Mr. Blake, who, in the absence of the Moderator, was called to the chair pro tem. Present, the Rev. G. B. Blake, Moderator. Revs. P. L. Miller, C. A. Mackenzie, A. Saphir, J. Brown, J. Black, G. Farquharson. A. Anderson, and J. Reid, Ministers, with Messrs. Brewis, Burnop, Hurdy, Heddle, Dod, and Hinton, Elders. The minute of last meeting was read and sustained. A letter from Mr. Jeffrey assigning ill-health as the reason of his absence, was produced and read. Mr. Reid submitted reasons of dissent from the finding of the Court at last meeting in the case of Mr. Kelly, and requested that they might be engrossed in the record. It was moved and seconded that they be not engrossed; also, as an amendment, that they be. On a vote, the motion carried, by nine to three. The reasons were ordered to be kept in retentis. Mr. Mackenzie having stated that no Session Records nor Rolls had been sent to the Committee of which he is convener, was instructed to correspond with those Sessions whose Rolls and Records have not been submitted for examination, and report his diligence at next ordinary meeting. in such a way as shall seem wisest to the Synod." To this the Presbytery agreed unanimously, and appointed Messrs. Miller and Reid to support the overture before the Synod. The Presbytery then proceeded to consider the state of religion within the bounds; and on the call of the Moderator, Mr. Saphir engaged in prayer. From statements made by the members, it appeared that there are many hopeful symptoms of a work of grace going on in various of the congregations. The next ordinary meeting was appointed to be held here on the second Tuesday of May next, at 11 a.m. The above minute having been read, was sustained and ordered to be attested. The meeting closed with prayer. **In the overture adopted at last meeting in the case of Mr. Kelly, and reported in the "Messenger," the following words were, inadvertently omitted after "to accept his resignation:" "And Mr. Kelly having been requested to make a statement of the reasons of his resignation." There was no report from the other [In addition to the above "correction, Committee, owing to the absence of Mr. which we received from the Clerk of the Dinwiddie through indisposition. Presbytery along with the report which The Schedules of the schools of the Fal-precedes it, a letter was forwarded to us for stone district were laid on the table, examined and ordered to be attested; and Messrs. Anderson, Farquharson, and Brewis, elder, were appointed a Committee to examine said schools. Mr. Anderson, Con vener. insertion in last number, by Mr. Thomas Dod, of Hexham,-who, it appears, was the mover of the overture,-in which he points out the omission in language similar to the above; but his letter having reached us three days after time, and the month being three days shorter than usual, practically it was six days too late. On the 18th of March we received another letter from Mr. Dod, in which he says he is "certainly not a little surprised at the whole proceedings of those connected with the 'Messenger,' in this matter;" and he writes as if he were under the impression that we had left out the omitted words to serve a purpose. Now, if such be Mr. Dod's opinion, we beg to inform him that he is grossly mistaken; that the report was printed-as all our Presbyterial reports invariably are-word for word, as sent by the clerk; and further, we defy him to point out a single instance-since the "Messenger" came under our care, which is now more than ten years-in which we garbled an official document, or published an ex parte statement of any case when before the Church Courts. Such is not our mission, and we are sorry that an elder of the Church should "harbour such suspicious thoughts" of us.—ED. Mr. Miller then moved, according to notice, that this Presbytery transmit the following overture to the Synod, viz.-" Whereas the pleas of the Free Church of Scotland, in the Cardross case, claiming for herself as a Church of Christ a spiritual jurisdiction in regard to all matters of discipline, wholly independent of the civil courts, and apart from their control; whereas these pleas have been repelled by the Interlocutor of the Lord Ordinary, in the Court of Session at Edinburgh: and whereas the spiritual liberties of every non-established church throughout this land, may ultimately be affected and threatened by the judgment in this case:-And whereas the Presbyterian Church in England is connected with the Free Church of Scotland by the closest ties, and has identified herself with the contendings of the Free Church of Scotland for those fundamental truths which form the distinguishing principles of that church, it is hereby humbly overtured to the very Reverend the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in England that it give expression to its warmest sympathy with the Free