ordinary meeting, he would move that the Presbytery resume its periodical meetings in the several churches within the bounds. The School Schedule from St. John's, South Shields, was laid on the table, examined, and ordered to be attested.

A letter from Mr. Wrightson, requesting leave to demit his charge at Wark, on the ground that he is about to commence mission operations in Glasgow, was laid on the table and read. The Presbytery ordered this letter to lie on the table, and agreed to meet at Wark on the 27th inst., at 12.30 p.m. The Congregation at Wark and Mr. Wrightson to be summoned to appear for their interests.

Mr. Brown was appointed to preach at Laygate on Sabbath the 19th inst., and declare the Church vacant.

The Session Records and Communion Rolls of Blyth, Gateshead, Laygate, Hexham, St. John's, and Monkwearmouth, were laid on the table, examined, and ordered to be attested.

The next ordinary meeting was appointed to be held in the John Knox Church, on Tuesday, the 9th of July next, at 11 a.m.

The Presbytery then adjourned to meet in the Church, at Wark, on Monday, the 27th of May, at 12.30 p.m.

The meeting was closed with prayer.

THE PRESBYTERY OF CUMBERLAND.

were called Christians first at Antioch." The Rev. D. C. MacLeod explained Scriptural ordination of deacons and elders by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. The Rev. Jos. Burns asked the candidates the usual questions and offered up the ordination prayer, the deacons and elders kneeling, and all the members of Presbytery joining in laying on their hands. Being thus set apart, the newlyordained elders and deacons received the right hand of fellowship from the brethren. The Rev. W. Harvey, of Maryport, then delivered an address to the newly-ordained office-bearers and people, after which the 54th paraphrase was sung and the Apostolic benediction pronounced. The next meeting of Presbytery was appointed to be held at Maryport, on the first Tuesday of August.

Intelligence.

MARYLEBONE. The Congregation of Marylebone Presbyterian Church held their annual social meeting on the evening of the 9th of May, the Rev. W. Chalmers in the chair. The Treasurer read the financial report for the past year, from which it appeared that at the last annual meeting the debt stood at £3,850, and strenuous efforts are now in progress with a view to its being totally extinguished; these have been so THIS Presbytery held its quarterly meet- far successful, that £2,000 are already subing on Tuesday last, in Mr. Burns' church, scribed, and debentures for £1,390 paid off, Market-place, Whitehaven, to transact the the amount of debt now standing at £2,460. business of the various congregations with- The amounts of collections and subscripin its bounds. The Rev. P. Taylor, of tions for the Poor, for Sabbath-schools, for Brampton, was appointed Moderator for the London City Mission, and the general the current year. Commissions from the Synod Schemes, amounted to £718 48. Od. Kirk Sessions of Maryport, Workington, a large increase on the previous year. The aud Whitehaven, in favour of J. Brown, meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. G. White, and Mr. Reay, were laid on Robert Bell, on the Sabbath Schools; by the table; and having been read by Mr. Mr. Main, on the work of the Bible woman Burns, the Clerk of Presbytery, they were partly maintained by the congregation; by sustained by the Court; their names were Mr. Withers, the City Missionary, and by accordingly added to the roll. The Rev. the Rev. E. Cornwall, the Rev. D. M'Coll W. McIndoe, minister of the Free Church of the Bridgegate Church, Glasgow, James of Scotland, gave a very encouraging report R. Robertson, Esq., and the Chairman. of the new congregation in Carlisle. Since TEMPERANCE SOCIETY IN THE PRES the Synod, at its meeting in Liverpool, had BYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND.—AT sanctioned it as a regular charge, the last meeting of Synod, held in Liverpool, a attendants and adherents had increased Temperance Society was formed, very much weekly, and the cause was progressing on the same basis as that of the Free Church favourably. Mr. McIndoe was appointed of Scotland. With a view to operate from constant supply till next meeting of Pres a centre, the office-bearers for the present bytery, with full liberty, in conjunction year are Rev. Dr. Mackenzie, President; with the Session, to dispense ordinances, Rev. R. Steele, of Cheltenham, Secretary; being an ordained minister. The Pres- and James L. Maxwell, M.D., Treasurer,bytery adjourned at three o'clock, to meet all members of the Presbytery of Birmingagain in the church at seven in the evening, ham. The commencement has been very to ordain four new elders, and five new encouraging. We understand that an Antideacons in Mr. Burns' congregation. The tobacco Society has been organized in Bir Rev. W. McIndoe preached an able ser- mingham, which numbered fifty-six in the mon from Acts ii. 26-"The disciples first week of its existence.-Witness.

ENGLISH

DEPUTATION FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD TO THE SYNOD OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THE deputation appointed at the last meeting of our Synod to that of our brethren of the United Presbyterian Church, was received with much cordiality by that body at their meeting in Edinburgh, on the evening of Thursday, the 16th May, which had been specially set apart for the purpose, as being the time most favourable for a hearing.

