6. In whom is the property vested at law by such latest deed? 7. Do the persons in whom the deed vests the property hold it as trustees or otherwise, and how? 8. For whom do they hold the property in trust by the deed? 9. What are the names of the trustees as contained in such deed? 10. Have any of these persons died, left the Church in England, or ceased to worship statedly in one of its congregations, or the country, disclaimed, or in any way become (in accordance with the provisions of the deed) incapable of acting as trustees? 11. Give the names of such. 12. What are the names of the surviving trustees who can and do act? 13. If all the trustees are dead, or have otherwise become incapable of acting, who is the heir, or real or personal representative of the last surviving acting trustee? 14. Have the vacancies from time to time occurring in the original number of trustees been filled up? 15. How has this been done, and who have been appointed? 16. Does the deed mention or refer to any other person or persons as standing between the trustees in whom the legal estate is vested and the objects of the trust? 17. What are the trusts declared by such latest deed, or incorporated therein by reference to some other deed or document with regard to the religious doctrine, discipline, and worship to be held, used, and observed by the persons taking the benefit of the trusts, or with regard to the religious denomination with which the minister and congregation are to be connected ? 18. Is there any power given to the trustees, or to any persons or managers, to appoint or in any way interfere with the appointment of the minister of the congregation ? 19. Has there been any attempt by any person or persons, under pretext of want of conformity to trusts declared by the deeds, to interfere with the present connection of the congregation with the Presbyterian Church in England ? 20. Is the land held by the trustees subject to any and what rent, charge, or other burden? 21. Are there any, and if any, what mortgages, liens, or other incumbrances affecting the property, or any part thereof? 22. Have the trustees incurred any, and if any, what personal liabilities in respect of their trusts ? 23. Does any, and if any, what income arise from any part of the land or buildings occupied by the minister and congregation? 24. What use is made of this income? 25. Are there any endowments? A call was laid on the table from the united Church of Wharton and Swinton in favour of Mr. John Gordon, which being sustained by the Presbytery, was put into the hand of Mr. Gordon, who intimated his acceptance of the same. Mr. Lundie gave in a verbal report about the proposed new Church at Fairfield, stating that £660 had been raised towards the erection of a Church, and that the committee was negotiating about a suitable site. The Presbytery proceeded to take up the call to the Rev. A. Inglis, from the Free Church congregation of Ecclefechan, when parties being summoned to the bar there appeared the Rev. Messrs. Hope and Gailey, from the Presbytery of Locherly; Mr. James Johnston, from the congregation of Eccle. fechan; Mr. J. Monks, from the Session of John's, Warrington; Messrs. Donald Mackey and E. Wallington, from the congregation of St. John's; and Mr. Inglis for himself. The Commissioners from the Presbytery of Locherly successively addressed the Court, urging, among other reasons, the providential circumstances which had led to the call of Mr. Inglis, and the importance of Ecclefechan as a sphere of ministerial labour. The Court was also addressed by the representatives of the Session and congregation of St. John's, earnestly deprecating the removal of Mr. Inglis from the sphere for which he had proved himself peculiarly well adapted. Mr. Inglis, after addressing the Court at some length, expressed his desire to close with the call from Ecclefechan, should the Presbytery decide to loose him from his present charge. Thereafter it was moved by Mr. J. C. Paterson and seconded by Mr. Davidson :"That Mr. Inglis having expressed a desire to close with the call from Ecclefechan, the Presbytery loose him from his present charge." Which was accordingly done in the usual form. From this finding Mr. Blyth entered his dissent. Mr. J. C. Paterson gave in the report of the Committee appointed by the Presbytery to inquire into the financial position of the congregation of Heath Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool: "The Presbyterial Committee on Heath Street met with the interim Session and the Committees connected with the management of the congregation. Present:-Rev. J. C. Paterson, convener; Rev. R. H. Lundie, for the Presbytery; Rev. J. R. Welsh, Messrs. Lockhart, J. G. Brown, Nicol, Gillespie, Glendinning, for the Session; Messrs. Welsh, Lockhart, Brown, Dempster, Paterson, Gailey, Turner, which has been in existence about six months, bids fair to work a great improve ment in the congregational psalmody. Mitchell, for the Heath Street Mission, £5 in money, as a mark of the estimation Committee; and Messrs. Warwick and in which they hold his services. This class, McDonald, for the Committee of the Heath Street congregation. After conference, all parties declared it to be their present purpose, God helping them, to continue their efforts in behalf of Heath Street congregation; but declined to pledge themselves to raise any definite amount of stipend during the incumbency of the minister." After