RECORDS OF DISRUPTION MINISTERS.

The Assembly then called for the report of the committee on record of Disruption ministers.

Dr CANDLISH Supposed they were all aware that there was no report from this committee, in consequence of the lamented death of Dr Parker. He could not omit the opportunity of expressing the very high esteem in which Dr Parker was held by all who knew him. His removal was a great discouragement as regards the realisation of the object in view. But he thought it would be a pity if the result of Dr Parker's labours was lost. He thought they should carry on the attempt for a little longer. The first thing they had to do was to ascertain how far Dr Parker had gone with his inquiries. He would suggest that the Assembly should request Mr Cameron, Maryton, to give his services for a single year, and that they should put into his hands the materials collected by Dr Parker and also by Dr Lorimer, asking him to examine these papers and to report to next Assembly, by which time they might be enabled to find some one in circumstances to carry through the work. He moved the re-appointment of the committee, with Mr Cameron as convener, on the understanding that nothing more should be required of him than that during the year he should examine the papers and report to next Assembly. He also moved that the Assembly record their sense of the value of Dr Parker's services in this and other respects as an esteemed minister of the Church.

The motion was seconded by Mr CHARLES COWAN, and agreed to.

Dr CANDLISH stated that the depute-clerk had received a communication from Mr Macfie, of Airds, in which that gentleman suggested that Dr Guthrie should be asked to undertake this record of the pre-Disruption ministers, and promising to be at all the necessary expense. Dr Candlish said that of course they would all be very glad if Dr Guthrie could undertake this work, but he feared they could not ask him.

DISTRIBUTION OF PROBATIONERS.

The Assembly resumed consideration of the report of the committee on the distribution of probationers. On the proposal of Mr WILSON, the Assembly approve generally of the report, and appointed,

I. That Presbytery clerks shall send to the clerks of committee the names and addresses of all who may be licensed by them, with dates of licence, within one week thereafter. And the clerk of committee shall prepare as complete a register as possible of all the probationers of the Free Church according to date of licence; but the names of probationers who shall have been ten years licensed, and shall have preached in ten vacancies, shall be entered on a separate list for occasional supply.

II. That clerks of Presbyteries shall send intimation to the clerk of committee of every vacant congregation, including colleagueships and successors, along with the name of moderator of session and the sessionclerk, or other office-bearer in the vacancy with whom correspondence may be carried on,

III. That when a vacant congregation, according to the terms of the Act of Assembly 1859, shall be prepared to elect a minister at the first meeting after the vacancy has taken place, no supply shall be given from this committee; but if not so prepared, they shall, until they have elected

a minister, receive supplies, as allocated for, at least every alternate Sabbath, the other Sabbaths being reserved for the Presbytery, or such as the congregation may wish to hear, and that so soon as an election takes place the committee be informed so as to stop further supplies. And the same rule shall also apply to charges sanctioned which may not previously have had a minister.

IV. That the committee shall meet at least once a quarter for the purpose of seeing that the Assembly's regulations are respected by vacant congregations, and also that probationers are, as far as practicable, constantly employed, the clerk, under the supervision of the convener, being authorised to make any necessary arrangements in the interim. quarterly list of preachers and vacancies to be published in the Missionary Record, and a copy sent to every Presbytery clerk, probationer, and vacant congregation.

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V. That Presbyteries shall afford vacant congregations every facility for hearing such preachers as the congregation may select on alternate Sabbaths, or should they not be in the habit of giving supply on alternate Sabbaths, ou such Sabbaths as they may reserve in their own hands; but that all arrangements whatever for hearing preachers be secured by communication with the committee, whose clerk shall endeavour, as far as possible, to meet their wishes, and that moderators of vacant congregations be enjoined to read and explain these regulations at the first congregational meeting, and in no case to depart from these provisions.

VI. That preachers be prohibited from supplying vacant congregations except by appointment of this committee. When private applications are made to preachers, that they send immediate information thereof to the clerk, that, if possible, the arrangements may be entered into without any conflict with others. That preachers also give intimation of change of address and acceptance of a call, and to acknowledge receipt of appointments by return of post.

The Assembly enjoined all parties mentioned in the above regulations to have respect thereanent.

The Assembly remitted the remaining proposals of the committee to their further consideration.

INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF PROBATIONERS.