We now give an account of the proceedings upon the occasion, as these have appeared in the public prints.

The Rev. David Thomas, one of the is not for me to say whether this visit Clerks to the Synod, read the credentials foreshadows union and is one of the of the deputation, being an extract first steps to it, but I may say that inminute of the Synod of the Presbyterian tercourse thus begun has more than once Church in England, appointing "the fol- issued in this blessed result already. One lowing deputation to carry to the United thing I may say with confidence, that Presbyterian Church our friendly regards the church of the Erskines and Gillespies and our wishes, should Providence open holds out the hands of a most cordial the way, to see a union effected between fellowship to the representatives of a this Synod and their brethren of that Church which has as good right as any Church dwelling in England, viz., Rev. to serve itself heir to the Henrys, the Dr. James Hamilton, London; Rev. Dr. Baxters, and the Calamys of glorious old Anderson, Morpeth, ministers; and Puritanism. And most certainly, the Alexander Gillespie, Esq., London; English Presbyterian Synod could not Geo. B. Bruce, Esq., London, elders." have made a more fit selection as repreThe deputation, on entering the hall, sentatives than in the brethren, whether were received with great applause. ministers or elders, whom they have sent. All these are ornaments of the body from which they come; and if you will allow me to say, of one of them especially, he is in himself a kind of embodied representative of the third and best of the three cardinal graces. (Applause.)

Dr. Andrew Thomson, in introducing the deputation, said :-It is surely a most pleasant variety in the experience of a Church Court, in which there must necessarily be a good deal of discussion and some danger of collision and friction, to be called, as we are this evening, to exchange greeting and benediction with the Dr. James Hamilton, of London, who representatives of sister churches. We was received with loud and prolonged are summoned to this pleasant work to- cheering, said :-We read in the book night-the whole evening, indeed, may be of Joshua of ambassadors who came and said to be dedicated to it. For there stand worked wilily. They came with old in the midst of us the representatives of a sacks on their asses, and torn shoes on sister church in England, which is dis- their feet, and in answer to the demand, tinguished by its soundness in the faith," Who are ye, and whence come ye?" its attachment to a moderate Presby- they said, Thy servants come from a terianism, its compactness and energy, far country;" and it wasn't till Joshua its rapid growth at home, and its zeal in and the Israelites had made a league with the work of missions in foreign lands. It them that these ragged pilgrims were is said of the Jews that after their exile found out to be their near neighbours. in Babylon, whatever might be their (Cheers.) If we had been disposed to other faults, they were cured by that work wilily this evening, my dear friend passage in their history of all tendency Dr. Thomson has effectually defeated to idolatry; and I think it may be said our machinations-(laughter)—and we of our Church, that by the breaches in had better be candid at once and confess its early history it has been cured of all that we are your neighbours territorially tendency to division, and has had the and ecclesiastically-(cheers)—for as far apple of union engrafted on the old thorn as we extend your Presbyteries extend ; of separation. At least it is remarkable and though our Synod could not send an how much our later history has been dis- Erskine as a member of this deputation, tinguished by fraternal intercourse. It it sent a Bruce and a Gillespie. (Cheers