deliberation on the report, it was moved by Dr. White, and agreed to by the Court:"Receive the report, and instruct the clerk to transmit to the moderator of the interim Session, and to the chairman of the Committee, the following paper, to be duly signed and returned to the Presbytery at its next meeting, to be held at Wharton, on Wednesday, the 18th of September:We continue to feel unabated interest in the work of the Lord, as it has been going on for some time in Heath Street; and we will, by the Divine blessing, continue the same during Mr. Meiklejohn's incumbency, if the Presbytery should grant him ordina tin.” The Rev. Messrs. Lundie, J. Paterson, and Johnstone were appointed to examine Mr. S. T. Dickenson, with a view to his being licensed as a preacher of the Gospel. Intelligence. PRESBYTERIANISM IN IRELAND. THE census of 1861 is exceedingly encouraging to all the Protestants of Ireland, and it must be especially gratifying to the Presbyterians. At present, Roman Catholics amount to little more than two-thirds of what was their estimated strength in 1834; Episcopalians have lost little more than onefifth of their numbers at that time; whilst reckoning the Presbyterians at 535,302 they are not reduced so much as one-sixth. Within the last ten years they have suffered greatly by emigration, and we could mention some districts where they have thus been deprived of nearly one-fourth of their numbers; but they have meanwhile been greatly strengthened by the accessions from other denominations; and hence, comparatively, they have gained so much ground in the census. Dr. Montgomery predicted a few days ago, that the present return would bear testimony to their decline, but the result shows that the Dunmurry orator is a false prophet, as well as a bad statistician. It also attests that the year 1859 was to the Presbyterian Church, not a year of delusion, but a year of grace.-Banner of Ulster. Speaking of the late General Assembly the Banner says,-The meeting was one of the largest ever held in Ulster, the numbers in attendance being 387 ministers and 118 elders-making a total of 505 members. Such a convocation is, perhaps, too numerous for deliberative purposes, and is considerably larger than either the Established or Free Church Assembly in Scotland, or the Old and New School Assemblies in America. CARLISLE.-On Monday, the 26th ult., the Presbytery of Cumberland met in the Athenæum Lecture Hall, Carlisle, and inducted the Rev. W. M'Indoe into the charge of the congregation recently formed there. Rev. Mr. Stewart, and Dr. Wood. of the Free Church of Scotland, and Rev. Messrs. Burn, Taylor, and Hanny took part in the proceedings. At the close, the Rev. Mr. Duncan, late of Greenwich, in the name of the congregation, presented the minister with a pulpit-bible and gown and cassock. It was gratifying to observe the interest excited on the occasion, as auguring well for the future prosperity of the cause. Few places are more important for the Church to occupy, and few more inviting than Carlisle, and, by the blessing of God, we may soon expect to find a most To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger, flourishing congregation. Meanwhile, after the first year of its existence, it numbers above 100 communicants, and a Sabbath attendance of about 200, besides having connected with it a Sunday-school of about 70 scholars and 10 teachers. EXETER.-Christchurch Sol-fa Psalmody Class. The members of this class have just presented their conductor, the Rev. R. R. Thom, with a handsome easy chair, and Obituary. THE LATE WILLIAM PARLANE, Manchester, 17th September, 1861. DEAR SIR,-The Session of Grosvenor the recent loss of one of its most esteemed Square Presbyterian Church has to mourn members, the late William Parlane, Esq., who expired on the 22nd of August. On the Sabbath succeeding his interment, which took place on the 1st day of September, Dr. Munro's discourse was specially adapted to the event. Its conclusion, con 66 taining a brief notice of their late fellow-gious improvement are scanty, while office-bearer's life and character, the Session inducements to forget God abound, and requested a copy of for insertion in the where many who resort thither do forMessenger," which Dr. Munro kindly get him, and go astray. There he was supplied, and which in their name I now faithful. Co-operating with a small transmit, believing that many beyond our group of good men, his influence and own congregation will be pleased to be put aid were cordially and successfully thus in possession of this instructive memorial of our departed brother. given to provide Scriptural Ordinances in a pure Presbyterian form, in a region where Popery had held for ages an almost universal sway. True to the faith of his fathers, he found in that faith a solace and a blessing, when far from his father's home. It confirmed his heart in the ways of God, while it invigorated his practical virtues. I am, dear Sir, yours truly, A MEMBER OF SESSION OF GROSVENOR SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to thy glory."-Psalm lxxiii. 