THIS Presbytery met at Manchester on Church of Scotland in her present position the 4th day of March. Present: Rev. Wil THE PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE. liam McCaw, Moderator; Drs. McLean | the Moderator on the Home Mission and Munro; Messrs. J. C. Paterson, Blyth, Scheme, Mr. Lundie on Foreign Missions Davidson, Lundie, John Clelland, Blelloch, chiefly in China, and by Dr. Munro on James Paterson, Johnstone, Ross, and Christian Usefulness. Devotional exercises Inglis, Ministers; and Messrs. Andrew were conducted by Messrs. J. C. Paterson, Brown, James McAlpine, William R. Cor-Davidson, and Ross. son, and William Parlane, Elders. The overture on the Formula, sent down by the Synod for the consideration of the Presbyteries, was disapproved of. Mr. J. C. Paterson, with the consent of those who joined him in his dissent and complaint in the case of the Mission near Ruabon, and with the leave of the Presbytery, withdrew his complaint to the Synod, and proposed that a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Lundie, Convener; McCaw, J. C. Paterson, and James Paterson, Ministers; and Messrs. Coubrough and Williams, Elders, be appointed to visit Ruabon, and to report on all the circumstances to next meeting of Presbytery. Dr. John Morgan, of Birkenhead, was duly licensed to preach the Gospel. The Presbytery adjourned to meet in Liverpool on the 1st day of May next at eleven o'clock a.m. PRESBYTERY OF BERWICK. This Presbytery met at Berwick on Tuesday, the 28th of February. Present, Rev. Mr. Robinson, Moderator. Messrs. Fraser, Terras, Cant, Thompson, Haig, Valence, and McLean, Ministers. Messrs. Lilly and Towns, Elders. The Session Records, and Congregational books of Belford, Etal, and N. Sunderland, were laid on the table, examined, and ordered to be attested. School Schedules from Horncliffe, Tweedmouth, Berwick, Lowick, Norham, North Sunderland, and Acroft Moor, were produced, read, and attested. Collections for the Home Mission Fund were reported as having been made by all the congregations within the bounds. Messrs. Alexander Gailey, and John Patterson, Members of the Canning Mr. Valence, agreeably to notice given at Street Church, Liverpool, Heath Street last meeting, introduced an overture to the Mission Committee, appeared as Com- Synod, to take immediate steps for the esmissioners, and handed in a Memorial, tablishment of a building and debt extinction signed by fifty-one communicants, out fund. Agreed that the overture be transof fifty-five on the Communion roll of mitted. the Heath Street Mission Station, praying the Presbytery to use the means to have it constituted into a regular ministerial charge. Mr. Welsh handed in an extract minute of Canning Street Church Session on the same subject. After parties were heard, the Presbytery agreed to recommend the case to the Synod, and appointed a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Lundie, convener, J. C. Paterson, McCaw and Welsh, to bring the matter under the consideration of the Synod, and to receive, preparatory to doing so, an amended minute from Canning Street Church Session regarding the financial position of the station. An application from the united station of Wharton and Swinton to be recognised as a full ministerial charge was also recommended to the Synod, and the same committee was appointed to bring this case also before the Synod. Mr. J. C. Paterson moved an overture to the Synod to appoint a general secretary for the schemes of the Church, which was seconded by Mr. Lundie and agreed to by the Presbytery. The proposed conference on the state of religion was deferred till the next ordinary meeting held in Manchester. The Presbytery took into consideration the overture sent down from the Synod relative to the formula. It was moved by Mr. Fraser, seconded by Mr. Terras, and unanimously agreed to, that the overture be approved of. Mr. Andrew Lawson, preacher of the Gospel, laid on the table a Presbyterial certificate, which was received. Agreed that Mr. Lawson be recognised as a preacher within the bounds. The Presbytery appointed its next meeting to be held at Berwick on the first Tuesday of May, at twelve o'clock noon. Intelligence. LEEDS. The annual soirée in connection with the above church was held on Tuesday evening, the 5th ult., in the schoolroom of the Independent chapel, East Parade. It was the best and most productive ever held since the formation of the congregation, the attendance amounting to about five hundred, and leaving a clear profit of nearly The Presbytery met, after adjournment, at seven o'clock p.m. in the Lecture Hall £13. of Grosvenor Square Church. Addresses After tea, the Rev. Nason Brown, miniswere delivered to the people assembled, byter of the church, delivered an instructive lecture on the Scottish Reformation. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev. G. W. Conder (Independent) and the Rev. F. Edwards (Baptist). Several pieces of music were sung at intervals by the choir of Queen Street Chapel, who kindly volunteered their services, for which they were warmly applauded by the audience. The meeting broke up at ten o'clock, and all parties went away highly pleased with the evening's entertainment. The congregation gradually increases, and gives promise of still more prosperous days. GUERNSEY.-A Commission of the Presbytery of London met at Guernsey on the 5th of March, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. W. Jeffrey to the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian congregation there. Five ministers of the Presbyterian Church took part in the ceremony, viz., the Rev. W. Chalmers, M.A., Marylebone; the Rev. T. Alexander, M.A., Chelsea; the Rev. J. G. Wright, Southampton; the Rev. A. J. Murray, M.A., Jersey, and the Rev. W. W. Wright, Alderney. At two o'clock the place of worship in Clifton Street was completely filled with a most respectable audience, and a large number of persons was obliged to leave, being unable to find admittance. The Rev. T. Alexander conducted Divine service, and preached a sermon from Micah vii. 18.' After sermon, Mr. Wright put the questions and ordained, and Mr. Chalmers addressed the minister and people. At six o'clock in the evening the congregation and friends met in a social and friendly manner in Zion Chapel, the use of which was most liberally granted to them by the minister and committee of the New Connection Methodists. The large schoolrooms under the chapel were quite unable to contain all the people, and tea had to be served twice. During the second service of tea some hymns and anthems were sung in the large chapel above, and afterwards the whole company met there, and Mr. Jeffrey took the chair. The meeting was addressed by the ministers of the Presbytery and others. The local paper from which we copy the above particulars concludes a very friendly report, as follows: "With the whole of the day's proceedings Mr. Jeffrey and his friends have abundant reason to be well satisfied. The large at tendance and the hearty good feeling of those present, as also the admirable manner in which all the ministerial friends discharged their parts, are causes of great congratulation. We hope that Mr. J. and his congregation will progress in every good work, and that for them to-morrow may be as this day and much more abundant."" JOHN KNOX CHURCH, STEPNEY.-The annual general meeting of this congre gation was held in the schoolroom, on the evening of Wednesday, the 27th February, the Rev. William Keedy in the chair; on which occasion the members and friends of the congregation took tea together. The chairman having opened the meeting with devotional exercises, proceeded with a very appropriate address on the past condition, present state, and future prospects of the congregation, alluding to the several events of interest which had occurred during the past year. He then called upon Mr. Dundas to read the financial report, from which it appeared that the congregation is not only maintaining Gospel ordinances at home in an efficient state, but also contributing liberally to many schemes of Christian philanthropy; and honourable mention was repeatedly made of the indefatigable exertions of the ladies of the congregation in connection therewith. The Report, upon the motion of Captain Peter, seconded by Captain Allsop, was unanimously adopted. Thereafter the meeting was very suitably addressed on various subjects by Messrs. Brown, from Milwall, Scotland Guild, Morton, and Bright, and was brought to a close by the singing of a doxology, and the pronouncing of the Benediction. TRINITY CHURCH, NEWCASTLE-ONTYNE.-The anniversary soirée, in connection with this place of worship, was held on Tuesday evening, 5th March, in the Music Hall, Nelson Street. At six o'clock 450 ladies and gentlemen sat down to tea. At the meeting afterwards held the chair was occupied by the Rev. Thomas Duncan, the respected pastor of the congregation. He opered the proceedings in a lengthy address on the religious aspects of the age, at the close of which he adverted to the present: position of the Trinity Presbyterian Church as one of continued prosperity. The Rev. Dr. Anderson, of Morpeth, congratulated Mr. Duncan on his returning health and vigour, and paid a high tribute of respect to the congregation for the stedfast affection with which they rallied round their pastor during a long period of affliction. The Rev. Mr. Main, of Edinburgh, gave an elaborate and masterly exposition of the now famous Cardross case. R. B. Sanderson, the Rev. Mr. McNaughtan, and other gentlemen, afterwards addressed the meeting, and the proceedings, which had been enlivened throughout by the performances of the congregational choir, were brought to a close shortly after ten o'clock. Mr. Church in London have been directing ear nest attention to the question of finance involved in the undertaking. 