a name thus added to a Committee remains on that Committee ever after during the person's lifetime, unless, in the case of the person's resignation, or on account of his not being present at three meetings of Committee in the course of a year, or for other reasons not defined in any Act or Standing Order of the Church, it is dropped out.

This state of matters seems to your Committee to be unsatisfactory; and they would venture respectfully to offer the following suggestions, viz.:

1. (a.) That the Standing Committees of the Church shall have each a fixed number of Members; and (b.) that the number of members in each Committee shall, generally speaking, be smaller than at present; and (c.) in proportion to the importance of the work they have to perform.

2. (a.) That a principle of rotation shall be carried out, one-fifth part of the members retiring annually in order-this rule to apply to Conveners as well as to ordinary members; (b.) that any member of a Committee who has been absent from three-fourths of the Meetings held by the Committee in the course of a year, shall de facto cease to be a member of that Committee. If the Assembly shall see fit, any retiring member may be re-appointed.

3. That a new Standing Committee shall be appointed with the principle of rotation, as in the other Standing Committees. This Committee to consist of the Moderator of the preceding Assembly, two ministers of more than twenty-four years' standing, two of more than twelve and not more than twenty-four years' standing, and two of not more than twelve years' standing, together with six elders-the Moderator of the preceding Assembly to be Convener; and that the work of this Committee shall be, to find out and nominate to the Assembly for appointment suitable persons to serve in the various Committees in room of those who retire by rotation, and of those who from any other cause cease to be members.

4. (a.) That, in making their selection, this Committee shall communicate with the Conveners of the respective Committees; and (b.) that the Presbyteries of the Church shall be requested to aid the Committee by furnishing it with the names of persons (not necessarily belonging to the Presbytery suggesting the names) whom they would recommend for appointment-a Presbytery of not more than ten Congregations naming not more than one person

for each Committee; one of more than ten congregations, but not more than twenty, naming not more than two, and so on.

5. Further, that, in making their selection, this Committee shall have regard (1.) to fitness for the work of the particular Committee for which the persons are to be nominated; (2.) to as equable a distribution of influence as possible over the Church; and (3.) to economy as regards the expense connected with attendance at meetings of Committees; and that, before the Committee recommend any person for appointment as a new member of any Committee, they shall first ascertain the person's willingness to undertake, and to perform, the work for which he is to be nominated.

6. That the Report of this Committee shall be given in to the Assembly not later than the second Thursday of the Assemblydue notice having been given beforehand of the time when it is to be given in; and that the names proposed to be added to the various Committees shall appear in the Daily Proceedings on the morning after said Report has been given in.

With respect to suggestion 1, clause (a), your Committee would remark that it contains a principle which is exemplified in business every day. It is also necessary to the carrying out of the principle of rotation mentioned in suggestion 2; and is specially necessary in view of the constant changes which, chiefly in the form of an abnormal increase, have been taking place in some of the Committees from year to year since 1859.

With respect to suggestion 1, clause (b), they would remark, that every person at all acquainted with the transaction of business is aware that a large Committee is often found to be cumbersome and unwieldy, and unsuitable for transacting business; and in many cases the larger the Committee is, the less work does the Committee really do. The real work is thrown into the hands of a few individuals, or of a single individual. The need for a change of the kind indicated in this clause will appear when it is stated that about the year 1859 the Church, seeing the unsatisfactoriness of large Committees, greatly reduced the numbers of members on the various Committees, but since that time the numbers have gradually mounted up, till they are in some cases about double what they were in 1859. Another subordinate, yet important, consideration in favour of the proposal contained in this clause is the matter of expense. With very large Committees, and with the members of them spread over various districts of the country, and conscientiously

and regularly attending the meetings of Committees, the travelling expenses of members (being Ministers) attending Committees would become a very serious burden on the funds of the Church.

Your Committee are of opinion that there should, generally speaking, be an equal number of ministers and of elders on each Committee, and that the numbers of members of the several Committees should not be greater than the following

With respect to suggestion 2, your Committee would remark that it contains the essential central principle of the whole plan recommended by them-a principle which, after mature deliberation, received the sanction of the Church in 1860. It seems unreasonable to have in a Presbyterian Church the same individuals for an indefinite length of time wielding the influence and administering the affairs of the Church, simply because their names have happened to be once suggested for some Committee. The principle of rotation meets this evil, and provides for the reasonable and fair distribution of influence over the Church; while, at the same time, it tends to spread more extensively an intelligent interest in the business of the Church, to diffuse and strengthen feelings of confidence in the actings of the Committees, and to train a greater number into the necessary knowledge and aptitude for carrying on the business of the Church.

With respect to suggestion 3, the Committee would remark that it is introduced for the purpose of giving effect to the preceding one. For want of such a Committee, the principle of

rotation, as adopted in 1860, was never fully carried out, and in 1865 it was formally set aside. In the discussions connected with the changes introduced in 1860, the formation of a Committee for the purpose indicated in this suggestion was strongly urged by the late lamented Principal Cunningham; and a Committee for the same purpose exists in the United Presbyterian Church.

With respect to suggestion 4, clause (a), it is to be remarked that the proposed Committee of selection is intended to act in harmony with the various Conveners, and to co-operate with them, and through them with the Committees, with a view to the most effective conducting of the business of the several Committees.

With respect to suggestion 4, clause (b), it is to be remarked that the number of names required for supplying vacancies in the several Committees is such that, if every Presbytery were to send even one name for each Committee, there would be far too many. Consequently, the Committee of selection could not put every name that is sent to them upon some Committee; and still less, if a number of Presbyteries were to send several names for the same Committee, could the Committee of selection put all those names upon that one Committee. Nevertheless, they might be greatly aided in their labours by the suggestions of the Presbyteries; and in making their selection they would have a constant regard, as is mentioned in suggestion 5, to the equable distribution of influence over the Church.

Finally, your Committee recommend that the existing practice of appointing Committees be continued for one year; that at the Assembly of 1867 a Committee of selection, as indicated in suggestions 3, 4, and 5, be appointed; that said Committee be ready against the Assembly of 1868 with lists of members for the various Committees on the new plan; and that from that time the principle of rotation begin to operate-the proportional number at the top of the list retiring, and a corresponding number being added at the bottom.

JOHN KELMAN,

Convener.

M. E. M. E. M.

E. M. E. M. E. M. E. M. E.

M. E.

43 26 54 29 52 34 46 25 49 30 56 29 67 35 77 37

31 21 32 23 34 20 25

20 22 24 23 21 20 28 21 29 22 31 20 39 18 43 22

II. Total Number of Members on each of the Committees named below, for each year since 1858.