Free Church of Scotland. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE EDUCATION SCHEME. MAY 1867. THE income of the Scheme, from all sources, for the year ending 31st March 1867, amounts to £8486, 8s. 11d., being an increase of £145, 12s. 7d. as compared with the year 1865-66. The decrease on Congregational Contributions is £52, 3s. 2d., and the increase on Donations, Legacies, etc., is £197, 15s. 9d. In addition to the income just stated, there has been received and invested during the year a legacy of £300 from the late Mr. Bargenny M'Culloch, the interest of £100 of which will be applied, according to the donor's instructions, in the education of orphan children of miners or colliers in the parish of New Dalry, Ayrshire. The Committee paid, at Whitsunday and Martinmas 1866, and they expect to be able to pay again at Whitsunday 1867, the full allowances to the teachers connected with the Scheme. The amount required for the continuance of the full rate of payment is, however, considerably greater than the present income of the Scheme; and the Committee have no prospect of being able to pay the full allowances at future half-yearly terms, unless the Church's liberality to the Scheme is largely increased. During the year, the Committee have voted grants to fifteen additional schools. These have been almost exclusively missionary schools in destitute districts of large towns, or congregational and district schools in necessitous and neglected country districts. The Collection authorized by the last General Assembly in aid of the Normal Schools realized £1426; of which £1313 have been applied to the Glasgow Normal School, and £113 to the Edinburgh School. Notwithstanding the earnest desires and efforts of the Committee to keep out of debt in every department of expenditure, obligations of a serious nature have been, and are being, incurred by the Glasgow Normal School, which the half collection granted by the General Assembly last year has only partially discharged. Obligations to a slighter extent are also being incurred by the Normal School in Edinburgh. These liabilities require to be dealt with and met without delay. And but for the position of uncertainty in which we have continued to be kept by the proceedings of the Royal Commission, and by some other temporary circumstances connected with the Government, an effort would have been already made by the Committee, either through a modification of the conditions of the Privy Council grants, or by other means, to place the Normal Seminaries, with reference to their income and expenditure, on a more satisfactory footing. It is to be hoped that events in providence will speedily open up more clearly the path of the Church's duty in regard to the whole of this solemn and eventful matter-the Christian education of the young. WILLIAM NIXON, Convener. JAMES LUMSDEN, Vice-Convener. |