinion that the Synod must either abandon the scheme altogether or take other measures for enforcing attention to it. What those means should be, they did not pretend to say, but the scheme could not serve the purposes for which it was intended, unless it were made more complete. As the returns were getting more incomplete, the committee had very little heart to proceed with the scheme. They were anxious, however, to proceed with the scheme, but it was impossible for them to do more than they had done. A second circular had been sent to the defaulting congregations, which had produced a few more returns, but as yet the returns had been so incomplete as to preclude the possibility of making up a complete return. If the Synod could devise means for getting in more complete returns within a month or so, the statistics received could be printed, as usual, at the end of this year's proceedings. He was of opinion that complete statistics were not received, not so much from the existence of objections to the scheme, as from carelessness on the part of ministers.

Mr THOMAS moved that the Synod give effect to Dr Peddie's suggestion about the sending in of returns, so as to allow the statistics to be completed within a month or two. The scheme was a very useful one in many ways, and particularly in its helping to get the management of their congregations into a state of greater efficiency. If the ministers and office-bearers procured the needful books, and kept them in a regular business-like way, all that would be necessary in making up the returns, would be the transference of the required facts from these books, which would not cost above a quarter of an hour's trouble.

Mr MEIKLE, Beith, thought it would be better to have a complete return once in the three years, than an incomplete return annually.

Some discussion ensued in which several suggestions were made for the purpose of remedying the evil, but it was ultimately agreed, as the Synod had found that a considerable number of returns had not been

sent in, to enjoin all the presbyteries of the church to attend annually to this matter, and transmit the returns of the congregations within their bounds before the 1st of February, and that the committee give all the defaulting congregations another opportunity of sending in returns for the present year.

THE DEACONSHIP.

Mr DAVIDSON, of Stockbridge, submitted a report from the committee on the deaconship. The committee were of opinion that in the primitive church an office existed under that name; but as in respect to the particular work which the elders had to perform, contrary opinions exist among the members of committee, and may be supposed more or less widely to pervade the Synod, they were not prepared precisely to recommend the adoption of any new enactment, but rather advised that the matter should remain for the present as provided in the Synod's rules and forms of procedure-" That where a congregation judges it proper to have deacons to serve the Church, they are intrusted with the management of the whole financial concerns, as well as the distribution of the contributions to the poor, subject always to the observance of the rules or constitution sanctioned by the presbytery."

Mr R. GEMMELL, Dundee, moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to without remark.

RULES OF PROCEDURE.

An overture was read from the presbytery of Stirling in favour of an alteration in certain rules of procedure. The purport of the first part of the overture was, that in cases where students left the Divinity Hall, and went to presbyteries different from that from which they entered the Hall, they should be required to take with them a certificate, not only from the professor but also from the presbytery which they had left.

After some remarks from Dr M'Kerrow, Dr Taylor, and Mr France of Paisley, that part of the overture was agreed to. The next part had reference to the rules of procedure generally, and set forth, " That when changes are made in the rules of procedure, these shall be specifically intimated to presbyteries."

Dr M'KERROW explained the object of the presbytery in this case to be, that in case of alterations in the form of process, these ought to be recorded in the minute-books of presbyteries, so that they might be referred

to.

Mr HAY, Arbroath, approved of the object of this part of the overture, but the question came to be, Was it necessary to adopt a specific rule in order to put presbyteries in possession of the necessary information?

On the motion of Mr THOMAS, was unanimously resolved-" That annually there should appear in the appendix to the Synod's minutes the whole of the alterations that have taken place since the last edition of our forms of process up to the present time," so that regularly the presbyteries of the church

and the ministers should have reference to them.

SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.

