Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

expensive. To a certain extent there is weight in this objection. Great care must be taken to guard against a useless expenditure of money. But the question is, Where is the proper point to stop? If expense is the only consideration, then the cheapest way would be to have one or two individuals at headquarters to manage all the affairs of the Church. But no person, I suppose, will advocate such a plan as that. The great matter is to combine the greatest amount of fair representation and efficiency in carrying on the work of the Church, on the one hand, with as little an expenditure of money as possible, on the other. (Applause.) (3.) Again, there are many parts of the Highlands from which ministers could not reasonably be expected to come to attend meetings of committee. Then, their representation might be got by such places as Glasgow and Edinburgh; and this makes it all the more desirable that those places which lie within easy distance of the metropolis should be fully represented. If I might throw out a suggestion, it would be to the following effect :Take the committees as they now stand. Make a rule that a certain limited number shall retire annually in order. Then, taking a leaf out of the book of our friends, the United Presbyterians, let us appoint a committee annually, at each Assembly, representing all parts of the country, and all the different stages of life, comprising some young men, some middle-aged, some old; and let it be the work of this committee to find out and to nominate such persons as might be suitable for being added to the standing committees of the Church, in the room of those who retire by rotation, and of those whose names are dropped on account of non-attendance. (Applause.) I merely throw this out as a hint. I do not for a moment imagine that this plan would be perfect; but I think it would be greatly superior to the plan, or rather the want of plan, at present in existence. But this would be a matter for the consideration of the committee. (Applause.)

Mr STEWART, Moulin, supported the motion, and called attention to the placing of young men upon the committees, while others who had been years in the Church were never so honoured or called upon.

Sir H. MONCREIFF remarked that he was not aware there was any principle in the matter, otherwise than that the General Assembly had the right to do as it likes, and was always willing that good members should be selected for the committees. (Laughter.)

The motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed accordingly. The Assembly then adjourned.

EVENING SEDERUNT.

The Assembly met in the evening at seven o'clock-Mr Wilson, Moderator. The house was crowded in all parts.

DEPUTIES TO VISIT THE SYNODS OF MORAY AND GALLOWAY.

Dr CANDLISH gave in the report of the committee appointed to select two districts to be visited, and to name deputies to visit them. Dr Candlish said-The movement to be initiated is one which I think may turn out to be of considerable importance. It is a movement bearing strictly upon the advancement of vital godliness within the bounds of our own Church. It originated in this Assembly in an overture from members of the General Assembly on the state of religion, and that over

ture led to the appointment of a conference of the whole House, which was adjourned, so that there were two private conferences of the Assembly on this subject. These conferences resulted in a resolution adopted by the General Assembly in open meeting, to institute this year a movement in the direction of bringing the General Assembly directly into contact with the Presbyteries and congregations of the Church on the subject of the state of religion in the widest possible sense. A committee was appointed to suggest two districts to be visited, and to nominate deputies to visit them. Of course, if this plan is to be carried out, and deputies from the General Assembly are to overtake the whole Church within any reasonable time, it will be necessary in future years to take more than two districts. But it was thought desirable that during the first year we should, as it were, experiment on two districts, and should wait for the report of the visitors to these two districts before making a more general movement in the way of overtaking the whole Church. The principle of this movement is one which I rejoice to see carried out at this General Assembly, or at least attempted to be carried out. It is many years ago since I advocated a proposal of the same kind, but there were practical difficulties which hindered it from being then carried out. I believe that then some of our friends had scruples in regard to the movement. These scruples, I rejoice to say, have disappeared, so far as we can judge from the conferences which have been held; and I hope it will now be universally agreed that the principle on which this movement is made is one thoroughly justifiable on Presbyterian grounds. There is no interference intended with the functions of Presbyteries. On the contrary, the object of the deputies will be to co-operate with Presbyteries to the fullest possible extent, in the way of getting information, and also in the way of making a good impression on the congregations within the bounds, and quickening and reviving religion among them. That is the object of this proposal, and I hope it will be found in the issue that the deputations, so far from weakening the hands of the Presbytery, will strengthen them exceedingly. For one thing, I hope that the issue of these deputations will be to revive the practice of Presbyterial visitation, and that in a mode suited to the altered circumstances of the country. But without enlarging, I think it will be quite sufficient that I name the districts which the committee take the liberty of suggesting for the ensuing year, and the instructions the committee venture to suggest should be given to the deputation. The districts which have been suggested to be visited this year by the Assembly-and the charm, to my mind, of the whole proposal is, that it brings the Supreme Court of the Church into direct contact with the local parties-are, one in the north and one in the south. In the north we propose that the Synod of Moray should be taken first; but, as that Synod is too large to be visited in one year, we suggest that the following Presbyteries of the Synod should be taken :-The Presbytery of Nairn, the Presbytery of Forres, the Presbytery of Elgin, the Presbytery of Aberlour, and the Presbytery of Strathbogie. Then we propose that in the south we should take the Synod of Galloway; and the parties suggested to visit these two districts in name of the General Assembly, during the ensuing year, are the following. It is proposed that we should appoint, as part of the plan, one senior minister, one junior minister, and two elders, who may probably divide the work between

