dential way in which the congregation had united in giving a call to this individual, he believed that the Assembly would at once agree to take up this case, and decide it upon its special merits; for he had no hesitation in saying, that he looked with fear and apprehension upon the result if the Assembly were to put their veto upon this call, and tell the congregation that they were to be cast back into all those dangers of a division from which they had so providentially escaped.

Dr M FARLAN had no objection to taking up this case, provided it were agreed that it should not be taken as a precedent. But if they were to give judgment in this case without any such reservation, it would be a delicate matter afterwards to refuse admission to ministers of other churches, to whom serious objections might apply. On the understanding that it was not to form a precedent for future judgments, he had no objection to take up this as a separate case.

Mr CARMENT seconded the motion.

Mr MILLER of Monifieth wished to know whether the decision of this special case would be a rule for deciding other cases similarly situated. He might mention that the Free congregation of Broughty Ferry had also given a call to an Irish Presbyterian minister, and that this case would have been brought up before the Assembly, but for the expectation that the decision of the Dalkeith case would have ruled it. He wished, therefore, to know whether the decision of this case, supposing they entered upon it, would rule the Broughty Ferry case.

Dr M'FARLAN. It is impossible to say; each case must stand upon its own special grounds.

Mr MONCRIEFF of Kilbride said he could not see how they were to decide this special case, without at least touching the general question. (Hear, hear.) The only speciality in the case here was the fact, that an individual had got a call to an important station, where he had united the people. If, therefore, they decided the question on this special case, it seemed difficult to understand how they were to avoid laying down the principle on which they acted. He merely threw out this as a difficulty which had occurred to his mind; but he would not stand in the way of any course that might be most agreeable to the mind of the Assembly.

Mr FERRIE of Anstruther addressed the House, but in such an inaudible voice, that even the side he took could not be heard.

Mr BURNS of Kilsyth said, that by entering upon an agreement to this application they would decide a question as to the admissibility of ministers from the Irish Presbyterian Church. He would understand the Assembly to look favourably upon the admission of ministers from the Irish Presbyterian Church. To that extent a principle would be decided, but no farther. They would still keep in their hands the specialities of each case, and that was the great point, which he trusted they would never give up.

Dr CANDLISH said, if the general question of the admissibility of other Presbyterian ministers was to be raised, he thought the Assembly would see that that question required to be handled with the greatest delicacy. He could conceive of nothing more likely to disturb the harmony and good feeling between the two Christian bodies, than the admission on either side of ministers and probationers from either Church. He could conceive nothing more likely to disturb that harmony, than to admit ministers and probationers on either side, without consulting the Supreme Court of the other Church. In admitting other ministers they subjected themselves to great suspicion, either that they were admitting the refuse of other bodies, who had failed to obtain churches in their own denomination, or that they were grasping at and taking away the best men of other denominations, either of which suppositions was very apt to create jealousy. He presumed it would be the mind of the Assembly to remit to a Committee the consideration of this whole matter, and report to next Assembly. (Hear, hear.) If it is likely that that would be the deliverance of the Assembly in reference to the general question-not certainly to shut the door upon ministers from other churches-but with regard to the regulations for their admission-then he would say that considerable inconvenience would arise from entertaining this special question. No doubt the Presbyterian Church of Ireland was more at one with them than the United Secession Church, but he would not

say that this Church harmonised more with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland than with the Synod of the Original Seceders of Scotland, and yet one of the applications was from a member of that synod. He was not, therefore, for making a difference all at once in favour of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, as if their relations with that Church were more intimate than with other Presbyterian Churches. Again, the admission of the Irish Presbyterian Churches came before them in two shapes, for there was an application for admission by a minister who had not been called by any congregation; and considering that they had already got information of a call being given by another congregation to another minister of the Irish Presbyterian Church, however anxious they might be to promote the interests of the congregation of Dalkeith, and however they might hail with delight the prospect of admitting their brethren from other denominations, he was not sure that the question did not present itself before them in a disadvantageous shape, when coupled with the call to a minister from one of their congregations, especially when they heard of another call, which might be depending upon it. He therefore thought that this case should be taken up along with the question of admitting these ministers, and as he did not see how the cases were to be separated.

