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lower classes of society, entered into and prosperity begin to return, and have, as a lengthened and eloquent explanation I hope, launched forth upon a career of of the great service rendered to Scotland increasing usefulness. It was, I assure you, by the operation of Forbes Mackenzie's with considerable misgivings that I entered Act, and concluded his address as fol- upon this sphere some eight weeks ago. I lows: I am one of the few total absti- felt there was something of rashness in the nence ministers in Edinburgh. I am a experiment. The long rows of empty pews total abstainer on principle; and I am seemed to sound in my ear, "Ichabod," the bound to say it, that I do as much work glory has forsaken this place; and I feared upon water as any man on wine, and far that a few months might indicate that I had more than many of my brethren do on made a great mistake. I begin to be of a wine. I have tried wine, and I have tried different opinion, and that opinion is largely water. I am far healthier on water than I based upon two or three cheering considerawas on wine. (Loud applause.) My adage tions. First, there is the thorough unanimity is, and I want that to be the adage of every and cordial good-will of the existing congre"Water, water every where, and not a gation. If the nucleus be not very large, it drop of drink." (Laughter.) Since I be- is at all events very good. There is no came a total abstainer my head is clearer, offending member; but, on the contrary, my health has been stronger, my heart has every one is more hearty than another. been lighter, and my purse has been Let us encourage the social spirit, my heavier; and if these are not four good friends, the spirit which animates such reasons for becoming a total abstainer, I meetings as the present. And the only have not a word more to say on behalf of way to evoke a general glow of the social total abstinence. (Loud cheers.) spirit is to act upon the scriptural maxim, "A man that has friends must show himself friendly." Some people have said to me, "Oh, you Presbyterians are so cold, so stiff-no geniality, no warmth about you. You don't come forward, you don't speak to one." I have asked, "Did you ever make any friendly advance-did you speak?" Oh, no, they had not done that. They expected there was to be no thawing of the ice on their side; it was all to be on the other. That is not the way to promote a social spirit. We must approach each other, get into intercourse, and see whether the touch of a warm hand, the smile of a frank face, will not thaw the ice of chill social reserve. In the second place, there is a growing conviction in my mind, that in London, and especially in Islington, the preaching of the simple Gospel, without mysticism or affectation, will meet with success. If a man sincerely and earnestly presses the claims of Christ upon the people,

SOCIAL MEETING AT RIVER

TERRACE, ISLINGTON.

A SOCIAL meeting of the congregation of River Terrace Presbyterian Church and friends was held in the lecture-hall beneath the church on Monday evening. The lecture-hall was well filled, there being between 300 and 400 persons present. The chair was taken by the Rev. Mr. Davidson, who has recently been inducted as Presbyterian Minister in River Terrace. After the company had partaken of an excellent service of tea and cake, and had joined in singing a hymn,

The Chairman addressed the meeting as follows: My dear Christian friends,-I have no doubt we all feel this evening that we have cause for gratitude and praise-depending, not on the refinements of philoyou, that the days of your congregational sophy, not on the brilliancies of rhetoric, widowhood are ended; and I, that I find not upon any form of sensation preaching, myself married to so united and warm- but upon the might of that name, he will hearted a people. I need not say what succeed. It is encouraging that, in this pleasure I feel in meeting you to-night, on quarter, we are not thwarted by an exclusive the occasion of our first social reunion or sectarian spirit. All who believe in the our induction soireé, as we may call it for Lord Jesus Christ are disposed to rejoice in though it is now two months since the in- the efforts of others to proclaim the truth as duction took place, we have hitherto had no it is in Jesus. Under these circumstances opportunity of meeting one another in this I have good hope that, by the blessing of friendly and social way. It is not without God, the Presbyterian Church of River advantage, however, that this meeting has Terrace will grow. A celebrated Doctor in been postponed, as during the interval we Edinburgh said to me before I crossed the have had the opportunity, in some small border, Ah, England is the land of measure, of becoming acquainted with each promise!" That seemed encouraging. He other, and, as I trust, of gaining each other's went on, "But Scotland is the land of perconfidence. We have furthermore, under formance." I venture, however, to believe the blessing of God, seen the tide of favour that England may prove, in relation to the

