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drawn upon the mission funds-some for a small and others for a very large amount: altogether, the sum of L.233: 1:3 has been expended upon preachers. A letter has been sent to the clerk of each presbytery, calling attention to the fact, that vacancies are doing very little for the preachers appointed to them.

Mr Kennedy has been labouring, with his usual diligence, in the bounds of the London presbytery. A report of his labours has been transmitted to the committee by that presbytery, who characterise it as very interesting, and add that it was highly approved when read to them. The same presbytery have transmitted a report of the labours of Mr John Fraser, catechist, in the townships of Hibbert, Fullarton, Flat Creek, Biddulph, Macgillivray, and Bosanquet. According to agreement, he is paid at the rate of L.30 a-year, and he has realised L.6: 12:2 for the half-year embraced in his report. A report has been read of the labours of the Rev. Mr Barrie, in Owen Sound district. He has travelled many miles and borne much fatigue, instituting inquiries as he went along, respecting the means of grace that were possessed, and the encouragement that was likely to be given to a missionary, if one could be had to send among them. He speaks most favourably of the sphere of usefulness which that region presents to a man of talent, piety, and energy; but adds, that, in consequence of the poverty of the people, they can be expected to do very little, in the meantime, for the support of gospel ordinances. A member of committee has been travelling through the same district, since Mr Barrie fulfilled his appointment, and confirms all that his report states.

From the abstract of the Home Supplementary Grant Account, we find that the receipts for the twelve months (including drafts from Scotland L.412, with "Records" and "Magazines" L.64, 12s.), amount to L.537 sterling, which is wholly expended in maintaining missionary operations.

On the recommendation of a committee, the Synod unanimously adopted the following resolutions in regard to home missionary operations:

1. That it be a law of this church that each congregation shall pay for each Sabbath of a preacher's services, the sum of L.1, 10s., and that it be an instruction to presbyteries and the mission committee to have respect to this in granting supply; and that said supply shall always be regulated by the amount contributed by the congregation or station requiring supply.

2. That no station within five miles of an existing congregation, shall receive supply of preaching from the Synod unless they promise to bear the entire expenses.

3. That no station, in ordinary circumstances, shall receive supply longer than one year, unless they raise the sum required by Synod for each day's supply.

4. That the existing law of Synod, page 162, No. 1 of printed minutes, be enforced in all the presbyteries, to wit-(1.) “That it shall be a law of this church, that under the direction of their respective presbyteries, ministers, whose congregations receive aid from the Synod fund, shall perform missionary labour in the various vacancies and stations in their presbyteries, in some proportion to the amount received from the fund, at the discretion and on the call of the several presbyteries, and that they report the amount of such missionary labour to their presbyteries in detail, and that the presbyteries report the same to the Synod at their annual meeting."

5. That this committee are of opinion that aid granted to settled congregations should decrease in some proportion from year to year, but as it seems impossible to lay down any precise rules, the matter is left to the discretion of the mission committee, in conjunction with the presbytery, and it is at the same time earnestly recommended to their attention.

Correspondence with other Churches.-The Rev. Messrs Roaf and Lightbody addressed the Synod as a deputation from the Congregational Union of Canada West, and were responded to on behalf of the Synod by Messrs Skinner and Torrance. Messrs Hogg and Dick were appointed a deputation to convey the friendly and fraternal salu tations of the Synod to the Congregational Union of Canada West at its first meeting.

A letter of fraternal regard was read from the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, and a minute adopted warmly reciprocating the same.

A draft of letter was read in reply to one from the missionaries in Jamaica, and being approved, was ordered to be forwarded without delay.

Theological Hall.-A committee was appointed to consult with the professor of theology as to the literary course to be pursued by the students of divinity on his arrival, and to assist him in making the necessary arrangements for opening the Theological Hall.

[We are glad to observe from another column of "The Canadian Presbyterian Magazine," that the professor of divinity, the Rev. Dr John Taylor, arrived at Toronto in safety, along with his family, on the 24th June; and that, by arrangement between him and the committee above mentioned, the Theological Institute was to be opened on 3d August.]

Clergy Reserves.-The Synod adopted

a series of resolutions on the subject of clergy reserves and rectories, strongly repudiating the doctrine, that the Established Church of England is also the established church of the colonies; declaring that the attempt to give exclusive privilege to the Episcopal Church, or any other in Canada, must prove injurious to the connection between the colony and the mother country; and protesting that a parliamentary church is alike unfounded in the word of God, destructive to the interests of true religion, and hurtful to the temporal peace and prosperity of the country. The fourth resolution refers to the act of 1840, and is as follows:

"4. That, as the settlement of the clergy reserves, by the act of 1840, has proved unsatisfactory to those who have pecuniary interest in them, as well as to all others, this Synod is of opinion that said act ought to be repealed, and the whole question left to the disposal of the legislature of this province; and the Synod takes this method of calling the attention of the ministers and members of this church to this important subject."

