institution when they allowed this privilege to many institutions of which they knew nothing.

Sheriff JAMESON said-Moderator, As the humble representative of the Presbytery of Italy, I beg to say a few words on this subject. Allow me to confirm all that has been so well said by Sir Henry Moncreiff in support of the overture. I am surprised at the doubts and difficulties which were expressed by Dr Gibson. The Waldensian College is no new institution, and the Church to which it belongs is surely not of yesterday. It happens to be the oldest evangelical Church in Christendom; and it has endured more sufferings for the truth than any other Church. The struggles of our forefathers are nothing in comparison to those which the ancient Church of the Waldenses endured for the cause of the gospel. How could my learned friend be ignorant of the character of that Church or its college. We have, in fact, more trustworthy guarantees for their soundness in the faith than we have for any other foreign institution. One of the ministers of this Church, Dr Stewart of Leghorn, who has long assisted the Waldensians, is one of the examiners of the college, and vouches for their orthodoxy. The professors of the college are known to many members of this House. Dr Revel, its Principal, has more than once addressed this Assembly; his character is too well known to require any commendation from me. Professor Geymonat is a man of great piety and earnestness. M. Appia is a learned and eloquent minister; and all of them are men of evangelical views. Dr de Sanctio lectures also in the college, whose tracts have done more for the evangelisation of Italy in the present day than any other books, except the Bible. In regard to such a college, you have more satisfactory guarantees than any of the foreign universities, some of whom, at least, are not in a very good atmosphere.

Dr GIBSON said, he did not cast the shadow of a doubt on the orthodoxy of the Waldensian Church; and if inquiry was made into the subject, it would perhaps be found he knew as much of the history of that Church as his honourable friend.

Dr BEGG said, his excellent friend (Sheriff Jameson) had totally misapprehended the point before the Assembly. No one doubted the orthodoxy of the Waldensian Church. The only question was, whether the Assembly should sanction the attendance of their students at their college by a general Act, and one which did not pass the Barrier Act.

Principal FAIRBAIRN thought they should allow the students to attend the college on their own responsibility, and let each case come up and be judged on its own merits. He had no doubt they had all the utmost confidence in the Waldensian Church, but he thought it would be unwise formally to give such sanction as was proposed.

Dr CANDLISH thereafter withdrew the overture, remarking that he thought the expression of opinion which had been given with regard to the Waldensian College was sufficient.

The Assembly then passed from the overture as not required for the purpose in view.

THE SUPPLY OF STUDENTS.

Dr BEGG next submitted the report of the committee on the Inadequate Supply of Students (XXIV.)' He stated that soon after the rising of the last Assembly, the committee sent out to all the ministers of the Church a circular containing the following queries, viz :—

"1. Are there any young men at present studying for the ministry in connexion with your congregation? How many?

"2. Are there any young men of decided piety and talent in your congregation, who might, if encouraged, be disposed to study for the ministry?

"3. Are there any obstacles in the way of this result, and what are they?

"4. Has anything been done, or is there anything likely to be done, by your congregation or Presbytery, or by any enlightened or liberal friend of the Church in your neighbourhood, for the purpose of encouraging and helping forward the studies of promising young men aiming at the ministry?

“5. Have you any information to give, or suggestions to make, on the general question to which these queries relate?"

The number of ministers answering the questions on these important subjects indicated, he thought, two things-a disregard of a rather important duty on the part of all the ministers who had not answered the questions of a Committee appointed by the General Assembly, but also a great want of interest on the part of the ministers at large in regard to a question of such vital importance. He was extremely grateful that Dr Duff had dealt so powerfully with this subject last night. He believed it was one of the greatest difficulties they had to face. If they could not get a sufficient supply of ministers, all their efforts might be expected by and by to end in complete disappointment. At the Disruption they brought out a number of men, the very picked men of the Established Church, but the succession must be maintained of such men if the Church was to have permanent prosperity. To the queries the report stated, " 285 returns, which are here with produced, have been made. From this it appears that no fewer than 550 ministers have made no return; but from the returns made, which are from ministers in nearly all the Presbyteries of the Church, the following results have come out-viz., First, That the number of young men reported as studying for the ministry is 212. Secondly, That the number who might study, if encouragements were given and difficulties removed, is 118. Of course, the 212 reported as studying at present for the Church are all connected with the 285 congregations that have made returns, and include students in every stage of progress. If a similar proportion of theological students exist in connexion with the congregations which have made no return, the number would be raised to nearly 600. And if a similar number of 'young men of decided piety and talent,' to those reported as anxious to study for the ministry, is found in the congregations which have made no return, this would raise the total number in this class to about 300, making in all about 900 young men either studying or who might be studying for the ministry in connexion with the Free Church of Scotland. This of course, however, can only be regarded as an approximation to the truth." The following are the main difficulties that were alleged to stand in the way :-"1st, Want of means. 2d, Want of a sufficiently elevated early education. 3d, Want of near and good schools in which a thorough classical education can be obtained. 4th, The early removal of boys from school to engage in labour. 5th, The inadequate support of the ministry, and the greater remuneration which prevails in other professions. 6th, The length of the present curriculum of study for the ministry. 7th, The apathy of parents, and the