On this subject the following resolution had been adopted at last Synod:-"That it is desirable that the standard of support for the gospel ministry should be raised, and, without giving a decision on the matter, that the sum of L.150 per annum should be aimed at as that which might ultimately be attained; that a committee be appointed to prepare a Synodical address and occasional papers on the subject, as well as to take such measures as might seem to them calculated to gain the contemplated end; and that in the meantime this deliverance should be sent down to presbyteries, and especially to sessions, that they might, with all diligence, consider the subject and report." The committee then appointed, in terms of this resolution, now gave in their report. In accordance with the instructions of Synod, they had prepared a Synodical address, and a series of papers on the subject of raising the standard of ministerial support. The address and occasional papers had appeared monthly since October last, along with the Missionary Record, and had been forwarded separately to ministers and sessions. The committee recommended that these should be republished in a cheap form, and widely circulated throughout the church. Returns had been received from presbyteries and sessions, all of them favourable to the object. Some of these expressed their belief that a minimum stipend of L.120 would have been preferable to that given by the Synod. One session was of opinion that such a minimum should be enforced on the congregations; but the large majority of sessions, and all the presbyteries who had condescended on the sum, were of opinion that the minimum should be L.150. As the result of a careful deliberation, and an examination of the returns, the committee had felt that the difficulties which hindered the realisation of the object contemplated were the ignorance which prevailed upon the subject; the defective and pernicious systems which obtain in some congregations in respect to the management of their financial matters, by which their resources are neither developed as they might be, nor appropriated as they would be under a better system; and above all, the paralysing effects of congregational debt. Until these difficulties were met, the committee could not hope for that success which they desired; and with the view of overcoming these difficulties, they recommended that,besides the diffusion of information in the mode already recommended, the Synod should adopt wise and vigorous measures for the removal of the obstacles existing in the ill-regulated system of finance, and the severe pressure of congregational debt. The committee further recommend that, after information had been diffused, deputations should be sent to such of the congregations as were willing to receive them, to give advice, and to address congregations on the best mode of increasing their contributions. The committee were convinced that,

by the judicious efforts of such deputations, the number of self-supporting congregations, at a higher standard of stipend than the present, might be greatly increased.

Mr MUNSIE, elder, Glasgow, suggested the minimum should have been fixed at L.120 or L.130, a sum which would be attainable; and where congregations were not able to reach that sum, by coming to Synod and stating their case in a manly way, they might secure assistance. As an elder of the church, he was sorry to see their ministers so ill paid, and that in many poor places valuable men had their energies impaired from this cause. It was the duty of the church to step forward and remedy this state of things.

Mr BLYTH, elder, from Kinross, referred to a report from the session of which he was a member, and which expressed an opinion that L.100 should be fixed as the minimum, and L.120 as what might be reached when business improved. The manufacturers in Kinross parish were last year exempted from assessment for the poor, in consequence of their incomes not exceeding L.30. If such was the condition of the masters, what would be the condition of the poor labourers? Regarding the suggestion in the report, that the papers therein referred to should be reprinted, he thought they were already printed often enough. He would by no means abridge the mission fund of the church, but would have them adopt the plan attempted by Government with reference to the Irish Church, when they tried to mark out a bishopric that was of no use, and apply the funds in another way. In his opinion, this subject should not be so much agitated at present, and should be left more in the hands of elders.

Mr CAIRNS, of Paisley, one of the members of the committee, said it would not be difficult to answer every thing that had been thrown out in the way of insinuation against this committee; but it was their wish not to encroach a single minute upon the discussion.

Several elders spoke in favour of the L.150 minimum, and regarding the importance of raising the standard of support given in behalf of the gospel ministry.

Mr LOGAN, elder, Glasgow, expressed an opinion favourable to the raising of ministers' stipends, and said he was sorry to see at the outset of this debate a disposition to cherish the old-fashioned system of giving "baubees." Many of their older churches were highly to be respected; but if the spirit of the denomination was to be kept up, they must throw off some of their notions of the old school. In regard to the inopportuneness of bringing forward this subject at present, he believed that every motion for touching the pocket would be considered inopportune at any time.

Mr MAIR moved that the report of the committee should not be adopted, and that the papers referred to in it should not be reprinted.

Mr HERALD, elder, from Manchester, repudiated many of the statements made by Mr Blyth, as well as the grounds of his arguments. He would be sorry, indeed, if this court should consider that the sentiments expressed by the

elder from Kinross, and others who spoke in that strain, were in unison with those of the eldership generally.

Mr DOUGLAS, elder, Newcastle, expressed his hearty concurrence in any measures calculated to promote the comfort and well-being of the ministers.