Case of Appeal.-The only case of appeal to Synod, was one against a decision of the session of Toronto, refusing to ordain the appellant to the office of an elder in that congregation. After hearing parties, the following motion was unanimously adopted: -Dismiss the protest and appeal; find that there is no valid reason in the evidence before the Court to question the appellant's soundness in the faith, and set aside any decision of the inferior courts, which may be thought to the contrary; but are strongly of opinion that his admission to the office of ruling elder in the United Presbyterian Congregation of Toronto is inexpedient and inadvisable.

Synodical Book Scheme.-Mr Thornton presented and supported an overture of the following tenor, viz. :-That inasmuch as there has long been experienced a deficiency in supply of books suitable to the wants of our people, especially of those exhibiting the principles of the United Presterian Church; and as there is no reason why this deficiency may not be supplied, it is hereby respectfully overtured, that this Synod take this important subject into consideration; and as it is believed that a book depôt, under proper regulations, would best meet the case; and in order to prepare for a judicious adoption of some course of this kind, it is further overtured that a committee of Synod be appointed to make all needful inquiries into the subject, and to correspond with the Board of Missions in Scotland regarding it. And further, that in the meantime this Synod do hereby express their entire confidence in the integrity of the Rev. Charles Fletcher, one of the ministers disabled from preaching, and now engaged as a bookseller in the city of Toronto, and most cordially recommend him to the Board of Missions, and through them to their booksellers and publishers in Scotland, as a trustworthy and deserving person; and that from his knowledge of the country, and central position, he would be a very proper medium through whom the wants of the congregations might meanwhile be supplied, so far as arrangements can be made.

After consideration, it was unanimously agreed that the overture be adopted; and Messrs Thornton, Kennedy, and Waddell, were appointed a committee to carry out its object.

Next meeting of Synod to be held in Toronto, on Wednesday after the second

Sabbath of June 1853.

Monthly Retrospect.

THE CAFFRE WAR.

THE Caffre war still continues to drag its slow length along. There seems as little hope of its termination as ever. General Cathcart is making no more progress than his predecessor, Sir Harry Smith, who was recalled for incapacity. We are not sure but that he is even losing ground. A district of fifty miles on each side of the frontier-line is now lying quite open to the incursions of the insurgents; and thus, instead of driving them back upon their own territory, we cannot repel them from

ours.

Almost the whole native population,

to all appearance, is up in arms against us; and even those who publicly declare themselves to be the friends of the British Government, cannot be depended upon. The Caffres, by some means or other, get acquainted with all the movements of the troops; and are found lying in ambuscade for them, at the points where they can do most injury to their opponents, with the least damage to themselves. Provisions and arms and ammunition, they have in abundance; and by the last accounts, we are informed of a party of Hottentots attacking five waggons of ammunition and Minie muskets, while proceeding from Graham's Town to

Fort-Beaufort, though guarded by a detachment of thirty-one sappers and miners. Seven of the convoy were killed, nine more were wounded, and the waggons remained as the prize of the rioters. Six days afterwards, an attack was made upon the camp of the Hottentots, in order to avenge this ignominious defeat. The force was large, and the success is said to be signal, yet the particulars mentioned scarcely warrant such a conclusion. But, be this as it may, there is the fact, that these despised Caffres and Hottentots have taken possession of a large part of the colony, from which we cannot dislodge them ;-that they are seizing cattle in all directions, and that, even in the neighbourhood of Graham's Town, it is scarcely safe for a European to show himself. If, then, the war is to be brought soon to an end, it must be by means of a much larger force than has yet been sent out to South Africa, and by a still more lavish expenditure of the public resources. Money can be made up again, but what compensation is there to our poor soldiers, not to mention the poor natives, whose blood is shed in these African solitudes ! And what shall we say of missionary stations broken up, around which christian families clustered, and from which was heard the voice of prayer and of praise to Jehovah! And what shall we say of prejudices fostered in the minds of the heathen against the Gospel itself, by their lands being plundered from them, and their dearest interests sacrificed on the altar of European cupidity! Great need have Christians of faith and of patience, and of looking beyond the dark cloud which now envelops Caffraria, to see those scattered tribes gathered together far back in the interior and listening to the messengers of Him who is the Prince of Peace, and who has poured out his soul a sacrifice for the dusky African as well as for the fair European! Help, Lord, for there is no help in man; and teach our rulers that there are better means of bringing over savage tribes than by gleaming swords and Minie rifles! And then the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for

ever.

TWO PICTURES FROM ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES--MIRACLES AND INHUMANITY.