Dr CUNNINGHAM (who was received with great cheering), said he did not rise to Occupy the time of the Assembly, but merely for the purpose of saying that the whole matter was one requiring serious and careful deliberation; and was one which ought not to be determined without consultation with the other churches concerned. He thought that before taking any further steps, they should ascertain the mind and feelings of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Were they to deal with a single case, their decision might run contrary to what other Churches might think best for the interests of both. He thought that a committee should be appointed to consider the whole matter, and to correspond with other Churches, whose ministers might come before them in the shape of applicants for admission into the Free Church.

Mr M FARLANE said, that the difficulty of obtaining preachers, whether occasional or ordained over congregatious, was felt most sensibly at present-whereas, if matters remained as they were till after the Irish Assembly in June 1844, the greatest of the difficulties would then be at an end. He had no intention to leap over the difficulties to which Dr Candlish had alluded; but he thought they would require, in the mean time, to give power to the committee to admit certain parties. The greatest difficulties were at present; and if they waited till June, they would lose most valuable time, and might actually have to put down congregations. In many of their stations, they were carrying on service in the evenings, but when winter came there could be no service in the rural parishes; and, therefore, missionaries must be stationed in these districts, or some of them must apply to other denominations for a supply.

Dr BUCHANAN said, that after having reflected a good deal on the subject, he could not feel at all satisfied with the proposal to take up the Dalkeith case at all. He felt persuaded that the Assembly was in the position of being hurried, in order to obtain some local and temporary advantage, into a violation of great standing rules and principles, which would produce inconveniences and disadvantages hereafter. Whatever local and temporary disadvantages might result in the case of Dalkeith, or in other cases, were not worth naming in comparison with the risk which might be incurred, and he thought they should come to a determination on the general question without the entanglement of any case of this kind. Mr M'Farlane thought that if the settlement of the question was to be deferred till after the meeting of the Irish Assembly, they would lose the advantage of whatever arrangements they might come to. He differed from that opinion. He had no doubt that many of the stations alluded to were in a condition to have a settled minister placed over them; and he was afraid that if they brought over a number of preachers in the circumstances described, the effect would just be to traverse that most wise and necessary regulation which the Convener of the Financial Committee, with the approbation of the house, had already laid down that the number of their congregations must be regulated to some extent by their revenue and resources. He believed that the time that would elapse before the arrangements were matured would not be more than enough to bring such sta

tions as those mentioned into the position in which they would be rightly fitted to take advantage of any arrangement which might then be adopted. He entreated them not to be carried away by looking at Dalkeith or any other local question demanding their attention, but to look at the matter as a general question, affecting the res pectability and character of the Church for generations to come. (Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that they would settle the question, not only more satisfactorily to themselves, but far more satisfactorily to the other Churches concerned in the matter, if they abstained from coming to any hasty decision in a particular case, if they would refuse altogether to entertain any particular case, and simply remit the whole matter to a committee fully and deliberately to consider the question, and to communicate with other Churches, so as to enable the Assembly to come to a deliberate and rational conclusion on the subject. Any hasty decision, instead of drawing closer the connection between the Free Church and other evangelical Churches, might only give rise to a feeling of mutual jealousy and dissatisfaction. Therefore, he would ask the Assembly to beware how they were drawn, from regard to a particular congregation, into any step which might prove so mischievous.

Mr GIBSON of Kingston thought that it should be laid down that till a minister or probationer be received into the Church, it is not open to any congregation to give him a call at all. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that that principle would be fully brought out.

Mr DUNLOP said that, feeling the great importance of the question, he was anxious to express his entire concurrence with the views of Dr Candlish, and he did not think it necessary to introduce a reservation with regard to the case of Dalkeith. One of the greatest blessings derived from the recent disruption was, that it had thrown down the walls of separation between them and other non-established bodies in this country and their Presbyterian brethren elsewhere. (Cheers.) He held that the united co-operation now in prospect between them and other bodies for spreading the gospel of their blessed Lord, was one of the best effects of the disruption. He would therefore implore the Assembly not to do anything calculated to raise up again divisions and prejudices in arranging together the means of Christian and brotherly co-operation in every good work. (Hear, hear.) If, without consultation, they admitted the ministers of other bodies, it would not be without risk of creating the greatest jealousy; and he held that to do this in any particular case was to raise a barrier in the way of coming to that arrangement which they might yet come to in a way in accordance with the wishes of the whole parties. They should in all their dealings with matters involving the feelings or interests of other evangelical Presbyterian communions, be careful to do nothing to raise up prejudices and dissatisfaction, but show a kind and Christian spirit, and prove that it was their earnest desire to avoid cause of offence, and to act cordially together in overtaking the mass of spiritual destitution which was to be found in their land, and which he believed nothing could overtake but the cordial, united, and earnest efforts of all evangelical Churches. (Cheers.)