To the Presbyteries in the Synod of Moray we propose to send, as the senior minister, Mr Mackenzie of the Tolbooth Church, and as junior minister, Mr James Hood Wilson of the Barclay Church; and as elders, Mr G. F. Barbour and Mr Romanes. For the Galloway Synod, the committee propose Dr Wood as senior minister, Mr Wells, Glasgow, as junior minister; and Colonel Davidson and Mr James Balfour, elders. And now I will satisfy myself with reading what we were instructed to bring up to the Assembly, viz., the suggestions for the use of the ministers :

"At the outset of such a movement as this, it would be inexpedient, even if it were possible, to lay down a very definite plan. Experience, during this tentative or experimental year, may furnish materials for an approximation to such a result. Meanwhile any instructions to the deputies must be regarded as hints and recommendations, rather than as precise and peremptory rules. It being assumed that the deputations are to proceed from Presbytery to Presbytery in the districts to be visited, the following order of procedure is suggested for their guidance :—1. The deputation will probably make it their first business to confer with the office-bearers of the Presbytery within whose bounds they are to conduct their visitation. Their conferences may be first with the ministers apart; then with ministers, elders, and deacons. At all these conferences the object should be to encourage free and confidential conversation in regard to the congregations within the bounds of the Presbytery; and with that view, the congregations should be considered separately, and in order. The deputation may thus obtain information of the greatest value in itself, as well as in its bearing on their dealings with the congregations themselves in detail. For that must be their second and principal business. 2. Accordingly, as regards each congregation separately, the deputies will probably feel themselves bound, in the first instance, to converse privately with the minister, and, taking the minister along with them, with the other office-bearers, as well as with the day-school teacher, the Sabbath-school teachers, the visitors, collectors, and other Christian workers; in order to ascertain exactly what is the actual work done, or attempted to be done, in the different departments of the Church's duty. In all these conversations, it will of course be the earnest endeavour of the deputies to draw forth the frankest possible explanation of any difficulties or hindrances which have to be met; as well as to find out any fields of labour or opportunities of usefulness that, with proper encouragement, might be better attended to than they now are. This inquiry may be especially necessary in the case of congregations in whose neighbourhood there may seem to be room for aggressive missionary and territorial movements. These private conversations with the workers in a congregation may be turned to account for stimulating their zeal and encouraging their hearts, by united prayer and the interchange of Christian confidence. After these private and friendly conversations with the parties who have been indicated, the deputies will use their discretion in dealing with the congregation at large. It is desirable that the ministers on the deputation should address on the Sabbath as many of the congregations as they can overtake. But besides that, and apart from that, the deputies should invite every congregation to meet with them on a week day, for worship of course, but also for free converse, on whatever may affect the welfare of the congregation and