OUR first picture is from France. The Virgin is still working miracles in France. Not long ago she appeared to an ignorant peasant, and presented him with a letter written by herself. The letter was not very creditable to her, as a specimen either of handwriting or of composition, and would most decidedly have brought down upon her the rebuke of a teacher in any respect

able seminary for young ladies, as a very careless and stupid girl. It was really a clumsy trick; and the imposition was discovered and publicly proclaimed by the authorities. The neuvaine mentioned is a series of religious exercises in honour of the Virgin, which continues for nine days.

The Union de l'Ouest publishes the following letter addressed to it by M. Similien, Professor of Mathematics at the School of Arts of Angers:

"In your number of the 15th ult. you announce from a letter which I had sent to you, that some surprising facts had occurred on the holy mountain of La Salette on the 1st of July, the eve of the fête of the Visitation of the Virgin. I now send you the details. A young pupil at the religious establishment of the Visitation at Valence, who had been for three months completely blind from an attack of gutta serena, arrived at La Salette on the 1st of July in company with some sisters of the community. The extreme fatigue which she had undergone in order to reach the summit of the mountain, at the place of the apparition, caused some anxiety to be felt that she could not remain fasting until the conclusion of the mass, which had not yet commenced, and the Abbé Sibilla, one of the missionaries of La Salette, was requested to administer the sacrament to her before the service began. She had scarcely received the sacred wafer when, impelled by a sudden inspiration, she raised her head and exclaimed, 'My good Mother, I see you.' She had, in fact, her eyes fixed on a statue of the Virgin, which she saw as clearly as any one present. For more than an hour she remained plunged in an ecstacy of gratitude and love, and afterwards retired from the place without requiring the assistance of those who had accompanied her. At the same moment a woman from Gap, nearly sixty years of age, who for the last nineteen years had not had the use of her right arm in consequence of a dislocation, suddenly felt it restored to its original state, and, swinging round the once paralysed limb, she exclaimed in a transport of joy and gratitude, And I also am cured!' A third cure, although not instantaneous, is not the less striking. Another woman, known in the country for many years as being paralytic, could not ascend the mountain but with the greatest difficulty, and with the aid of crutches. On the first day of the neuvaine, that of her arrival, she felt a sensation as if life was coming into her legs, which had been for so long dead; this feeling went on increasing, and the last day of the neuvaine, after having received the communion, she went without any assistance to the cross of the Assumption, where she hung up her crutches. She also was cured!"

It humbly appears to us, that the Virgin would be of more service if she would cross the Pyrenees, and work some reforms in the hospitals of Madrid. They are in a most dreadful condition, and such abuses would not have been allowed to exist so long in any country, which was not cursed with the sloth and ignorance of Papal su perstition. One thinks naturally of a country in the dark ages, when we look at this picture of inhumanity from Spain.

The

"The Governor of Madrid has just issued a memorandum of the facts on which he proposes to institute a reform of the hospitals of that capital, in which he draws the following picture of their present condition. He declares that the provisions served out to the patients are of the worst possible description, and dearer than the best, because nobody endeavoured to force the contractors to fulfil their obligations. The scales for the weighing out of the provisions were not equal, so that scandalous facilities were given to fraud. The daily consumption of sheep amounted to forty, the best of which went to the tables of the hospital clerks, and the worst to the patients. Eight hundred pounds of chocolate were consumed every month, not by the patients, because chocolate is not an article of hospital diet, except in rare cases, but by the employés. The kitchens were filthy in the extreme; the number of cooks and kitchen people so great, that they hindered each other from working. mattresses of the patients were half emptied of their wool, the property of the patients; their clothes were taken away without an inventory being made, the bedding unclean, the wards unwashed. There was neither respect nor consideration for suffering humanity, the hygiene of the wards being left to the will and pleasure of hospital clerks and ward lackeys. The dwellings of the insane were horrible to see. The medical case-books slovenly kept, with great intervals between the lines; so that agreeable or alimentitious articles were interpolated in great quantities, but never used by the unhappy patients. The bodies were carried naked to the dead-house in the same cart, without distinction of sex or age, many hours before the term marked down by the law, or dictated by prudence. The hair and teeth of the dead were converted into objects of commerce. The dispensary full of bad drugs, and, notwithstanding the heap of employés, dirty in the extreme. The young students employed as dressers were not under any kind of discipline; were never more than an hour at the utmost in the discharge of their duties; and when required by his Excellency the Governor to perform them, imposed impertinent conditions, and when these were not acceded to,

resigned their offices, and left the patients without assistance; for which act the Governor put them all into prison, and then deprived them of the permission to enter any public establishment. The clergy belonging to the hospital were by far too numerous, and yet their duties were inadequately fulfilled. The Governor of Madrid has turned out all the inferior servants : he has put the economical part of the establishment into the hands of the Sisterhood of Charity, which contains many women of great merit and abnegation, and he has effected great savings of every

kind."