Dr CANDLISH said that he had a motion to submit to the House. He trusted that nothing he had said could be construed into anything like a wish to prevent communion with ministers and probationers of other denominations, or to exclude them from receiving calls. (Hear.) So far from that, he was impressed with the desirableness of their being recognised under certain regulations. His only reason for demurring in this particular case was the danger of raising a jealousy between them and other Churches, and because he thought they should not hastily admit the principle of congregations being able to give calls to the ministers of other bodies till they have prepared regulations on the subject. When he first heard of the Dalkeith case, he entertained the same opinions as Mr Bannerman; and it was only after he came to consider maturely the general question, that he saw they would incur considerable risk in admitting the principle in the particular case of Dalkeith. He begged, therefore, to move the following resolution:

"The General Assembly, with every desire to meet the wishes and promote the welfare of the congregation of Dalkeith, decline to entertain their proposal, implying as it does a departure from the rules of the Church, in a particular instance, before

the general question which it raises has been fully considered; and farther, the General Assembly, considering the above case, together with the applications of a similar nature from ministers and probationers of other Presbyterian Churches, remit the entire subject to a committee, with instructions to confer with the said Churches, and to report to the General Assembly in May."

The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

Mr SYM of Edinburgh then read the

REPORT OF COLONIAL COMMITTEE.

"In compliance with instructions received from the last General Assembly, your Committee lost no time in putting themselves in communication with their brethren in other lands. A copy of the Affectionate Representation,' &c., was addressed to the Synods of Canada, Miramichi, Nova Scotia, and New South Wales, and in general to all ministers connected with the Establishment in the colonies and other parts, accompanied by a letter, briefly referring to the disruption of the Church, and the causes which led to it, and expressing the unabated interest which this Church took in the spiritual welfare of their countrymen abroad, and their readiness to continue the operations which had hitherto been carried on, in sending out ministers to destitute localities. To this letter replies have been received from only two Ecclesiastical Courts, viz., the Synod of Nova Scotia and the Synod of Canada. The former of these communications acknowledges receipt of your Committee's letter, and states, that in consequence of the paucity of members in attendance at the meeting of Synod, and in consideration that a reply from the Synod might affect various important interests of the Church in this colony, the Synod decline giving an immediate deliverance on the subject-matter of this letter; but order the letter to be published in the Halifax Guardian and Pictou Banner newspapers, for the information of absent members, and of the Church generally.' The communication from Canada is of a more decisive and important nature. It contains a series of resolutions passed by the Synod on the 10th July last, in which they renew their approval of the principles for which the Church has been recently contending-principles which they regard as not only not incompatible with, but as indispensable to a right and salutary alliance between Church and State,' and in which they express their affectionate sympathy with those who, in the defence and maintenance of these principles, have seen it to be their duty to leave the Establishment. But at the same time, they resolved that it was not necessary for them to take any practical step in consequence of the disruption. These resolutions of the Synod of Canada are at present under the consideration of the Committee.

"Besides the communications to which they have now referred, your Committee have received letters of adherence to the Free Church, from individual ministers in various parts of the colonial field. And while they would take this opportunity of acknowledging the prompt and generous devotion with which these brethren have cast in their lot with the Free Church, they would express their confident hope, that subsequent posts will bring them large accessions to the number of adherents.

"In regard to the appointments actually made, your Committee have as yet little to report. In the month of July, the Rev. Mr Kingan was appointed missionary to Hamilton, Upper Canada, and shortly afterwards proceeded to his destined sphere of labour. From the proofs which they had of his qualifications, and from the recommendations which they received in his favour, your Committee look forward to his proving a useful and successful labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.