1. They propose to raise a Church Building Fund for London, from which Grants may be made to new congregrations. 2. The Committee propose to raise a Permanent Loan Fund, to be granted by the donors as absolute gifts, but to be laid out by the committee in loans for the acquisition or construction of suitable places of worship, and in such a way as will secure the repayment of the money lent, so that it may be applied in succession, to aid in the erection of as many churches as possible. The fund by which this scheme is to be supported is entirely distinct from the other funds of the Synod, is separately raised, and separately admininistered. Besides a church for the congregation of Islington, under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Edmond, a which was densely filled by a highly respectable audience. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Dr. Munro, and the vice-chair by the treasurer of the congregation, Mr. Thorburn. After tea, the proceedings of the evening were commenced by the chairman, who, in his opening address, reviewed the past history of the congregation, more particularly during the past year, the prominent feature of which was that the whole of the remaining portion of the debt on this noble pile of buildings, comprising church and schools, had been cleared off by the congregation, so that the worthy minister was again placed in the happy position of ministering to the wants of his people in a temple more beautiful than the 3. The committee further propose to obprevious, and now a free-will offering to our tain a few subscriptions to a Guarantee Lord and his Church. Another promi-Fund (to be paid by Subscribers only nent feature of the rev. chairman's ad- so far as may be found necessary), to dress was the solemn fact that death had secure for ministers accepting of charges been very busy in his flock during the past in London an adequate stipend for three year, carrying off many of its oldest mem- years.* bers; and taking a survey of the many preceding years of his ministry in Manchester, he justly remarked, that we had, as it were, a congregation on high and one below. The meeting was then addressed by the Rev. J. Paterson, of Liverpool, who, in an earnest and eloquent speech, intro-second church for the Westbourne station, duced "The active duties of persons connected with the Congregation;" and from the clear and forcible manner in which these duties were set forth, we hope to see the fruits appearing. The financial statement for the year was read by the vicechairman, who found himself in a proud position, inasmuch as not only was the debt cleared off, but likewise all the current expenses and a balance wherewith to commence the next year. Mr. Thorburn closed his remarks by presenting to the Rev. Dr. Munro, in the name of the Ladies' Society, a new pulpit gown and cassock, which was suitably acknowledged. The meeting was further addressed by the following gentlemen connected with the church; viz.: Messrs. A. Fitz Gerrald, J. Lawson, G. B. Blair, T. Hall, C. Stewart, J. Gilmour, McKendrick, and Dr. Thorburn. The able choir, in connection with the church, greatly added to the success of this, perhaps the most successful meeting of the kind ever held in connection with this congregation. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The January number of the United Presbyterian Missionary Record supplies us with the following information : As already stated to our readers the Sy. nod's Committee for the extension of our under the care of the Rev. Dr. King, will require immediately to be erected. In all these localities it is confidently expected that, in a very short time, we shall have vigorous self-supporting congregations, ready to hold fellowship with the Synod as regards giving, not receiving, aid. 1, Eldon Road, Kensington, London, March 23, 1860. To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger ber as DEAR SIR,-I am most unwilling to drag my name before the Church; but as I observe that the report in the Scottish Guardian of the meeting of office-bearers in London is stigmatised in your last Num"most injudicious" (a judgment on which I give no opinion), and as that report may be generally attributed to me, as late editor of the Guardian, I beg to state that I neither suggested the furnishing of the report, nor saw it till published. Would you kindly insert this explanation, to remove unpleasant impressions. I am yours, truly, Here follow a list of subscriptions, the total of which are, for the Grant Fund, 1490; Permanent Loan Fund, 1340; Guarantee Fund, 670; making a total of 4340. We may add, that two gentlemen in the list gave a Thousand Pounds each.-ED. E. P. M. |