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Presbyterian Church, a land, not of promise only, but of performance also. In the third place, I am confirmed in the favourable view I take in our prospects by the large number of young men who are beginning to flock to our sanctuary. Islington is largely inhabited by young men who have business engagements in London. Some of these are Presbyterian from their early associations in Ireland and Scotland, and it is natural for them to come to a Presbyterian place of worship. But intelligent young Englishmen in the neighbourhood take an interest in the Presbyterian Church, and when the Young Men's Christian Association in connection with the congregation is fully established, it will be an additional instrumentality in attracting young men. In the fourth place, the more I hold intercourse with intelligent Christians, the more I am convinced that Presbyterianism is a system well adapted for England. Some people say, "Oh, your Presbyterianism is well enough for Scotland or the North of Ireland, but it won't do here. The English will be either Episcopalians or Congregationalists." I do not believe a word of it. Presbyterianism I hold to be a system profoundly in harmony with the principles of the British constitution, peculiarly English because peculiarly representational, and commending itself to sagacious and moderate minds by being equally removed from oligarchy on the one hand, and democracy on the other. At the same time, I cannot too strongly state, that my mission here is not to Presbyterianize, but to evangelize. My ambition for this church is not that its members be called Presbyterians, but that, like the members of the church of Antioch, they be called Christians. In order that pastor and people may co-operate towards a result of good, I would offer one or two suggestions. In the first place, I would ask you to come punctually to church. That great divine, Dr. Alexander, of America, once met a lady of his congregation, and thanked her particularly for the support she had been to him in his ministry. She expressed some surprise, as she was not of a very active or demonstrative disposition, and did not take much part in the work of the congregation. How," she asked, "had she ever supported him in his ministry?" "You have always," he said, "been in your place in church. I was sure, when I looked in your quarter, to have a glimpse of encouragement, and you have thus contributed very much indeed to aid me in my ministry." I assure you, my friends, that you will render me effective practical assistance by being constant and punctual attendants in church. In the second place, I call upon young men to come forward and engage in the Christian

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activities of the congregation. Let them become, for example, Sabbath school teachers. They will find that the teacher is always a successful learner, and that he that watereth is watered himself. In the third place, let every one of us do something to advance the welfare of the church. How we may co-operate it is impossible to say; but each one, guided by observation and discretion, and aided by the Spirit of God, may do somewhat. Then, by the blessing of the Most High, will this church emerge from the clouds of its comparative despondency, and, rising like some tall cliff above the storm, show, resting on its brow, the sunlight of Christian prosperity. (Mr. Davidson was listened to with the deepest attention, and with frequent expressions of assent and applause. He sat down amid hearty cheers.)

Mr. Paton then said that he had been one of the deputation which had proceeded to Manchester to prosecute the call to Mr. Davidson. He had found the task of the deputation no easy one. It was with real pain that he helped to sever a tie which he saw to be so close and tender as that between Mr. Davidson and his former congregation. The affection they bore him was evidently no strained or affected feeling, but a deep, downright, honest affection of the heart. When they saw, however, that the River Terrace people were to take Mr. Davidson away, and that Mr. Davidson himself recognised that the claims of the London congregation were paramount, they entreated the deputation to perform towards Mr. Davidson faithfully and tenderly those duties which a congregation owe to their pastor. He hoped they would do so, and he thought that Mr. Davidson would feel that they welcomed him from the heart. was anxious to say that he looked with the greatest respect upon the gentlemen to whom he referred in Manchester, and regarded it as natural and honourable that they should wish to retain such a minister as Mr. Davidson. (Cheers.)