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

It was a maxim of heathen antiquity, that those whom the gods wished to destroy, they first made infatuated. The proverb seems to be finding some verification in the proceedings of the Wesleyan Conference. Many thousands have forsaken the Wesleyan denomination from its despotic conduct, and several towns have consequently been under the necessity of reducing their ministers from four to three, and in some cases from three to two, relying upon their local preachers for assistance. But matters are still carried on with as high a hand as ever. At the Conference which was held a few weeks ago in Sheffield, there were no less than nine voluntary resignations of ministers and missionaries, the greater part of them, if not the whole, being occasioned by the prevailing dissensions. Four were formally expelled, and there would have been five, had not the degradation in one case been spared, from respect to his old age, or the feelings of his son, a distinguished physician of Birmingham. To make the censure as gentle as possible, the sentence ran in this form -that "his name be dropped from the printed minutes." And what was the offence of the old man? He had written letters of complaint to the president. One of the resignations was that of Mr Horton, who was not long ago minister in Dalkeith. It is curious to remark, that he is the person who published a reply to a series of articles which appeared in this Magazine two or three years ago, impugning the tyrannical system pursued by the chiefs of the Wesleyan body. He went up to England, he acquired more knowledge, and then committed the offence he condemned in another, by writing an article against the Conference in the British Quarterly Review. He afterwards accepted the appointment of editor of the Wesleyan Times. Though he sent in his resignation, he would have been expelled; but as he has three relations in the Wesleyan ministry, this ignominy (?)

was spared him, and a severe censure was pronounced upon his conduct, "since he first disconnected himself from the denomination, as deceitful, ungrateful, and faithless." Mr Allison was one of those who resigned; he was a missionary of long standing at Port Natal; and as he openly embraced the side of the Reformers, it was deemed necessary to injure, as far as it could be done, his influence. He was expelled. This is not all. Mark the base and despicable conduct of the leaders of Methodism, in damaging the characters of those who secede from them. Mr Allison is represented as "spiritually ruined by reading the Wesleyan Times." And then, as a specimen of their learning, a Latin line is quoted from Virgil, which, being translated into the vernacular, means, the descent to hell is easy. His conduct is made use of to point a moral, and to sound a solemn

warning against_backsliding. “See,” say they, "by what degrees men fall from their integrity, and how the holiest men, when overcome by the snare of the devil, may even descend into the condition and character of the most resolute wrong-doers." And the whole is wound up with the significant declaration, "The doctrine of final perseverance is no doctrine of Methodism. That the leaders of the present one-sided agitation were once good men, is no reason whatever that they are still, in any sense or degree, good men. If the Wesleyan ministers and the Wesleyan laity can stand such treatment much longer, we are tempted to add, that they deserve it well. But there is hope. There are two lay Conferences sitting in Sheffield, watching the conduct of the clerical. These are the "People's Delegates" and "The Moderates." The agitation will go on and increase.

GILLESPIE CENTENARY.

It was on the twenty-third day of May 1752, that the Reverend Thomas Gillespie was arraigned at the bar of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and in the august name of the Lord Jesus Christ was deposed from the office of the holy ministry. His sole crime was the refusal to disobey the dictates of his conscience, by taking part in the ordination of a minister at Inverkeithing, who was repudiated by the people. Meekly and composedly did he listen to the sentence. "Moderator, I desire to receive the sentence of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland pronounced against me with real concern and awful impressions of the Divine conduct in it; but I rejoice that to me it is given, in behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but to suffer for his sake." God makes the wrath of man to praise Him, and the anathema of the ecclesiastical court, though blasphemously uttered in the name of our Redeemer, proved the resurrection, not the death, of the sainted Gillespie. It ushered him into fame, it encircled his head with the halo of a confessor; it made his name a rallying word for truth and for freedom; it gathered around him the sympathies of all good men, and rendered him a thousand times more useful than he would have been, had he continued in that corrupt church which cast him from her as a foul and polluted thing. The twenty-third of May happened this year to be upon a Sabbath; and the opportunity was embraced by many ministers, and more particularly by those of the Relief branch of the United Presbyterian Church, of calling the attention of their congregations to this important event, and of explaining and defending the principles which were embodied in that "good confession" which Gillespie witnessed and handed down to posterity. It was, however, deemed proper, that a combined demonstration should be given in honour of one who, in addition to his private worth, occupies the prominent position of one of the founders of our church. A proposition of this kind was made in the presbytery of Edinburgh; and it was cordially entered into. It was resolved to hold the meeting on the 3d of August, at the opening of the Theological Hall. The place and the season were well chosen. It was in Edinburgh Gillespie was born, and it was in Edinburgh he was

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