and laughter.) You will hear, when he in a great part indebted for these large comes to address the Synod, that our and costly fabrics. (Applause.) We friend Dr. Anderson, notwithstanding have, since that time, established a his long sojourn in the south, is still a college, with two professors, for the brother Scot, and that he has not forgot training of our students; and on listenthe tones which rallied hundreds round ing to your report last night, I found the Disruption minister of St. Fergus. that almost the only spot to which you It is a very great honour to address this have not sent missionaries is the little Synod, and I can't help feeling it is as country to which our large Church has great a happiness and distinction as has sent hers-I mean China. (Laughter ever fallen to my lot. If anything could and cheers.) We have there six or enhance this happiness, it would be the seven missionaries; two of whom, howthought that it might lead to something ever, are maintained at the expense of more. If you ask, "Wherefore have ye friends in Scotland. We are here this come?" I answer that it is very de- evening to express the heartfelt feelings sirable that brotherly visits should be of cordiality and love which our Church made between sister Churches. We have entertains towards yours; and, as found this in South Britain, where, you you will see by the commission from are perhaps aware, there is a very large the Synod, we are sent in the hope that body of Presbyterians, besides your own a closer connection between the two Church and ours. In the principality of Churches may be the result. (Cheers.) Wales, by far the largest and most in- This is no new thing in either body. fluential body is a Presbyterian Church. ("Hear, hear," and cheers.) For years (Cheers.) Our Synod has sent repeated past it has been, from time to time, condeputations to their meetings, and have sidered in our Synod, and in the year received theirs in return; and although 1854 some progress was made, for a conthe difference in language has prevented ference was held at Manchester, at which any thought of amalgamation, still we Mr. Scott, now present, acted as secrehave found our hearts drawn closer to tary; and it was hoped that an amalgaone another by this kindly intercourse. mation might have been brought about. But in your case, whilst there is nothing However, no such result followed; but to make union impracticable, there is since then, there are some who have much to make it desirable.-After some never lost their fervent desire for the reference to the past history and services junction, and more especially, so far as I of the United Presbyterian Church, the have ever heard any express opinions, speaker added: But to give some definite there is only one prevailing wish amongst answer to the question-"Who are ye?" our elders and our laity on the subject. It was in the year 1844, the year after (Cheers.) There are, some ministhe Disruption in Scotland, that a num-ters in our body men of great exber of ministers, the most of whom had cellence and great ability-who have been connected with the Church of doubts on the subject: there is Scotland, came together and passed a very likely the same feeling existing declaration on the subject of spiritual amongst some of your ministers. Inindependence-a declaration which made deed, had I moved the motion in our our principles identical with the Free Synod giving instructions to its repreChurch of Scotland. At the same time, sentatives, I do not know that I would we thought that instead of uniting our- have been so go-ahead as the gentleman selves with that large and attractive who had that honour. I would have body, it would be better to keep proposed that a deputation should be separate; and so we then called ourselves sent to this Synod, with a respectful in"The Presbyterian Church in England." vitation to return the visit; but I do At that time we numbered about sixty not know if, at this stage, I should have congregations; we are now the round been so explicit as to express the hope hundred. (Cheers.) We have been that it might bring about a union. Our put to great expense in providing places instructions from the Synod are such, of worship; and I fancy in the large however, that it only remains for us to towns, the churches which have been enforce what we have been charged with. built must have cost £100,000; but we And now for the advantages such a are blessed with a noble band of large- union would confer. We would like, minded and liberal elders, and to their by-and-by, to see brought about such a generosity more especially we have been state of matters, that instead of some 70

or 80 Presbyterian congregations, each be lost sight of till the great result which belonging to two religious bodies, we is now wished for by both Synods be, by might have the same number added, and God's good hand upon us, fairly and have in England one large church united fully consummated. (Dr. Hamilton reand free. (Cheers.) One of the ad-sumed his seat amidst loud and prolonged vantages of this would be to make us cheering.) bulk larger. Last year we had a Dr. Anderson spoke next. He apdeputation from the Free Church, con- peared before them as one of the deputasisting of Principal Cunningham and some tion from the English Presbyterian other eminent members of that year's Church to convey their greeting to the Assembly. The learned Principal is too venerable Synod of the United Presbygenerous to be satirical; but one remark terian Church, to reiterate the sentiwhich he made sounded somewhat sar-ments and assurances of fraternal feelcastic. He said that one defect of our ing, of kind, cordial, and respectful reEnglish Presbyterian Church was that it gard, to which utterance had already was not a "visible" church. (Laughter been given by their excellent friend, Dr. and applause.) It would be a great ad- Hamilton. The Church which he revantage if, somehow or other, we could presented was but a small Church, conmake ourselves "visible." (Laughter trasted with the bulk and breadth of the and applause.) Again, if 100 congrega- land in which her lot was cast; still she tions at present make some progress, how was not altogether invisible, she had a much greater would that progress be if reality, she was a distinct, independent, we had 200 united congregations. (Ap-and increasing Church, having within plause.) In the third place, a great herself, in her legislation, her judicial advantage of amalgamation would be and executive functions, the resources of this, that it would be economical. Some self-government. Small though she was, little time ago I had been condoling with she might yet have her ranks recruited a member of my congregation, an old by accessions from the Church of pensioner, threescore years and ten or England. Who that looked at the twelve, who had lost his beloved partner. existing symptoms of disturbance and A few months after, my disconsolate derangement in her system, but must friend came to me on an interesting anticipate before long a reconstruction in errand-to him, at all events. (Loud her polity? It cannot be denied that laughter.) He was very modest, as all young men are on such occasions-(continued laughter)—and after a little while came out at last with the truth that he was going to marry Mrs. So-and-so; and he gave as one of the good reasons for the marriage that she had been very kind to his deceased partner-(laughter) - but the crowning reason was this, that by living together they would save a fire. (Loud and prolonged laughter.) "If we come together," said old John, "it will save a fire-one fire would do between us;" and so I say, Moderator, that as in many cases two are better than one, especially if they are united, it would be very good if we could come together, and make one fire do between us. (Laughter and cheers.) And, finally, union is delightful. Some of us are already well acquainted, and feel as if we could not be too closely associated together. In London, for instance, how happy we would be to find ourselves in the same Presbytery with Mr. Redpath, Dr. Archer, and Dr. Edmonds, and other dear friends of your Church. The object is one which I venture to hope will not