One elder expressed a hope that it would go out to the church that the Synod had agreed unanimously to the report; and another said that if he had been one of the committee he would have suggested that the minimum stipend to be aimed at for ministers should be L200. There were plenty of resources, he thought, within the church for this purpose.

Dr BEATTIE bore testimony to the progress which the sentiment of the church on this question had made during the last twenty or twenty-five years, and stated, as his conviction, that if proportionate advancement were made during the next twenty-five years, they would be able, he trusted, to say, not that L.150 was the minimum of stipend, but that there was neither maximum nor minimum. He confessed he had an aversion to the use of these Latin words, if not to the ideas which they conveyed. They should just say to their friends of the church in this matter, "Just aim at L.150, and we will find no great fault with you if you do not reach it, but we will find great fault with you if you don't try it." Regarding the reprinting of the excellentlywritten articles alluded to in the report, he had no objection whatever to that step.

Mr STIRLING, of Kirriemuir, though he had no fear as to the practicability of the scheme, had much rather that they had not fixed upon a sum. Supposing a congregation wanting a minister should appear at the bar of the Synod, and state that they were unable to raise the minimum sum, he did not think that the Synod, if they suspected that this congregation were able to raise the amount, would be warranted from Scripture to refuse them a minister. He knew that some ministers were labouring under difficulties, but he for one was prepared to submit to this rather than that the ministry should be injured, which he feared it would by the Synod, as a Synod, sending forth the papers which appeared along with the Record. He moved "That the Synod approve of the diligence of the committee, and recommend their report to the favourable consideration of the office-bearers and members of the church." Mr Blyth, elder, seconded this motion.

Mr MARSHALL, of Coupar-Angus, adverted to the distinct expression of opinion on this subject by the presbytery of which he was a member, and said the object which the Synod's decision on this subject twelve months ago involved had not been realised. Only twenty-two sessions had reported upon the matter, and if they assumed that their reports embodied the general feeling of the church on the subject, they committed a grievous mistake. Some measure should, he thought, be adopted for bringing out more fully the mind of the church on the question; and he would therefore move, that "The Synod having

received the report, approve of the diligence of the committee; in the meantime, instruct presbyteries not to grant moderations of calls to congregations able to pay adequate stipends, who do not offer them: re-appoint the committee to devise measures with the view of remedying the present inequality in the missionary contributions of our churches, so as to enable the Synod to increase the number and amount of supplements of stipends, and meet the case of our small and weak congregations."

Dr JOHNSTON, Limekilns, moved-"That the Synod having received the report of the committee, approve of their diligence, and order the report to be printed, and transmitted to presbyteries and sessions, with an earnest recommendation that the suggestions which it contains be carefully considered; that the sessions shall endeavour, as far as practicable, to ascertain the sentiments of the managers and the church at large; and that they report to this committee before February 1853." Mr Towers seconded this motion.

Mr THOMAS moved-" That the Synod approve of the diligence of the committee; adopt the recommendation contained in the report, that further means should be employed to get additional information on the subject, by re-publishing the papers that appeared along with the Record, if the committee shall see cause; that the report be printed in the appendix to the minutes of the Synod; and that the subject, as contained in their last minute, be remitted to a joint meeting of elders and managers to report to next meeting of Synod."

Dr M'KERROw objected to introducing managers into the subject. He had no objections to remit the matter to presbyteries and sessions, and let them take what steps they might think proper to ascertain the minds of congregations.

Mr ROBERTSON, of Stow, as a member of the committee, said they were powerfully impressed with the importance of proceeding cautiously and prudently in this matter. There was in fact nothing in their report pledging the church in any way, and they wished the Synod would allow them, in the exercise of a wise discretion, to pursue the prudent course they had already followed. A great deal of misapprehension existed apparently as to this minimum stipend. There was nothing imperative in regard to it. The report only referred to the decision of last Synod, which was, that without coming to any definite conclusion binding upon the church, they were of opinion that L.150 should be aimed at. After some explanatory references to the report of the committee and to the committee itself, stating that it was formed chiefly from the wealthier congregations, he concluded by supporting Mr Thomas's resolution, which would not fetter the committee for another year.

Mr THOMAS withdrew his resolution in favour of Dr Johnston's; and the others, namely, Dr Beattie's, Mr Stirling's, Mr Mar