the promotion of Christ's cause. At these congregational meetings, opportunity and encouragement may be given to any of the people who may have any relevant questions to ask, or any relevant statements or suggestions to make. And suitable addresses may be delivered by members of the deputation and of the Presbytery. 3. After a Presbytery has been thus gone over, it may be matter of consideration for the deputies whether they should not invite a general meeting of the ministers and office-bearers of all the congregations within the bounds, with liberty to any of the people to attend, for the purpose of one or more addresses being delivered, founded upon the results of their visitation, and fitted to make these results available for reviving, refreshing, directing, and encouraging all interested in the advancement of the good work of the Lord. It is believed that such a charge, or such charges, coming from a deputation entitled to speak in the Assembly's name, and speaking after inquiry into local circumstances, may, by the Lord's blessing, be of much use. 4. The deputies will keep in view, throughout all their proceedings, the preparation of reports to be submitted to the Assembly in 1867. Their reports ought to be as full and minute as possible, and, with a view to their being so, it may be understood that they are to be submitted to the Assembly in private conference, after having been considered by the committee on religion and morals. 5. The deputies need not be required to go over the whole of their districts at once. They may distribute their visits over the year, taking one Presbytery at one time, and, after an interval, taking another, so as not to be overburdened and overtasked by a work that might otherwise keep them too long absent from their home duties." These are the instructions the committee suggest that the General Assembly should give to the deputies appointed for this year. And we have purposely kept them very general and vague, because the committee hold that this is a sort of tentative or experimental year; and this being the whole of what I have to report in the name of the committee, I have only to express my most thorough conviction that this is the beginning of an arrangement which may be attended with the very best results, as bringing the General Assembly into direct personal contact with the Presbyteries and congregations of the Church. (Applause.) I believe that in other Presbyterian Churches something is done in the way of keeping up direct communication between the General Assembly and congregations of the Church, not merely through the intervention of Presbyteries and synods, but directly. I believe in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, for example, it is provided that there shall be a return every year from all the congregations of the Church to the General Assembly, as regards the work done in each congregation, according to a certain schedule sent down to be filled up. I think that a very good arrangement, but I think we are now trying to carry out a far better plan, viz., to carry on systematically from year to year a visitation directly, not through schedules but by living persons, ministers and elders, with the view not to be inquisitorial, but along with Presbyteries, and carrying them along with us, to come into contact with the congregations, and bring them to see that the General Assembly, as such, through living agencies, cares for their welfare, and is desirous of strengthening the hands of all the workers in the congregations. I would only conclude with throwing out the suggestion already thrown out, that in entering on such a plan as this, and es

pecially in appointing the deputies, it would be eminently proper that we should inaugurate this movement with prayer to Almighty God, commending to His grace and blessing those deputies we send forth on this important matter. (Applause.)

The report of the committee was approved with acclamation. The Assembly then engaged in prayer, Mr Elder, minister at Rothesay, conducting the devotions at the Moderator's desire.

JOHN KNOX'S HOUSE.

Dr CANDLISH reported that, by the death of Mrs Jaffray, the widow of the late Rev. John Jaffray, formerly Secretary of the Board of Missions of the Free Church, the tenement known as John Knox's House, in the Netherbow, had become, by bequest of the deceased, the property of the Free Church. (Great applause.) The bequest was subject to a bond of £400, but the yearly rental of the subjects was £75, exclusive of what was received from visitors to the house and the museum, which was also part of the bequest.

THE RECENT DEATHS OF ESTEEMED ELDERS.

The Assembly called for the report of the committee appointed to prepare a minute on the losses sustained through the removal by death of eminent elders, especially of Mr John Maitland, which was read by Dr Candlish. The Assembly approve of the report, and in accordance therewith the Assembly find as follows:

"Among other losses sustained during the past year, the Assembly would record their sense of the blank caused by the removal of more than one of those ruling elders who occupied a most honourable position in the Church:

"Of General Anderson, whose venerable mien so long graced our Assembly, and whose warmth of heart and fervour of piety were so fitted to inflame our flagging zeal: the man of prayer, the soldier Christian :

"Of John George Wood, whose services to the Church were not less efficient because they were unobtrusive, who for so many years gave his labours gratuitously to the work of the Mission to the Jews, and who, in all seasons of difficulty, was helpful with his sagacious counsel :

"And last, and most of all, it becomes the Assembly to mourn the loss of John Maitland, a man greatly beloved, both for what he was and for what he did, a lover of truth and of that peace which springeth from the truth, gentle as the disciple whom Jesus loved, a pattern of courtesy and kindness, wise in counsel and energetic in action, one of the largest benefactors of our Church, a man whose all-prevailing charities were as a fertilising river :

"They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."" The Assembly appoint a copy of this minute to be sent to the relatives of each of the elders referred to, with a letter from the Moderator.

THE COMMISSION.

The General Assembly did and hereby do nominate and appoint a commission consisting of all the members of Assembly, and of Dr James Bannerman, Professor of Theology in the New College, Edinburgh, named by the Moderator, with power and instructions in the usual form.

NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The next General Assembly was appointed to be holden at Edinburgh, on Thursday the 23d of May 1867.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »