rights of conscience. He greately preferred taking Mr. Renton's resolutions as a whole. Dr. Eadie supported very cordially the two first resolutions. He admitted there were good provisions in the bill, and was well assured that if it were rejected, there would, in various parts of Glasgow itself, be a strong effort made to erect schools, supported by Privy Council grants. Mr. Steedman of Stirling held that government should not interfere in the matter of education, and that those who entertained similar views would not be at all committed, if Mr. M'Gill consented so to alter the phraseology of the preamble which he proposed to prefix to the resolutions, stating that there were points in the bill which were an improvement on the present state of matters. Mr. M'Gill having expressed his willingness to adopt the suggestion, the preamble and resolutions stand thus:

"The attention of the Synod having been called to the bill lately introduced into the House of Commons on the subject of education in Scotland, the Synod, while it regards several of its provisions as an improvement on the present state of matters, yet resolves to re-affirm the two positions it has long maintained on the subject of National Education1st. That it is not within the province of the civil government to provide for the religious instruction of the subject, and that this department of the religious education of the young should be left to the parents and the Church; and that the system of supporting denominational schools out of the public funds is most reprehensible, on account of its violation of our principle, of its fostering sectarian distinctions, and of its indiscriminate support of truth and error. 2d. That this Synod strongly condemns those portions of the bill which do open violence to the principles of this Church, contained in the 27th clause, and in the second branch of the 36th clause. 3d. That this Synod declares that any measure from which these two obnoxious provisions are not excluded, is not only unworthy the support, but merits the strenuous opposition of this Synod, and of all the members of this Church. 4th. That copies of these resolutions be sent to the members of her Majesty's Government, to the Scottish members of the House of Commons, and such other members as the Committee on Public Questions may deem fit."

The moderator having read the resolutions with the above prefix, they were

unanimously adopted by the Synod, and a committee appointed to transmit them.

CONGREGATION OF NEWBIGGING.

This congregation, agreeably to their own request, were disjoined from the Presbytery of Arbroath, and annexed to the Presbytery of Dundee.

REPORT ON THE BETTER SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.

The Synod having at last meeting resolved to take immediate steps to raise all the stipends of the Church to £120, exclusive of a manse, and that £150 be kept in view as the minimum to be ultimately realized, Mr. Millan reported that the committee had corresponded with 256 congregations whose stipends were under £150; that 150 congregations had reported to the committee; that 41 had resolved without extraneous aid to advance the

stipends of their ministers; that eleven of these have attained to £150; one to £140; twenty to £120; and the others have added £10 to their former stipend. In all the sum of £700 is being added to their stipends by these 41 congregations. Other congregations who have not reported are following this good example.

The collection which the Synod recommended on behalf of this scheme has been made by 222 congregations, and has realized the sum of £1108 6s. 6d.

There are 70 self-supporting congregations, with a membership under 200; some of which have attained to £120 with a manse; and others to £120 without a manse. Several elders having spoken in support of the scheme, the report was received, the committee thanked for their exertions, and re-appointed to prosecute their labours. The Synod then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, May 3.

FORENOON SEDERUNT.

The moderator having opened the sederunt, the Synod took up the first cause on the roll.

PROTEST AND APPEAL BY MR. A. M‘CLYMONT.

The cause having been called, and no appearance having been made by Mr. M Clymont, the appeal was dismissed.

OVERTURE ANENT REGULATIONS FOR THE TRANSLATION OF MINISTERS.

This overture was introduced by Mr. G. Hutton, of the North United Congre gation, Perth, and the object of it was to secure more harmonious action in the

church in the translation of ministers, and to obviate the scruples of those who are opposed to the present mode of translating ministers; and it submitted that it should not be left, as at present, to the judgment of one man to decide upon a question involving so many interests.

Dr. Struthers, Mr. Renton, Mr. Marshall, and several elders, having expressed their minds upon the overture, Mr. Hutton withdrew it, and was recommended, if he saw proper, to bring up another to next Synod, specifying the particular alterations he wished to have made upon the regulations anent the translation of

ministers.

REPORT ON THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION,

HALL, AND LIBRARY.

Mr. Davidson reported that 105 students had attended the class of exegetical theology last session, and 103 that of systematic theology. The professors spoke very favourably of the state of their classes. Three hundred and eightytwo volumes had been added to the library by purchase, and thirty by donations. Ministers' libraries were now 107 in number, containing 1391 volumes. The Synodical committee craved £100 for books. They also recommended that the college of St. John's Wood, London, and Owen's College, Manchester, be regarded by the Synod as affording an education to students looking forward to the ministry, equal to that furnished in the Scottish universities. Mr. Redpath, of London, very fully developed the character of the education furnished in St. John's Wood College; and Dr. M'Kerrow, of Manchester, that furnished at Owen's College; and the Synod having considered that portion of the report relat ing to the English colleges, approved of it, and adopted accordingly, and voted £100 to the library fund.

SYNOD'S PROPERTY IN PERSIA. Mr. Davidson craved advice as to the disposal of the valuable books belonging to the Synod, which had been furnished to the late Dr. Glen, to assist him in translating the Scriptures into the Persian language; and the Synod agreed to present them as a donation to the American missionaries resident in Persia.

REPORT ON SCHOLARSHIPS.