there are principles at work in the Church of England at present, which, according to the ordinary law of their operation, must lead to an organic change, and the evolution of which will depend upon the zeal and energy with which these principles are promulgated, and to the extent to which they find favour with those who shape the course of public opinion. The change cannot be prevented, unless the excessive action of the generating causes should induce a collapse. It might be that the change which they anticipated in the Church of England might not be characterised with that despatch which they desiderated, but when it came, it would lessen the distance which now separated them from their episcopal brethren. (Applause). But they had a higher mission than merely to disseminate the principles of their Presbyterian polity, or even to reclaim their wandering countrymen to the worship and usages of their fatherland; they had to uprear a banner for the truth as it is in Jesus, and to rally around it a large portion of England's neglected and degraded population. The people

of England cannot understand us; they which occasion the well-known Joseph think that we are crotchety, sectarian, and John Gurney, of Norwich, spoke of him exclusive, more fond, notwithstanding as "his friend, the North Briton." Mr. our professions of catholicity, of main- Gillespie also referred, in terms of great taining our distinctive differences, than respect, to the late venerable Dr. Waugh, of removing them. By being united, we of London, and especially to his catholic would find more favour in their eyes spirit, as he found, from the records of than if we presented ourselves before the Presbytery, that he often appeared them in a separate, not to say, an- there as "a visitor." He said he held in tagonistic character. As missionary his hand an interesting document put Churches, and such is the character, forth by the Presbyterians in and near allow me to say, that our respective London, in the year 1792, being a dedenominations must sustain firmly, at claration of their religious and political least in England, the success of our principles. It was drawn up by the aggressive operations would be greatly promoted by unity of action. We do not come here to-night, as you have already heard, taking upon us to propose any substantial overture, but we do come to express our conviction that a union is most desirable, and that it ought to be kept in view and arrived at by both parties, as calculated greatly to extend our common ground of activity and usefulness. May we indulge the hope that a consummation so devoutly to be wished may be reached in a way alike honourable to the persons and satisfactory to the feelings and principles of both contracting parties. (Applause).

celebrated Dr. Henry Hunter, of London Wall, signed by him as Moderator, by Dr. Love, Dr. Steven, and others; and then followed the signatures of the Seceders, namely, Alexander Waugh, A.M., minister of Wells Street, Oxford Street; George Jerment, minister of Bow Lane; and Alexander Easton, minister of Red Cross Street, Cripplegate. Mr. Gillespie concluded as follows:-I wish to relate an anecdote I once heard from Dr. Waugh. (Applause.) In the year 1819 or 1820 I was present at the annual festival of the Scottish Corporation, which was attended by many eminent ministers of different denominations; and Dr. Mr. Gillespie, who was the next Waugh, in speaking of the agreeable naspeaker, said he had been asked to give ture of the meeting-so many ministers of some details regarding the progress of different denominations being assembled the English Presbyterian Church. When together in this friendly manner, instead the present Synod was first formed at of biting and devouring one anotherManchester, in the year 1836, it con- told the following:-A traveller in Scotsisted of two Presbyteries, representing land lost his way, or "tint his gait," as twelve churches. In 1838 another meet- the Doctor expressed it; and at last he ing was held, composed of the same reached a house or sheiling, wearied and numbers. In 1839 two other Presbyte- hungry. The good woman of the house, ries were joined the Presbytery of Lon- with the characteristic hospitality of the don being one-and the churches repre- country, set before him bread, butter, and sented amounted to 34. In 1840 there cheese, till she could make ready somewere five Presbyteries, 39 churches; in thing better. (Laughter.) The traveller 1842 there were six Presbyteries, 61 took a piece of bread and spread it over churches; and now, as Dr. Hamilton thick with. butter, and then cutting a had told them, the number of churches" whang" of cheese, which was skim represented at the Synod-including five milk, stuck it on the top of the bread and sanctioned at the last meeting-was 100 butter. (Laughter.) The good wife, in seven Presbyteries. After stating that evidently thinking this was an abuse of he had long been an advocate for union, hospitality, said very drily-"I think and detailing a few of the advantages one of them might hae ser'd you"which would flow from this being ef- (continued laughter)-to which the trafected, he said he had a leaning towards velled replied, "My honest woman, I the United Presbyterian Church; partly, was just putting together that which perhaps, from some youthful associations; ought never to have been separated." for, in May, 1818, he had seen Dr. Brown (Loud cheers and laughter.) The prac-then the Rev. John Brown, of Biggar tical conclusion of this is, without taking -worthily represent Presbytery on the up any time in discussing which of our platform of the British and Foreign Bible Synods represents the skim milk cheese Society, at its meeting in London; on(laughter)-and which the bread and