December last, and other newspapers, as referred to in the minutes of 2d January, having again read said article, and having heard Mr Scott thereon, after some reasoning, agree to find :-First, that Mr Scott has defamed and slandered the Rev. Alexander Stewart of Kennoway, by representing him as having taught certain erroneous doctrines in his trial discourses before the presbytery, which the presbytery are prepared to prove, if required, that these discourses did not contain; or that he has, by the use of vague and ambiguous language, insinuated that Mr Stewart is chargeable with certain errors, which the presbytery are satisfied cannot be fairly attributed to him, and which Mr Stewart distinctly declared in the presbytery, and in the presence of Mr Scott, that he did not hold; and that Mr Scott has thereby done what has a tendency to impair the usefulness of Mr Stewart, and to injure deeply the congregation of Kennoway. Secondly, that Mr Scott has, in like manner, defamed and slandered the presbytery, or a majority thereof, by charging them with sanctioning these erroneous doctrines, which they have all along repudiated. Thirdly, that Mr Scott has vilified and traduced the synod, to which he has vowed subjection in the Lord, inasmuch as he has characterised its solemn deliverance in October last on these doctrines as a pitiable whitewashing,' and as recommending ministers to preach either a Calvinistic or Arminian atonement, or a miserable hotch-potch of both ;' and as he seems to ascribe to the synod a pervading Arminian relish.' Fourthly, that he is guilty of following divisive courses, inasmuch as, on a supposition he has clearly no right to make, and which the presbytery deem very improbable, he has expressed a hope that all ministers, and elders, and members of the Secession, who are honestly adhering to the doctrine of the word of God, as exhibited in our confession and catechisms, will forthwith separate themselves from the deep and extending contamination, and will take their stand as a separate association, bearing the honest and honourable title of the Calvinistic Secession Church,' and, in respect that a great part of Mr Scott's paper relates directly to the synod, and involves the interests of the whole church; in respect, also, that Mr Scott has alleged, that in the presbytery he is overpowered by mere numbers the presbytery refrain from indicating any opinion regarding the censure to which he is liable, but refer the whole case for judgment to the United Associate Synod."- The following resolutions in regard to the educational institutions of the country were adopted, and a committee consisting of Dr Taylor, Mr Rankine, and Mr Taylor, was appointed to attend to this business. "1. That the presbytery have been exceedingly gratified to learn that the senates of a majority of the universities of Scotland, have passed resolutions in favour of the abolition (except as regards theological professors) of the religious tests, under which the professors and other office-bearers of these universities are at present required by law to be appointed the presbytery being satisfied that these resolutions are not more in accordance with the liberal spirit of the age than the practical application of them would be conducive to the interests both of education and of religion. 2. That the presbytery are strongly of opinion that the movement made by so many of the universities, in conjunction with the circumstances of the times, loudly demands a prompt, vigorous, and simultaneous effort on the part of the friends of civil and religious liberty, for emancipating the universities and other educational institutions of the nation, from the pernicious sectarian thraldom under which they are at present languishing, and must speedily sink into insignificance if relief be not afforded; while the presbytery, at the same time, desire that provision should be made against the teachers and other functionaries in these institutions being permitted to instil into the minds of the pupils erroneous principles in religion. 3. That a petition founded on these resolutions, be presented to both houses of parliament, and that copies of the resolutions be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the home department, to the Lord Advocate for Scotland, and to the members of parliament for the county of Fife, and for the St Andrews district of burghs."-Appointed the next meeting to be held on the Tuesday after the last Sabbath of March. Lancashire.-Manchester, Jan. 30, 1844. This presbytery met and was constituted. It was intimated, that Mr James Howie, who had finished his course of studies at the hall, and should have entered on trials for licence, could not attend. The presbytery conversed with Mr Hugh Tait, student of the first year, and prescribed to him, " Wardlaw on the Atonement," as subject of examination. Romans v. 12 and 14, as subject of exegesis, with critical reading in Hebrew and Greek. Read a petition from the congregation of Kendal, containing a favourable account of their progress, and requesting a member of presbytery to be appointed to preside at an election of elders, and to dispense the ordinance of the Supper. Mr Leslie was appointed accordingly. Considered and transmitted a petition for aid to the Synod's board on the new fund. The peculiarity of this case is, that the debt of the chapel was created by the adoption of legal measures for getting rid of the former minister (an Independent), who had become Unitarian, and for restoring the chapel to its destination as an evangelical presbyterian place of worship. Selkirk. The presbytery