now under discussion. Here and now, we are not called upon to say or determine whether these acts are or are not inconsistent with the constitution of the early Church. But the question before us is, are they consistent with the constitutional principles and procedure of the Presbyterian Church in this country? It is because we regard them as unconstitutional, and also as to a certain extent subversive of the nature and ends of ecclesiastical discipline, that we propose that they should be repealed. Our Presbyterian order is grounded on the ideas of representation and the subordination of courts; and in keeping with the subordination of courts is the right of appeal. At present the humblest member in our communion has the right of appealing from the judgment of the session or through all our courts to this General Assembly. And cases might be cited in which the sentences of all the inferior courts were reversed by the Assembly. Our people have hitherto availed themselves of their right in this matter, and in general the impression is, and has been, that in this way a measure of substantial justice is obtained, which is perhaps not attainable by any other means. But hitherto, in all matters of this sort the ministers of this Church have been, at least, on a level with the membership of the Church. Sheriff Cleghorn's proposal would degrade them beneath that level by depriving them of the constitutional right of appeal, and handing them over to be tried by a special commission. Principal Fairbairn tells us that in the primitive Church there is no instance of appeal in cases of this sort. But need I again state that it is not by the practice of the primitive Church that we are to be guided in this discussion, but by the practice of this Church, and by those principles which underlie the Presbyterianism of the apostolic and primitive Church. Inherent in the constitution of Presbyterianism is the right of appeal from an inferior to a superior judicatory. Much has been said respecting the unfitness of this Assembly to determine in cases of the kind referred to. I confess I do not like this sort of argument. But why are our friends so grossly inconsistent with themselves. They admit that it is a more delicate and difficult matter to judge and determine in a case of heresy than in a case of immorality, and yet they reserve the cases of heresy for the ordinary course of procedure, while they hand over the cases of immorality to a special commission. Again, we have heard a good deal about the anomaly of presbyteries being at once prosecutors and judges. They are not in any proper sense prosecutors. But in so far as they are inquirers or prosecutors, they are so because of the nature of Christian discipline on the one hand, and because of the constitution of presbytery as presbytery on the other. Christian discipline is primarily corrective, incidentally primitive. Edification, not destruction is the aim and design of it. It is administered necessarily through the rulers or office-bearers of the Church. And the procedure in our kirk-sessions regulates and exhibits the application of our constitutional principles in all cases of discipline. ("Question.") A member cries out "Question." I hold it to be unbecoming that an old member should interrupt me, a young man unaccustomed to debate. If that gentleman-Mr Wood-has any reply, he will have the opportunity. A session inquires and judges respecting each case. A presbytery does nothing A Synod, a General Assembly, does nothing more. Let us then beware lest we tamper with the goodly order of our presbyterianism, lest we interfere with the nature and ends of Christian discipline. more. Mr WooD-I think Mr Macaulay is quite away from the question. We 66 all know the process of procedure before the kirk-session. We do not want Mr Macaulay to tell us that, when our time is so short. (Cries of 'Order.") I am speaking to the question of order. I say when our time is so short, to detain us with an elaborate discussion on the procedure before the kirk-session is rather much. (Applause.) Mr MACAULAY said—If I understand the rules of the House, I am entitled to conduct my argument in my own way, whatever value Mr Wood or any other member may attach to it. I hold that I am dealing with what covers the whole question. Mr GALBRAITH, elder, Glasgow, also supported Dr Gibson's motion, setting forth that jury trials were not final, and that when a new trial was moved for, the question was decided upon written evidence, and urging strongly adherence to our Presbyterian constitution. Dr G. BROWN was about to speak, it being about a quarter to four, when Dr GIBSON, interrupting, said, by the order of the day, the Irish deputation was to be heard at four. He did not wish to insist on his right of reply, but if the discussion was to go on, and required to be adjourned, he must object to parties coming in and judging who had not heard a word of the discussion. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Dr BROWN-I am entitled to speak; it is not yet four o'clock. Dr CANDLISH-We have resolved, at four o'clock, to hear the Irish deputation. But if Dr Gibson waive the right of reply, we can go to a division just now. (Cries of "Vote, vote.") Mr Wood, of Elie, and Mr Thomas Smith rose together, amid consider. able stir, apparently to speak. Dr BROWN-I object strongly to The MODERATOR-The question must be determined whether the discussion is to go on. Dr BEGG-The question must be determined, and the House has the right to do so. Many members would wish to speak, no doubt. I myself would do so, and I have a good deal to say. (Laughter.) But I am willing to let the matter come to a close. (Cries of "Vote, vote.") I move that the House proceed to a vote. (Hear, hear.) It was agreed to take the vote accordingly. Sheriff Cleghorn, with consent of his seconder, withdrew his motion. The vote was then taken between Dr Gibson's motion and that of Sir H. W. Moncreiff. The numbers were For Dr Gibson's motion, 88; for Sir H. W. Moncreiff's motion, 96. Sir H. W. Moncreiff's motion was accordingly carried. DEPUTATION FROM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND. An extract minute was laid on the table from the records of the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, from which it appeared that Dr David Brown, Dr Murray Mitchell, and the Earl of Kintore had attended the meeting of that Assembly in July 1865. Another extract minute, from the same records, was laid on the table, from which it appeared, that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland had appointed as a deputation to the Free Church Assembly, the Rev. David Wilson, D.D., Moderator of Assembly; the Rev. George Bellis, Secretary of Missions; the Rev. James Wilson, Lecumpter; and the Rev. J. G. Robb, Clogher-ministers; with David Duncan Leitch, Esq., and John Coates, Esq.--ruling elders. Mr Wilson of Lecumpter, Mr Robb, and Mr Leitch, the members of the deputation present, were introduced by Dr David Brown, and addressed the Assembly in succession. Mr WILSON first addressed the Assembly, and gave a cheering account of the position and prospects of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He said that, in some degree, they were endeavouring, not as rivals, but as fellow-labourers, to cultivate the same wide field in which the Free Church were engaged. They had their missionaries in India, and had lately sent an additional one to that distant portion of the vineyard. In Canada, New Brunswick, Australia, and Vancouver's Island they had their missionaries, and in the latter place, first taken up by their Mission Board as a mission field, their agent, the Rev. John Hall, had, by his indefatigable zeal, organised and established a flourishing congregation, composed for the most part of Scottish settlers. With Mr Hall's approbation, it was now ministered to by a Scotch minister, Mr Somerville, while Mr Hall was breaking up unoccupied ground in New Zealand. Their missionaries to the Jews in Bonn, Hamburg, and Syria were labouring zealously and successfully. Their Home Mission, however, was of paramount importance. In Ireland, they had as gross superstition and degrading idolatry, and devotees as self-denying and patient under bodily pain, as in any part of India; and the periodical danger arising to the Government of Great Britain from Irish superstition was just as imminent and threatening as was seen a few years ago in the Indian mutiny, and requiring the strong arm of the law in the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act to restrain the maddened violence of Fenianism, the greatest Jesuitical swindle of modern times. The only effectual remedy for this evil in India and in Ireland was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mr Wilson then proceeded to explain the various agencies in operation in connexion with the Church. Speaking of the deficiency of labourers, he said they hoped to see that shortly remedied. Their second Presbyterian college, with a regular staff of efficient professors, had been opened in Derry in October last, and one session had passed with great satisfaction, the College Committee having reported favourably of the teaching of the professors, and the diligence, good conduct, and proficiency of the students. (Applause.) Iu their Theological Hall in Belfast there had been a larger attendance of students than in any former year, and at the close of the session in April, the Theological Committee examined, and with great satisfaction passed and recommended for license, twenty-six young men who had been licensed by their respective Presbyteries. Others were expected to be licensed shortly, and for all these they had abundant employment. Referring to the subject of Union, he said he hoped that it would be realised with the happiest results. At the same time, he spoke approvingly of the caution with which they were proceeding in their deliberations, which he believed afforded the better hope that the union, when consummated, would be the more cordial and permanent. He pointed out the beneficial fruits of the union of the Presbyterian Churches in Ireland, and concluded by expressing the fraternal feelings of regard entertained towards the Free Church by the Irish Presbyterians. Mr ROBB and Mr LEITCH, the two other members of the deputation, also briefly addressed the Assembly, after which Dr CANDLISH expressed the hope that they would afterwards have the benefit of such information and advice as the deputation could give on the subject of education in Ireland. It was then unanimously agreed to, "That the General Assembly renew the expression of their cordial interest in the work of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; of their strong feeling in unison with the ministers, elders, and people of that Church; and of their desire and prayer for the prosperity of the Christian efforts put forth by those ministers, elders, and people. The General Assembly further record their thanks to the deputies for their presence and addresses, and instruct the Moderator to convey to them the views and feelings of the House." The MODERATOR, addressing the members of the deputation, said— Dear brethren, it gives me great pleasure to thank you, in name of the General Assembly, for your presence among us, and for the addresses to which we have had the privilege of listening. We rejoice in all the work which the Lord has enabled you to accomplish, and is still doing by your hands. Your Church has been a rapidly progressive one, and is no more confined to one of the provinces of your country, but is