general want of piety and earnestness amongst members of the Church ; and 8th, The impossibility of the great mass of teachers studying for the Church as in former days, in consequence of the regulations connected with their receiving grants from the Government." He believed that the Government arrangements which prevented teachers from becoming ministers, was not only a mischief, but was greatly to be regretted; and it seemed to him to be a fair question whether, if they could not get that altered, they did not pay very dearly for their endowments from Government in preventing what was formerly a very efficient supply for the ministry. After some remarks on the importance of parents seeing it to be their duty to permit their sons to become ministers instead of preventing them, as they often did, he went on to say that the institution of Synodical and Presbyterial bursaries, if judiciously managed, would go a great way in securing an adequate supply of ministers, as there were many who were most anxious to study with that object in view whose means prevented them from doing so. Then as to the curriculum preliminary to entering the Theological Hall, it would have to be considered whether improvement could be made. They knew that a degree would now secure the right of admission into the Hall, but no arrangements had been made for the purpose of bringing that into practical effect. The London University, he believed, was prepared to send examiners down to give degrees to men, whether they had attended the University or not. was something to be said as to how far that degree, apart from any Academical training, should warrant the admission of men into the Divinity Hall; but it was notorious that, after men had attained a certain age, they would not study for eight years before they became ministers. He did not ask them to adopt any deliverance on these matters, but to approve of the report and send it down to Presbyteries, that they might look at the subject in all its aspects, and make such suggestions to the committee as they thought proper, with a view to a more mature report to next Assembly.

any

There

On the motion of Dr CANDLISH, the report was approved of, and ordered to be sent down to Presbyteries with a view to full discussion and further information. The committee was also reappointed.

ENDOWMENT OF COLLEGES.

The Assembly called for the Report on the Endowment of Colleges. No report was given in. Principal Candlish, the convener, made an explanation, which was accepted by the Assembly. The Assembly reappointed the committee-Principal Candlish, convener.

DEPUTATIONS FROM AMERICA.

The Rev. Dr PATTON, Chicago, next addressed the Assembly on behalf of the American Missionary Association. He stated that the object of the society, which was organised about twenty years ago, was to aid the African race, and especially the negro population of America set free by the recent war. Having given a graphic account of the more remarkable scenes in the war for the suppression of what was now known in America as the slaveholders' rebellion, making mention of the new use to which the Churches had put the inspired psalms as expressing their own emotions, he proceeded to give some account of the extreme destitution and ignorance in which the four millions emancipated slaves now were.

He stated that, while plunged in the deepest ignorance, they were eager to obtain instruction; and the object of the society which he represented was to send teachers among them, to instruct them in gospel truth, and to afford them material aid till such time as they were enabled to provide for their own support. He concluded by an earnest appeal to the members of the Free Church to extend help to them in their extremity, even as the Americans had aided the Irish in time of famine, the Lancashire operatives in their destitution of work, and the Free Church itself in the great emergency of the Disruption.