met at Melrose on the 30th of January. According to agreement, the presbytery first took up the state of the Trinidad missions; and had a long and interesting conversation on the subject. The clerk read a letter which he had received from Mr Lumgair intimating his acceptance of the call from Newtown, and promising to give in all his trials at this meeting of presbytery; and also a letter from the clerk of Glasgow presbytery, mentioning the trials which had been assigned to Mr Lumgair, and that the call from Cambuslang had not yet been set aside. Mr Lumgair being present, gave in all his trials, which were unanimously sustained; and his ordination was appointed to take place at Newtown, on Wednesday the 28th February, thus affording time for the presbytery of Glasgow to dispose of the call from Cambuslang. Mr Kiddy was appointed to preach, and Mr Thomson to preside, and give the charges to the minister and people. Certain papers were presented by a commissioner from the congregation of Earlston, in reference to an application which they had made to the new fund for assistance in the liquidation of their debt. After reading said papers, the presbytery agreed to attest them as being correct, so far as their knowledge extends. An overture to the Synod, by Mr Lawson, for a general and careful revision of the subordinate standards and formularies of the United Secession Church, was laid on the table and read. After some conversation, from which it appeared that the members generally were favourable to the principle of the overture, it was agreed to delay its farther consideration till the next ordinary meeting of presbytery. Aberdeen. The presbytery met at Aberdeen on 6th February. There was presented by the Rev. Mr Angus, as commissioner from the congregation of Leith-Lumsden, a unanimous and most cordial call from the members of that congregation, addressed to Mr R. Ferrier, preacher. A paper of adherence, which was signed by a very respectable number of persons, accompanied the call. The presbytery unanimously sustained said call, and appointed Mr Ferrier's subjects of trial, in the hope that he might signify his acceptance, and be prepared to give in said trials at next meeting, which was appointed to be held at Aberdeen on Tuesday after the first Sabbath in March next. Some difference of opinion being understood to exist about the meaning of the Form. of Process, in so far as refers to the mode of electing elders, a committee on the subject had been appointed at the previous meeting of presbytery. That committee now reported that it was resolved unanimously to recommend to the presbytery to declare their mind as to the meaning of the Form of Process, whether it left the selection of the mode of electing elders—viz., by vote, or ballot, or otherwise, to the session or congregational meeting; and that, with one dissentient, the committee also agreed to state their opinion that the Form of Process leaves the selection to the congregational meeting. The report of Committee was adopted, and the presbytery, nem. con., declared accordingly. A committee, appointed at last meeting to audit the missionary treasurer's accounts, reported that they had found them perfectly correct; and the thanks of the presbytery were cordially voted to Mr Craig for his long and valuable services. Edinburgh. The presbytery met on 6th February. Messrs Robert Duncan, Hunter, Ritchie, and Kerr, delivered discourses with a view to license, which were approved. Applications for aid from the Board for assisting congregations in liquidating debt, &c. were presented, considered, and recommended, from the congregations of Aberlady and Balerno. The committee appointed to submit resolutions to be transmitted to different evangelical communions, on the subject of discipline, presented their report, which lies over for consideration. The annual state of the presbytery accounts was tabled by the treasurer, and printed copies presented for circulation. The subjects of examination with candidates for admission to the Divinity Hall, were appointed. Rev. W. Marshall gave notice, that at next meeting he would propose an overture to the Synod, for the immediate consummation of Union with the Relief Church. Mr Dyer finished his trial discourses; when his ordination was appointed to take place at North Berwick on Thursday, 29th current; the moderator, Rev. A. Tod, to preside, and the Rev. Mr Reid to preach. Lanark. The presbytery met on 6th February, and was constituted by the Rev. David Smith, moderator. Heard Mr William Dickson, student, deliver a lecture on Romans viii. 1-4 inclusive. Examined him on the course of lectures delivered in the classes he attended last session of the Hall, and also on Professor Stuart's Letters to Channing on the Trinity. With these exercises the court expressed satisfaction, and farther requested him to prepare a critical exercise on a passage of Galatians, and prepare for examination on a chapter of the same epistle in Greek, and the fortieth Psalm in Hebrew. Resumed consideration of the affairs of Lanark congregation, and, after some deliberation, it was agreed to continue a supply of sermon for some months longer, that the station might have a farther trial. After some private business, and appointing Tuesday the 2d day of April as the next day of meeting, the meeting was closed with prayer. Paisley and Greenock.