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Mr. Fluker then came forward to propose a list of trustees. He jocularly said that he did not vote in the late elections; but he now welcomed Mr. Davidson cordially, and could tell him that no heart in the congregation beat in warmer sympathy with him than that within his breast. He would join the rest of the congregation in applying to River Terrace the lines of the poet and saying, "Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer," &c. He proposed the following trustees:-Messrs. William Watson, John Lamont, J. E. Hill, Alex. Paton, Hugh Tweedy, W. Mossman, J. Fluker, Peter Forbes, James Smart, W. Nicholson. (Cheers.)

The motion was seconded by Mr. Nichol

son in a very lively and humorous speech, Peter-but some far less welcome visitor, in the course of which he bore warm testi- who will detain me "only a minute," but mony in favour of Mr. Davidson, whose who meanwhile startles away for ever the friendship he had enjoyed since boyhood. almost netted ideas. (Great applause and Mr. Nicholson was frequently interrupted laughter.) Congregations did not know by the plaudits of the meeting, which how much they deprived themselves of in unanimously approved of the list of trustees. this way, and he would urge upon the conThe Chairman then called upon the- gregation of River Terrace to be considerate Rev. Dr. Hamilton. He said that he in their claims upon their minister. Dr. took a special interest in River Terrace Hamilton concluded with some admirable congregation, over which, during an inter- practical advice to young men and others, regnum of a year, he had exercised a kind with a view to their rendering themselves of superintendence. He could not but useful in promoting the growth of the conrecollect also, that River Terrace had been gregation. On sitting down he was greeted the scene of the labours of that man of God, with warm applause. John Macdonald. It was, therefore, with Mr. Peter Bayne, editor of the Weekly feelings of deepest thankfulness to God Review, then made a few remarks on Presthat he saw a minister so devoted, so able, byterianism and the position of the Presand so experienced as Mr. Davidson in- byterian Church in England. He said that stalled as pastor of River Terrace Church. he did not find in the New Testament any He would bespeak for him the co-operation sharp-cut model of Church government and of his flock, and in particular he would discipline, and that the Spirit of God had, in urge them not to impede him in his work of various states of society, made use of an sermon preparation. Intellectual labour Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, or a Congrewas the severest of all forms of toil, and the gationalist instrumentality, in order to bring composition of a sermon entailed not only the truth of God to bear on the souls of intellectual exertion, but drew upon all the men. At the same time the grand characenergies of the soul-upon the whole man. teristics of Presbyterianism appeared to be A congregation, he urged, ought to leave its clearly indicated in their principles, in the pastor three days in every week, during Word of God. The chief of these characwhich he was not to be taken out to meet- teristics were the equality of all Christian ings or disturbed with calls. Persons were pastors, the institution of ruling elders in apt, in a thoughtless, unintentional way, to addition to those who ministered in word look in upon their minister, one after and doctrine, and the recognition of a another, until the best hours of his day Church unity in the body of congregations were past, and he was indisposed for further as well as in the individual congregation. exertion. "I shall stay only one minute," Without casting any slur upon Episcopacy they all said; but he (Dr. Hamilton) had on the one hand, or Congregationalism on never known an instance in which this the other, Presbyterians might maintain estimate of time proved correct. Nor was that their system, conformable in its great it only the time that was taken up. The outlines to Scripture, approved itself to comtrain of ideas was broken, often irrecoverably mon sense as being that mean between exbroken, by those visits. The case corres-tremes which, from the days of Aristotle, ponded precisely to what happened some had been reckoned golden. As for the times to the fowler. He arranged his net Presbyterian Church in England, the specin the vicinity of some ditch or hedge, and tacle it presented was, in some sense, lay concealed, looking out for game. At melancholy. Two hundred years ago, length, on the far horizon, he saw the flut- Presbyterianism had suffered a defeat in tering wings, and gradually they drew England-it had been hurled from the nearer, and now the bright feathered crea- Established Church. But its defeated and tures were sporting on the very edge of the shattered forces were greater then than its net. Suddenly, some ill-starred clodhopper, united force now. Two thousand Presbyor rollicking miscreant, stepped upon the terian ministers witnessed for their principles scene, and in a moment they were all on the in 1662-and where could we count 2,000 wing, and the fowler could only watch them Presbyterian ministers now in England? hopelessly as they sped away to distant An influential paper-the Saturday Review fields. So he had often seen the coy ideas-said the other day, that Presbyterianism flutter, half-seen, half-guessed, into the was absolutely extinct in England. That sphere of mental vision. His net was was not true. Presbyterianism had lately arranged, his every faculty was on the made rapid strides in England. But it was watch: now, he thought, give me but half a partly excusable statement, as Presbyan-hour, and they will be secured. Lo! terianism had not made itself visible; it there is a ring at the door. The Rhoda of had no place, for instance, until very lately, the pastoral hermitage answers the sum-in the newspaper press. Congregationalists, mons, and with fatal facility admits-not Wesleyans, Romanists, Unitarians, had been