Dr CANDLISH, in the absence of Dr Begg, the convener of the committee on the inadequate supply of probationers, called attention to the report of the committee, (No. XXIV.) He said that he did not agree with all that was in the report, but he thought that the subject of the length of the curriculum was one well deserving of the consideration of the Church. He was by no means inclined to the view of some, that they should take an examination fully in lieu of attendance at the University and the Theological Hall. At the same time, he thought they should look in the face the fact that the curriculum was considerably longer than was required for any other profession. In the younger days of the older ministers of this Church, the average age of entrants into the college was twelve and thirteen, when a long curriculum was a necessity. But now the case was altogether different. Mr Trotter of the Edinburgh Academy told him that in consequence of the higher character of the education at such schools as Mr Oliphant's, the pupils entered the Edinburgh Academy about a year and a half older than they used to do; and if pupils at the Aca

CHARGES CONTRIBUTING UNDER £50 TO THE SUSTENTATION FUND. 489

demy remained there six or seven years, and had to go through another curriculum of eight years, on aspiring to the ministry, it was plain that was a serious obstacle, and that in the case especially of persons in straitened circumstances, they might come to the conclusion that it would be better for them to serve the Lord in some other way. He might say that the late Dr Cunningham was clearly of opinion that if the Church kept hold of a man for six years, three in the Arts classes and three in the Hall, that was sufficient. (Hear, hear.)

Professor DOUGLAS said he would not like to see anything done to introduce students into the theological halls who were not taking their proper place in the national universities, but he thought it desirable to shorten the curriculum. The exceptional cases were sufficiently provided for by the examinations of the London University, and he would not like to see the door opened wider. He thought, with Dr Candlish, that the national universities might, with great advantage, have a three months' summer session as well as what was practically a five months' winter session. He did not think that eight months in the year was too long for a professor to teach. (Hear, hear.)

After a few further remarks from Dr R. J. Brown and Mr Thomas Chalmers, the Assembly approved generally of the report, re-appointed the committee, with Dr Rainy as convener, and remitted the report to the committee for re-consideration.

RE-APPOINTMENT OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

The Assembly then re-appointed the standing committees, with the necessary modifications.

Dr BUCHANAN, in moving the re-appointment of Sustentation Fund committee, said that on the previous day the committee had received a letter from Mr Handyside, resigning his situation as secretary to the Fund, in consequence of his serious illness and advice of his medical attendants. The committee were empowered to make an interim arrangement, in the hope that Mr Handyside's health might be restored, so as to enable him to resume his duties.

CONFERENCE WITH PRESBYTERIES.

Dr BUCHANAN then submitted the plan proposed for the visitation of Presbyteries in connexion with the new movement of the Sustentation Fund committee. The Church had been divided into seven sections, containing, on an average, ten Presbyteries in each, and the deputies were intended to visit each section, and to make arrangements with the Presbyteries, so that, as soon as possible, the resolution of the Assembly on Wednesday last might be brought before all the congregations and deacons' courts. He hoped the deputies would receive all encouragement in their work. (Hear, hear.)

On the motion of Mr WILSON, the plan was approved.

Mr NIXON hoped the deputies would also charge themselves with the duty of reminding the congregations that the Church expected of them to contribute to the Education Scheme in a certain proportion of what they gave to the Sustentation Fund.

CHARGES CONTRIBUTING AT AND UNDER £50 A YEAR TO THE
SUSTENTATION FUND.

Mr WILSON read the following deliverance proposed by the Sustenta

tion Fund committee to be adopted with reference to special report on charges contributing at and under £50 per annum :—

"The General Assembly appoint the following to act as a special commission to confer with all parties connected with those congregations contributing less than £50 a year to the Sustentation Fund, into whose condition they may judge it desirable to inquire, and with the Presbyteries within whose bounds these congregations are; and, in concurrence with said Presbyteries, to give such advice as may seem best, and to report to the General Assembly any suggestions which may occur to them, viz.-Dr Buchanan, Dr M'Lauchlan, Sir H. W. Moncreiff, Mr Wilsonministers; Mr F. B. Douglas, Mr John Miller, Mr George Meldrum, Dr Hugh Miller-elders. Sir H. W. Moncreiff to be convener. The deliverance was approved.

THE UNION COMMITTEE AND THE UNION DIVISION.

On the Assembly proceeding to the re-appointment of the union committee,

Mr BURNSIDE, Falkland, suggested that some names should be added to the committee, of persons having the same views as those who had resigned.