now pervading them all. Transplanted at first from Scotland, it has become indigenous in Irish soil. It was not the last in partaking of that heavenly visitation of the Spirit by which, from the commencement of this century, the churches of Great Britain were awakened out of a long and almost fatal slumber. And, getting hold again of the old vital truth, you have been made to feel that it has lost none of its power. You have been breaking forth on the right hand and on the left, and are now, by your Home Missions, and your missions both to the Jews and the heathen, making it manifest that the Spirit of the Lord is still resting upon you. We remember with gratitude that awakening a few years ago, which one of yourselves has named the year of grace, for not a few among us, both ministers and congregations, were refreshed and strengthened by it. We trust and believe that it will be instrumental in preparing you for the time of trial which may soon be coming upon you. You have our hearty sympathy, in the midst of those difficulties by which you are beset, and I rejoice that that sympathy finds expression for itself in kind deeds, as well as in good words. It is doubtless profitable to both our churches that they should be bearers of one another's burdens. It was good for you that you were helpful to us in the midst of our Disruption difficulties, and it is good for us that we continue to aid in the prosecution of your mission work in the south and west among the benighted victims of Popery. None of us have been regarding without interest the disturbed state of your country-the new phase of Popish life presented to us in the widely ramified Fenian conspiracy. Some among us were induced to hope that the breaking loose of the people from priestly control might issue in their emancipation from that spiritual despotism which has so long oppressed them. Such a hope is certainly not encouraged by what we have hitherto seen of the history of that conspiracy. Natures which have been perverted by the unhallowed influence of him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, perhaps need the restraints of priestly authority; and the removal of that restraint may not be the means of their emancipation into the liberty and light of truth, but of giving the rein to those fierce passions which issue in blood and murder. Meanwhile, the development of that conspiracy has been impressively teaching us into what a state of mind Popery educates its vic tims; and, may we not hope, will teach our statesmen what a viper they have been warming in their bosom. The state of society all around you cannot fail more or less to affect your operations as a Church-we trust not injuriously. The Lord is not only able to keep you safely, but you may rely on His promise that He will make the wrath of men to praise Him while He restrains the remainder thereof. Brethren, I commend you to God and the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified. The Assembly then adjourned till the evening. EVENING SEDERUNT. FOREIGN MISSIONS. Dr DUFF, who was received with loud applause, gave in the Report of the Committee on Foreign Missions, (No. VII.) He said-The report has been issued for some time, and I suppose may be taken as read. It is rather a bulky one; but if any of the members have had leisure to look at the details, amid the varied business of the House, they will acknowledge that its bulkiness does not arise from mere inflation or expansion, but from the vast accumulation of facts which have been brought together there. It is a record of a very comprehensive character; which itself indicates that our missions are conducted on an extensive scale of operations, and therefore implies that this House ought to feel more than ever interested in their progress. There are many leading subjects included in the report. To go over them seriatim would require a whole night: several of them I must leave to those who are to follow me. A few of them I must more specially notice; but before entering upon the proper business details, I will allude very briefly to the deaths of the eminent missionaries that have occurred in the course of the year, and are recorded in the report. In the Record for last October an interesting biographical notice of the first of them, Dr Mackay, appeared from the pen of one with whom he was long associated in the foreign field, and who is now working as an evangelist in one of the long-neglected localities of this city, as well as pastor of the flock gathered in by his labours-the Rev. Mr Smith. A suitable statement regarding the death of Dr Mackay was also inserted in the minutes of the Foreign Missions Committee. I shall therefore only, in one sentence, say with reference to one who was my companion and associate as a student at St Andrews, and afterwards my associate and colleague in foreign lands-that no man of greater or more varied talents, acquirements, or accomplishments ever left these British shores for the foreign mission field. (Applause.) And I will add this with regard to him—since in this House this very day, I believe, difficulties in connexion with pastoral colleagues at home were spoken of that, though we were colleagues, and had daily intimate intercourse, having constantly to consult each other, and very often upon perplexing matters, yet, praised be God for it, never was there any serious jar or discord between us. His ashes now peacefully repose in the suburbs of Edinburgh, but, up to his latest breath, his heart was in India, with the native converts whom he loved so well, and the heathen millions whom he longed to save. His record is on high; and his best earthly monument will be found in that great central institute on the banks of the Ganges, which he assisted so materially in establishing, and which, from |