plause.)

(Great ap

represented in the press-Presbyterians had the Presbyterian Church.
not. He thought that, without any secta
rianism, Presbyterians might cherish the
ambition of seeing their Church in its due
place among English denominations-that
they ought to feel an interest in Presby-
terian questions and strive, to promote a
consciousness of unity throughout the body
-that, above all, they ought to look forward
to a union between the English Presby
terians and the United Presbyterians (loud
cheers); a union which would flash like a
torch in the eyes of the Christian world,
and secure, once for all, for the Presbyterian
Church, the place to which it is entitled
among the denominations of England.

The Chairman here observed that all the office-bearers in River Terrace Church, except one, were Englishmen.

The congregational choir now sung a hymn with great effect. Mr. Carruthers next spoke upon the establishment of a Young Men's Christian Association at River Terrace, enlarging in an able manner on the benefit of such a society in calling forth the independence and the intellectual activity of young men, and contrasting the listlessness of young men of sincere piety with the strange and melancholy zeal of profligate youths in drawing away their younger comrades into the ways of vice and ruin.

The Rev. Mr. Hastie, Presbyterian Minister of Victoria, being invited by the Chairman to make a few remarks, expressed the satisfaction he felt in being witness to the prosperity of the church of John Macdonald. In the distant land from which he came, society was thrown out of its conventional gearings and back on first principles, and there Presbyterianism was vindicated by its admirable practical working. The Presbyterian Church was in Australia on a level with the Episcopalian. Nay, more, the Episcopalian bishop, a man of large sympathies and broad views, who considered the interests of Christianity, not the interests of sect, had done homage to the principles of Presbyterianism by taking steps towards the institution of synodic government. The union of Presbyterians in England had been referred to. Church to which he belonged in Australia had had the honour to set the example of union to the various branches of the Presbyterian Church, and he could testify that union had proved beneficial. The united Church had exhibited none of those bicker

The

hended, but on the contrary had exhibited perfect harmony. And during the few years which had elapsed since the union, it had grown by one-third. (Loud cheers.)

Mr. Hill having given an interesting account of the state of the Sabbath school, in which, he said, there were 290 scholars and twenty-nine teachers, and read a clever and humorous poem, introducing the names of all the gentlemen who teach in the school,

Mr. Watson proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Hamilton for his kindness in being present, and for the active interest he had ever taken in River Terrace congregation.

Mr. Lamont said that he had accompanied Mr. Paton to Manchester to prosecute the call from River Terrace to Mr.ings which timorous persons had appreDavidson, and he could say also that his heart smote him in taking Mr. Davidson from a people who valued him so highly and who loved him so well. The deputation had been as meek and conciliatory in their demeanour as possible, but they could get only a niggard forgiveness from the men of Manchester. "Really," said Mr. Paton, to one tough, wiry Scotchman, "we did not covet your minister." "I was not saying you did," was the reply, "but your own conscience seems to have convicted you." (Laughter.) We saw it was useless to plead with that man. Having brought Mr. Davidson from Salford, the congregation of River Terrace were virtually pledged to treat him Christianly and kindly. As for Presbyterianism, he might mention that an intelligent Independent had said to him that the tyranny sometimes exercised by coarse, uneducated, heartless men on Congrega. tionalist ministers was "scarifying." The principles of common justice required that, in cases of this sort, there should be some court of appeal where the oppressed minister and his oppressor might be heard by impartial third parties. One thing he would strongly say that Presbyterianism was no Scotch institution. Presbytery was known in the history of England. He, as an Englishman, felt that there was nothing un-English, nothing peculiarly Scotch, in

The vote was carried by acclamation.

Dr. Hamilton expressed the warm feelings with which he reciprocated the affection and regard of the River Terrace congregation. He took occasion to say that, whereas Presbyterianism in England had been for hundreds of years unrepresented in the press, it was now represented by the Weekly Review, a paper which he characterised in terms of the highest approbation. pointed out the importance of such a paper in making Presbyterianism felt and known in England, and declared that not only Presbyterianism, but politics, art, and literature, were treated in its columns in a masterly manner. He very earnestly pressed

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upon the denomination the duty and benefit of supporting the Weekly Review.

One part of the proceedings of the evening was the presentation of a handsome pulpit Bible to Mr. Davidson. A vote of thanks to him for his conduct in the chair, and another to the ladies for their services on

the occasion, having been carried by acclamation, the meeting was dismissed with the benediction. Dr. Edmond, of Highbury United Presbyterian Church, intended to have been present, but was unavoidably prevented.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger.
Newcastle, Oct. 4th, 1862.

DEAR SIR,-I am sorry Mr. Reid has obliged me again to trouble you. My statements respecting the Hexham

case were made with great caution, and with a full conviction of their truth. Mr. Reid, however, denies their correctness, and apparently with great confidence. Well, Mr. Editor, you and your readers shall judge whose version of the Hexham case is the correct one.

1. Under number one, Mr. Reid quotes my statement that the Presbyteries on neither side was apprized of what was going to take place till the union was over, and then he says, "Not at all. The Presbyteries on both sides were apprized of what was going to take place;" and further, that the union was not entered on till after our Presbytery had appointed a committee to consider the whole case, and report." Well, I shall adduce Mr. Reid as a witness against himself, and shall prove by his evidence the correctness of my own

statements.

Here is an extract from the document which Mr. Reid, as Clerk to the sister Presbytery, transmitted to our Presbytery :

John Knox Church, Newcastle-onTyne, 24th day of February, 1862, which time and place the Presbytery of Newcastle, &c., &c., being met and duly constituted, "The Clerk, as Convener of the Committee appointed at last meeting to ascertain the number of adherents to our church at Hexham, reported that he had communicated with parties there, and laid on the table a letter

from Mr. James Meston, an elder of the church, in which it was stated that on Sabbath, the sixteenth day of February, a portion of our congregation, in conjunction with the United Presbyterian congregation at Hexham, had taken actual possession of the English Presbyterian Church there, and that the adherents of the English Presbyterian Church were thus extended."

Then follows their deliverance on the case, and the whole signed "John Reid, Presbytery Clerk." Well then, according to Mr. Reid's own showing, the

over two

union has existed Sabbaths before the case came to their presbytery.

Their deliverance was laid before our Presbytery on the 4th of March. This was the first official intimation which we had received on the subject from any quarter, and by this time three Sabbaths have passed over, and the union has continued, the parties regularly worshipping together. Our Presbytery, on the 4th of March, appointed a Committee to consider the whole case. October MESSENGER, "The union was Mr. Reid says, in the subsequent to the appointment of this Committee," whilst the official document of his Presbytery which he, as Clerk, transmitted, says that they went together on the 16th of February, and his letter admits that the "Basis of Union" was in existence and presented to them on the 24th of February, and I don't think that he would deny the existence of the "Basis of Union" prior to the 16th of February, or that said basis was substantially agreed to prior to the junction of the two congregations on the 16th February.

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