"It will be in the recollection of the members of this Assembly, that some time ago a Ladies' Association was formed in Edinburgh, in connection with the Colonial Committee of the then Established Church,-that they had fixed upon Malta for the establishment of a missionary station,-and that, upwards of a year ago, they had commenced operations in that field of labour with the most encouraging prospects of success. The members of this association, having adhered to the Free Church, formed themselves into an association in connection with your Committee; and as they continued to cherish the same interest in Malta which they had formerly experienced, they could not allow themselves to abandon a work which had

been so auspiciously commenced, under the superintendence and care, first of the Rev. R. W. Stewart of Erskine, and latterly of the Rev. James Julius Wood of Edinburgh. They resolved, therefore, to continue their exertions in behalf of this interesting station; and, on their application to your Committee, Mr John M'Kail, who was most warmly recommended as a young man of the highest promise, was, on the 1st of September, solemnly set apart and ordained by the Presbytery of Edinburgh to the office of the holy ministry, in connection with this situation. Anxious that this mission should be put upon the best possible footing, the Ladies' Associa tion undertook to raise the necessary funds for the maintenance of a schoolmaster; and they succeeded in obtaining the services of Mr George Wilson, who had risen to high distinction in his profession as parochial schoolmaster at Alves, and who is a probationer and an adherent of the Free Church. It was found that Mr Philips, another licentiate, was about to proceed to Malta; and on the application of your Committee, the Presbytery of Edinburgh, being satisfied of the gifts and qualifications of Messrs Wilson and Philips, gladly embraced the opportunity of ordaining these two gentlemen to the office of the eldership. Mr M Kail, therefore, will enter upon his work at Malta with the immense advantages to be derived from the assistance and co-operation of an efficient schoolmaster and kirk-session.

"While the Ladies' Association were considering how their wishes in regard to Malta might be best carried into effect, certain difficulties seemed to lie in their way. In the good providence of God, however, the most important of these was happily removed. It appears that the difficulty of obtaining buildings or ground for their erection within the walls of Valetta, is very great, and the obstacles which, in all probability, would have been thrown in the way of the necessary accommodation being procured in a suitable situation, would have been almost or altogether insuperable. While this formidable barrier seemed to be interposed between the Ladies' Association and the object which they had so much at heart, an offer was opportunely made to this Committee by the Wesleyan body, of the premises which they held in Valetta. Considering that the cost of these buildings was moderate,—that they would admirably answer the purposes of the proposed mission,—and that the central position of Malta might render it an important station for promoting the interests of the Assembly's Foreign and Jewish Missions, the General Board of Missions and Education at once availed themselves of the offer which was made, and agreed to the purchase of the property.

"In thus noticing the very advantageous position in which your missionary to Malta will immediately be placed, your Committee would gratefully acknowledge the good hand of God in the circumstances which have led to it-they would rejoice in the success which has crowned the persevering exertions of the Ladies' As. sociation, and they would recognise an encouragement to the formation of similar associations in other parts of the country.

"Your Committee have received a very urgent application from Madeira, to which they were anxious to pay immediate attention. But in the peculiar circumstances of that island, they have thought it advisable to delay making an appointment in the mean time, in the hope and expectation that they will soon be enabled to send out a minister of tried judgment and much experience, to whom they can confidently intrust the management of your cause in the present peculiarly delicate and difficult position of affairs in Madeira.

"An interesting letter has been received from the elders of the Presbyterian Church in Antigua, requesting a minister for that island. Immediately on the departure of the last minister, and while they were yet ignorant of the quarter to which application might be made, they addressed a similar request to the Rev. Dr Patrick M'Farlan of Greenock, and the Rev. Dr Buchanan of Glasgow. Your Committee desire to express the sincerest sympathy with their brethren in Antigua, and they hope to be enabled, in conjunction with Drs M'Farlan and Buchanan, to announce the appointment of a minister to this station at no distant date.

"It affords your Committee high satisfaction to state, that an application has been made to them for a minister for the projected colony of New Edinburgh. This colony is in some respects peculiar,-a principal feature of the plan