-The presbytery met at Paisley on Tuesday the 6th Feb. A committee was appointed to prepare the draught of a petition to each house of Parliament, for the abolition of the laws requiring professors in the Scottish Universities to subscribe the Confession of Faith, and conform to the worship and discipline of the Established Church of Scotland. The only other business before them was the report of a committee on congregational finance, which it was ultimately agreed to send down to sessions and managers for their consideration; reports thereon to be given in at next meeting, which is to be held at Greenock on the 3d Tuesday of March. Newcastle. The presbytery met on the 6th February. A petition from the congregation of Maling's Rigg, Sunderland, formerly connected with the Established Church of Scotland, for being now placed under the inspection of this presbytery having been read, it was agreed to delay its decision till next meeting; that notice of this application be given to the sessions of Sunderland; and that in the meantime members of the presbytery should preach at Maling's Rigg. Various petitions for aid from the fund for liquidating debt on weak congregations, were received and trans mitted to the board of directors. The committee appointed to visit Jarrow and Bedlington, reported their proceedings, recommending Mr William Duncan's location at Jarrow, and Mr Dall's to be continued at Bedlington, which were approved. A petition from sixty persons worshipping in the Close Chapel, for being congregated, was postponed, due notice to be given to the sessions of Newcastle, that their opinion may be reported at next meeting of the presbytery, to be held on Tuesday 5th March. CONGREGATIONAL REPORTS. Blyth. The church under the pastoral charge of the Rev. D. Carmichael, held a social tea party on the evening of New Year's day, Mr Carmichael in the chair, when the sum of £18, 15s. was realised in aid of the chapel funds. The meeting was numerously attended by persons belonging to the various denominations in the town; and was addressed by the Rev. Mr Seaton, Methodist new connexion minister, Rev. Mr Ewen, Wesleyan minister, and also by the Rev. J. Robertson, Wallsend, and Rev. J. Parker, Sunderland. Boghole. The contributions for Missionary purposes during the past year by this congregation, are as under:— Male Missionary Society, Female ditto, ditto, Cooperhill Prayer Meeting, Archieston station subscription, Synod Fund collection, L.6 7 5 7 17 0 210 0 4 11 0 1 5 0 L.23 7 9 This congregation have erected, during the past summer, a handsome new chapel, capable of containing more than 500 persons, principally by their own exertions. Bristo Street, Edinburgh.—Statement of the Funds for Missionary and Benevolent purposes, contributed by the congregation during the past year : Synod's Foreign Missions, Missionary Congregation at Tain, Donations to various objects per Juvenile Female Missionary Society, Expenses of Sabbath Schools, &c., under Christian Instruction Society, Female Benevolent Society for clothing, work, &c., Expenses of Day School, Expenses of Sewing School, Collection for London Missionary Society, Collection for Synod's Missions, Collection for Synod's General Fund,. L.65 0 0 45 0 0 22 10 0 13 0 4 101 15 5 12 9 1 19 3 0 13 2 7 20 0 0 Printing Reports, Quarterly Record, &c., 10 0 0 846 5 5 0 160 18 2 10 1 10 L.506 9 11 Broughton Place, Edinburgh.-The following is an abstract of the Sums received by the various Missionary Associations in connexion with this Congregation: To Balance on hand, per last year's account, Deposited in Missionary Boxes, Brought forward, Collections at Congregational and District Prayer Meetings, Amicus for Jamaica Presbytery African Mission, 1842, Collection for Synod Fund, Collection for Synod Mission Fund, Collection for Scottish Missionary Society, Collection for Congregational Library, Collection for Minto Hospital, Subscriptions per Juvenile Association, Subscriptions for Female Clothing Society, Interest from the National Bank, Collection at Annual Meeting, 1843 Cowgate, Edinburgh.-Abstract of amount collected during the year Denny loanhead.-The funds of both branches of the Association in connexion with this congregation have been allocated as under :Female Branch.-To Synod's Missions, Home and Foreign, To Caffrarian Missions, To London Missionary Society, L.25 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 To Jewish Mission, in connexion with the Free Church, 5 0 0 Male Branch.-To Synod's Foreign Mission Fund, for the Presbytery's To Missionary and Catechist, To Caffrarian Mission, 45 0 0 500 L.90 0 0 The following sums, besides the above, were raised by the congregation, throughout the year, for religious purposes, apart from the support of ordinances among themselves: Collection for a neighbouring congregation to aid in the erection of a place of worship, 5 10 0 Collection for Synod's Fund, 4 50 Collection for Mission Fund (extra), Collection for Sabbath Schools, 460 Collected by a few friends in the congregation to aid in defraying legal expenses in the Portobello case, 2.10 0 L.27 11 0 Greenlaw. This congregation have raised, during the past year, for religious purposes as follows : Synod's Mission Fund, Extra Collection for do. Scottish Missionary Society, Synod's Fund for Liquidating Debt, For Bibles, L.17 4 93 2 15 2 2 16 0 13 0 0 808 L.43 16 7 The above is exclusive of two donations, L.5 each, which were giventhe one for the new fund, and the other for the Synod's Missions. Kirkwall. The anniversary of the Missionary Society in connexion with this congregation was held on Tuesday the 2d January. The whole day was devoted to religious services, and the weather being not unfavourable, the assembly was large. There was sermon in the morning; and at two o'clock Mr Paterson took the chair, when the proceedings of the |