The Rev. SELLA MARTIN, from the third Presbytery of New York, followed, and delivered an eloquent address on behalf of the same object. He began by stating that he was born a slave, and that up to the year 1856 he served a master, or rather, ten masters. But his tenth master finding that his ideas were rather above his condition, he having had some advantages of early education, sent him out with a paper to look for another master. He went, and in the course of time found one, and he had been well satisfied with him ever since. (Laughter and applause.) He proceeded to give an account of the negro population, and said one of the greatest difficulties they had to encounter during their transition state from slavery to freedom, was those habits which had been imposed upon them by their former state. They had a tendency to dishonesty, and their consciences were by no means transparent, but they were struggling upward, and if they succeeded in gaining the respect of other men, they would be more deserving of respect in consequence of what they had come through. Their masters taught them they had no responsibility. If a negro was asked to do what was wrong, if he was asked to give up his wife, for instance, his master told him he was not responsible, that all the responsibility fell on him. Well, a man might believe it once or twice; but, if called to do wrong on account of his master, by and by he began to do it for himself. (Hear, hear.) Thus his conscience was demoralised. He then pointed out how the Anglo-Saxons were instrumental in enslaving the negro race, and proceeded to argue that, as a race, they were exceedingly capable of social and religious improvement. Since then they were now set free: he asked them to assist them in their efforts to gain independence, self-reliance, and to cultivate feelings of self-respect. They did not ask for their wives and children, which had been torn from them; they did not ask for the money which had been wrung from their bones and sinews during long years; he came to Scotland to beg of them to assist his brethren in obtaining some knowledge of the principles of political economy, that they might recognise their relation in the community, that they might learn to read the Word of God, in whose authority they had so long trusted, and by whose grace they were at last set free. (Loud applause.)

The Rev. RICHARD LEA, of the Old School Presbyterians of America, then addressed the Assembly. He adverted to the recent war in America and the action of Christian philanthropy at that time in caring for the wounded; and not only so, such was the influence of Catholic Christian efforts among the soldiers that, while many at the outbreak had anxiously asked the question-"What was to be the result when a million of men came back from fields of carnage and spoil demoralised?" that question had been most satisfactorily answered. These men had come back, not demoralised, to take their places again quietly in the ranks of civil life.

X

With regard to the General Assembly which he represented, there is much that is so similar between the two that a member of the Free Church would find himself quite at home in the Assembly of the Old School Presbyterians. The daughter follows closely in the footsteps of the mother; each, perhaps, a little vain of herself, but both also not a little proud of each other, and rejoicing in each other's success. (Applause.) He might say to the Free Church, for the Church he represented-"Your creeds, your confessions, your catechisms, we accept them all." (Applause.) He, a native of England, accompanied by a brother, a native of Scotland(applause)-then on behalf of the Old School Presbyterians of America, begged to extend the right hand of fellowship to the Free Church. (Mr Lea then shook hands with the Moderator, amid loud applause.)

Mr CAMERON, another member of the same deputation, in a few sentences offered hearty congratulations and good wishes to the Free Church.

Mr G. H. STUART, of Philadelphia, next addressed the Assembly. He said the Assembly had just been addressed by a native of America, by a son of Ethiopia, of whom they might well be proud, by a native of England, and a native of Scotland. He was not a native of any of these countries himself, but a native of Ireland. (Applause and laughter.) Mr Stuart then, in a lively speech, proceeded to give a number of graphic details of the proceedings of the Christian Commission in the American army during the recent war, himself having been chairman of that commission. That commission included 4800 men and 200 ladies, whose office it was to care for the wounded, and endeavour to supply all their wants, physical as well as spiritual. The simple badge worn on the collar gained them ready admission everywhere. The commission was composed of earnest and active Christians of every denomination, and their labours were largely blessed in influencing even those who made no profession of Christianity. For example, a soldier said to himself, "I am not a Christian, but the Christian Commission have cared for all my wants, and when I get home I hope to join the Church to which the Christian Commission belongs." (Applause and laughter.) It was no use, however, to think of going to the army to do work in a formal way; and to the minister who asked how many written sermons he would take with him, his answer was, "I cannot send you just now." (Laughter.) The truth was, those who would preach there must preach as they could-as he had done himself to 3000 coloured men grouped about him, with the stump of a tree for a pulpit, and perhaps in the dark, so that written sermons in that case, at least, would be of little service. (Laughter and applause.) The Christian Commission spent 6,250,000 dollars; they circulated 18,000,000 copies of the best religious newspapers; 39,000,000 pages of tracts; 8,000,000 little books, such as "Come to Jesus." They had put into libraries nearly 400,000 volumes of the best standard literature for the soldiers to read; and 1,450,000 copies of the Word of God had been circulated. They had also furnished 90,000 boxes of hospital stores. (Applause.) And a great cause of gratitude was, that since the war ceased, a revival had begun which seemed likely to be one of the greatest revivals they had ever been blessed with in America. Mr Stuart, in conclusion, made an eloquent appeal in behalf of a federal union between the various Presbyterian bodies in Britain, and those in America; and the mutual and regular appointment of delegates from the one to the other. He sug