Dr BUCHANAN suggested that Mr Elder, Rothesay, and Colonel Young should be added to the committee.

Mr NIXON said that he deeply regretted that he could not act upon the committee. Nevertheless, he had as great a regard to the honour of the committee and the work assigned it as anybody could have. He found in the list of those who voted for Dr Begg's motion seven members who ultimately voted for the motion of Dr Candlish, and it must strike every man that they could not mean by that vote that they wished Dr Begg's motion to succeed-not even as against his, (Mr Nixon's.) It was abundantly evident that this was what was called a political trick. Such things might occur among worldly men-in the House of Commons, perhaps but surely more simplicity and godly sincerity should mark the proceedings here; and for the honour of the committee and the great work assigned to it, he must say he thought that course was one which he could not venture to characterise, but which he hoped would not be repeated. As he found the name of Walter Wood as one of those who actually put himself in that position, he objected to his appointment as one of the members of the union committee. (Laughter.)

Mr WOOD said he was sorry to intrude himself upon the Assembly, but he hoped they would have patience while he said a word in reply to the somewhat singular attack made upon him by Mr Nixon. He had as good a right to keep a conscience as Mr Nixon had. He voted in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience, and he would like to know what right any one had to challenge him for that in the way done by Mr Nixon. Were they not to have liberty of voting as between two motions? The question put to the Assembly was, which of the two motions-Dr Begg's or Mr Nixon's-was to be put against Dr Candlish's, and he wondered what right any one had to presume that he should not be put on a committee on that account.

Mr NIXON said he did not presume to keep Mr Wood's conscience for him-it was the last thing he would trust himself with. (Laughter.) But he was entitled to see that this House protected its own honour and

credit-that was what he cared about. Mr Wood was bound to vote for no motion which he did not approve. If any other doctrine on this point was to prevail in this House, it was high time they were endeavouring to ascertain what standard of morals was to be their rule. He (Mr Nixon) had done his duty in seeking thus to protect the character of the General Assembly.

Sir HENRY W. MONCREIFF said that, with reference to the question what a man should do in the circumstances adverted to, he was very much inclined to agree with Mr Nixon. But he could not agree in the very strong statement Mr Nixon made about it. He thought there was room for difference of opinion, for there was no doubt the question put to the House was, not which motion do you prefer in itself, but which do you prefer to put against the first motion. (Hear, hear.) That was the question put to the House, and people were entitled to take their own course as to that.

Dr RAINY said it was right also to state, in regard to this matter, since this view was put so strongly, that he had present to his mind the question whether he should vote for Mr Nixon's motion or not, because, though he did not desire it to be ultimately carried, he would not have thought it a discreditable course, if, on the whole, it had brought out the result that might have been brought out. But he thought the best course, to avoid misunderstanding, was to vote for neither motion, though he must say he did not regard it as necessarily improper if a person who was desirous of seeing the first motion passed should not have abstained from voting when the vote was taken between the second and third motions.

Captain SHEPHERD believed the clerk had put it to the House that those who were to vote for Dr Candlish's motion should sit still.

Sir HENRY W. MONCREIFF-I did not say so. I said those who wished not to vote might sit still if they pleased.

Mr R. C. SMITH said that the question came to be which was the best way of taking the vote.

Mr SAWERS, Gargunnock-The question now is, what is the best committee? He was exceedingly sorry that so many had withdrawn from the committee, so that he could not have the same confidence as before in their carrying the Church along with them. (A laugh.) He thought if the members who had resigned would reconsider their resolution, and go along with the committee as they best might, they would lead the Church with them. Failing that, he thought they would hardly get successors in the whole Church that would give as much confidence in the committee. If that might not be, he thought they should appoint other members who would be likely to command the confidence of the whole Church, and he would suggest the name of Mr R. C. Smith for one. He had been told by a member of Assembly that the committee would get on all the better in the absence of the members who had resigned; but that was not the way to secure the confidence of the Church.

Dr BUCHANAN said that Mr Sawers had totally mistaken the mind of the rest of the committee if he thought that they wished those members to resign. They were anxious rather that they should recall their resignation, and he had the greatest confidence that most, if not all of them, would yet see their way to return. He had pressed Mr R. C. Smith to go upon the committee, but that gentleman-from native modesty, he