24. AND now, dear Christian friends, permit me to present you with an illustration of the Scripture truths we have been striving to set forth. That illustration, let me tell you, shall be drawn neither from the realm of fancy, the field of nature, nor the scope of general history. In none of these do we seek for the embodiment of this principle of conduct, nor the realization of those privileges. But we select the case of a Christian man, recently worshipping in our assemblies, and laid, but the other day, in the silent grave, lately in living vigour among you; now a shrouded and buried corpse. William Parlane had the privilege of which our text speaks graciously provided for him, namely, guidance by divine counsel, and that guidance he gratefully accepted. It was sought and found by him, through the years of youth, amidst the activities of manhood, and in the leisurely season of mature-though not advanced-age. So led through life, he was not left or forsaken in death. Even in that trying crisis, when descending, at the sudden call, into the valley of its shadow, as we rest well assured, the guiding care of the Good Shepherd was tenderly Vouchsafed-" his rod and staff they comforted him." The third and last period of his life he has spent among yourselves. For upwards of twenty years he has been a member of this flock: and for the greater part of that time he has been an elder among you, "taking the oversight, not by constraint, but willingly;" ready in every emergency to act bravely; and when necessities, either public or private, appealed for relief, his heart went with his hand in giving as God prospered him, and proportionately to the deservings of the case, and what he gave, he gave with frankness and cordial good will. Ye know his manner of life. A lengthened or high-flown eulogy from me would, therefore, be useless to you, as it would, I am sure, be distasteful to him. Still, I cannot be wholly silent. Those who have had opportunities, must have observed that his intellect was eminently practical. Sound originally, and well exercised, as it indeed was, not apt to be carried away with fancies, or disturbed by irrelevant feelings, but habitually acting upon grounds which approved themselves to common sense, and to the tests of experience, his judgment was highly serviceable. Besides, as a suggestion to young men entering on business, and called Into three distinctly defined periods, to measure the strength of their faculof nearly equal length, was that life ties with the difficulties that arise in divided. The first was spent in his its transactions, or meet them in their father's house, blessed with sound do- positions, it may be well to observe mestic training, with the example of that a great part of the value of his pious parents, and the lessons of faith- understanding arose from the thorough ful pastors. He accepted these means honesty of his heart-its freedom from of direction, and became himself a all conscious bias or self-seeking; no worthy example to young men. The thought of compassing one thing second period was spent in a foreign under covert of another. He was land, amidst the busy pursuits of com- always above board with himself, as merce-in a land where means of reli- well as with other people. And that singleness of mind tended materially the Sabbath-in our missionary and to make his head clear and his conclu- our prayer meetings, as if conscious sions sound, as well as their expression that it was only by constantly using simple. This, too, gave him weight. the instrumentalities of grace, he could You could not help believing in him; expect to obtain grace, and say with and he was ever generous in his judg- confidence, "Lord, thou shalt guide ments, and ready to believe in you. me with thy counsel, and afterwards His mildness was not weakness, nor receive me to thy glory." his moderation want of discernment. But he is gone. The cold tombstone If, sometimes, in the interchange of covers him. In that isle of miniature thought, or in the turns of discussion, Alpine grandeur, where Clyde mingles aught he said might seem unpalatable, with the sea, and beneath the shadow why, the hearty fairness and kind pur- of Goatfield, he lay down and died. pose of the man shone out so trans- One day, seen in health, conversing parently, while that little innocent cheerfully with a group of Christian laugh of his, and that half-facetious friends; the next day, "he was not; word which accompanied it, so operated for God took him." His mortal reas that his momentary opposition only mains are home among us; but his imparted a raciness of flavour pleasant spirit has gone to the upper home, to both to young and old. Who, in such be for ever with the Lord. instances, could help saying, “Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which will not break my head"? Mourn for the dead! mourn for the dead! but mourn not as without hope. Weep for the dead! weep for the dead! for "Jesus wept;" but forget not the words of the weeping Christ. They come like sunbeams through the falling rain. "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die," And what might we not say of his moral principles, with his religious habits?