Dr. Robertson reported that fifty-six university students, and thirty-eight theological students, had competed for scho

larships last year; and that of the former, twenty had obtained scholarships to the value of £200; and of the latter, twentyfour had obtained scholarships to the value of £240. He farther reported that the scholarship fund was in a very languishing condition; but that if the Synod would give it more countenance and aid, it would yet live and prosper. Drs. Eadie, Andrew Thomson, and Baird, Rev. Messrs. Edmond, Marshall, Barr of Jedburgh, Scott of Manchester, and M'Dowall, took part in the discussion which the report occasioned. Several motions were proposed, but that which was ultimately carried by ninety over eighty-seven, was to this effect:"That, for carrying on the scheme with energy and efficiency, the Synod direct the Scholarship Committee to nominate a sub-committee for the specific purpose of raising funds through the medium of committees in the various districts of the church, and direct the committee to consider whether the efficiency of the scheme would not be promoted by offering scholarships in a larger proportion than hitherto to the university rather than the theological

students.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES.

Mr. Cairns of Stewarton reported that the committee had been communicated with by sixteen presbyteries-eleven of whom approved of the Draft Summary of Principles. One presbytery reported that a summary is not needed; and two others, that the doctrinal part be dispensed with, but the historical retained; and one presbytery has reported, that in present circumstances it is not expedient to proceed in the matter of a summary deliberated on these reports, revised their of principles. The committee having draft summary, and laid a copy of it on the Synod table, intimating that copies had also been furnished to the members of court. After a discussion, which was resumed at several sederunts, it was finally resolved to adjourn it till next Synod; and that, in the meantime, copies of the revised summary be sent to presbyteries and sessions.

EVENING SEDERUNT.

MISSIONARY MEETING.

As the use of the City Hall could not be obtained for the missionary meeting, it was arranged to open Wellington Street Church (Dr. Robson's), to accom

modate those who could not obtain admission to Gordon Street Church; and that the gentlemen appointed to address the meeting would re-deliver their addresses in Wellington Street Church. The opening devotional exercises were conducted by the moderator and Dr. Harper.

The Rev. A. Somerville, missionary secretary, read an outline of the report for 1853-4:

HOME MISSIONS.

Eighty-five congregations have, during the year, been aided in the way of supplement of stipend, and thirteen congregations have received grants. Seventytwo of the supplemented congregations have sent in full returns, and from these it appears that there have been admitted to membership 699, and that the removals by death or otherwise have been 677, leaving a gain upon the year of twentytwo members. Thirty-two of these congregations have slightly decreased, and forty have gained a small accession. It appears also from these returns that the number of members in these seventy-two congregations is 7072, and that they have raised for ordinary purposes, £5298, 13s. 7d.; for our missions, £386, 17s. 44d.; for the Synod and debt liquidating funds, £102, 14s. 7d.; for other missions, £95, 13s. 74d.; and for benevolont purposes, £60, 5s. 11 d., or altogether the sum of £5944, 5s. 1 d., which is an average for each member of fully 16s. 6d.

IRISH EVANGELIZATION.

About £120 only have been placed at the disposal of the home committee for this purpose.

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

1. Canada.-The Synod in Canada now consists of eight presbyteries, with fortyeight ordained ministers and seventy-six congregations. During the year five ordinations have taken place. Late returns show that the membership of the congregations is 6409, the attendance 12,845, and that 2988 are distributed in religious classes. The total income for the year was £6425, 15s. 5d., being an average of £1 for each member. This mission, which in twenty-two years has grown from two to forty-eight ministers, will, we doubt not, continue rapidly to advance, and prove a centre of light and gracious influence to the multiplying thousands of that important and valuable province.

2. Jamaica.-1st, Congregations. The statistical facts that have been sent

home with regard to this mission are extremely valuable and cheering. It has twenty-two congregations, divided into four presbyteries. The membership is 4102, the attendance 8230, the admissions 419, the removals by death or otherwise 258, leaving a gain of 161, and the candidates for membership are 449. The contributions for religious purposes amount, irrespective of school fees, to £2901, 17%. 8d., which is an average of 14s. for each member. This favourable average bas been greatly helped by the congregations of Kingston and Montego Bay, the mem bers of which have been exceedingly libe ral; but still, considering the depressed state of the island, and the poverty of the people, the sums raised are on the whole creditable and encouraging. 2d, Schools. Their are now forty-four day-schools, with 3041 names on the roll, and an average attendance of 2059. The sum of £463, 5s. 10d., has been obtained for school fees. 3d, Montego Bay Academy. This seminary was never in a more prosperous condition than it has been during the past year. The literary classes have been at tended by fifteen missionary students and fifty public scholars, and the theological department by twelve students. have been instructed in Greek, Logic, Moral Philosophy, Hebrew, and Theology, and the tutor speaks of the progress of the young men as satisfactory.

These

3. Trinidad.-The Rev. G. Lambert, who went out last winter, has begun his labours at Arouca; and the Rev. Mr. Brodie, being thus relieved of the charge of that congregation, and having now more time to devote to his own in Port of Spain, says that his prospects on the whole are brighter than they have been for some time, and that he has great hope that the present will be a year of progress.

4. Old Calabar.-There are three facts connected with this mission to which we shall shortly advert. The first is the manifestation of converting grace in the forma tion of a small native church. This is the distinguishing and the delightful fact of the year. The second fact is the provid ing of funds for the extension of this mission, with the sanction of the missionary committee, published in the Record for November, pointing out six localities where missionaries might be placed, and suggest ing that an extra fund of £2000 be raised for defraying the expenses of their forma tion. By the energetic labours of Mr. Waddell, and the generous and most hearty response of individuals and of con