-though he himself would be indisposed to speak of them at all. They were embodied in his life, not paraded in his speech; regulated for use, not exaggerated for show. Who While our lament rises for the dead, more than he excelled, as the head of let our sympathy flow forth for the a family, in all its tender offices and living, for those who held the inner relative duties; warming, too, the circle of his affections, with others in various circles of his kindred with a their several degrees of kin, all of constant cordiality of affectionate in- whom his departure has immersed in terest? Who more than he was a true sorrow. His is the gain, but theirs friend among his friends in society? By him no sting of disparagement was ever emitted from the sheath of a prefacing, flattering phrase. No breeder of strifes, or sower of jealousies, was he. Ever conciliating, considerate and candid, did he prove himself in his deeds as well as his words. Who more than he, as an office-bearer in the house of God, thought and strove for the interests of the Church and its members, according to the grace given him; rejoic. ing in its welfare; aiding in its edification; caring for the poor, and acceptable to all ranks and degrees? Neither is it to be forgotten that he lent his personal services to several of the benevolent institutions of this city; services which, as they were effective, were highly valued by the public-spirited, good men with whom he acted. And who like him gave an example of stated the loss. Yet tell, oh! tell them, that even their loss is not irreparable. Heaven is not far off, and to now surviving Christian friends death will ere long open the gate of life, and admit them in person to his fellowship, till Christ shall raise them up together at the last day. Rise, then, mourners! from bending in grief over his buried body. Congratulate the soul now ascended to its place, on its escape from a sinful and shadowy world to the blessedness of a holy heaven, irradiated with "the light that cometh down from the throne of God and of the Lamb." CANADIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ALATE number of the Canadian waitin upon God in his ordinances on Record has the following remarks res pecting the past and present positions of their now united Church : "While it becomes us to avoid all boasting and vain glory, it is surely our duty gratefully to acknowledge the great goodness of God as manifested in the position now occupied by the Canada Presbyterian Church. Of the two churches now forming together the Canada Presbyterian Church, the progress during the years of their separate existence has been very marked. The United Presbyterian Church, we believe, was commenced in Canada by two ministers in the year 1832, and had on its roll, at the time of the union, seventy ministers. The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada had, on its organisation in 1844 twenty-two ministers. When the Union was consummated it had on its roll 160 ministers. In both branches of the Church there were at the time of the Union numerous vacancies and organised congregations waiting for the settlement of ministers, amounting together to at least from fifty to sixty. To supply these vacancies, and carry on the necessary work, we have at present about thirty probationers. At the rate at which the churches have increased in past years, we may expect that from twelve to fifteen new congregations will be formed every year. mising young men, who may be trained for the work of the ministry. This is the duty of Presbyteries, of ministers, and elders of the Church. The matter, too, should speak to the hearts of parents whom God hath blessed with sons. His work is demanding attention. The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. May God's spirit lead many parents to dedicate their sons to the Lord's service; and may he incline the heart of many a pious youth to consecrate his service to the Lord, and to say, 'Here am I, send me.'' POPERY IN ENGLAND. THE Committee of the Protestant Alliance have lately issued an Address to Protestants, which contains some very important statements. The attention of our readers is directed to the following : The great aim of the Roman Catholic priesthood in the present day is, according to the testimony of one of their most distinguished members, "to subjugate and subdue, to conquer and rule an imperial race;' ""to bend or break a will which nations and kingdoms have found invincible and inflexible." England is the chosen field "From these various data, and adverting on which "to fight the battle of the also to the probability that from year to Church." If Protestantism be "conyear vacancies will occur from the resig-quered in England, it would be connation or death of ministers, we may see quered throughout the world."—Tablet, that we should have an increase of nearly August 6, 1859. twenty labourers to our ranks each year. Of these, some we trust a considerable number-may be expected from the mother and sister churches on the other side of the Atlantic. But it is evident that it is to our own young men, and to our own College that we must principally look for the supply that is needed. Every class at Knox College should number from ten to fifteen, and every year we should have an equal number of licen tiates. "For a few years past the students connected with the former Synods have fallen considerably short of the number specified; and it becomes a question how the number can be increased. It is evi dent that without a very considerable increase, our work cannot advance; we cannot extend our lines of operationwe can scarcely maintain our position. It becomes a duty, then, for the Church to look out and encourage able and pro The Roman Catholic Relief Act, in 1829, so far from satisfying the Romanists, has only stimulated them to greater demands, and successive Governments have made unwise and unnecessary concessions. The following statistical facts, compiled from authentic sources, demand serious consideration :- 449 Priests in England 1829. 1859. 1860. Increase. Colleges... |