and faithfully discharged the duties thereof. Mr. Skinner was an assiduous visitor of the sick, regardless of distance or weather, and excelled in conversing and praying with them.

The Lord's Supper was dispensed in each congregation twice a year, with week-day services. He originated and fostered a temperance society in his locality, and was ever ready to speak in behalf of that great cause. He took a deep interest in the Bible Society, and was ever ready for every good work. As a member of Presbytery and Synod he was ever at his post, and willing to do whatever might be assigned to him. The synodical quarterly collections for Church purposes were invariably attended to by him and were liberal. Here it may be recorded that he rejoiced exceedingly in the union which happily constituted the Canada Presbyterian Church in 1861. He was a member of the joint committee for union, and did his best to consummate the coalescence, convinced that it was right, and would be greatly for the benefit of Christ's cause in Canada-an anticipation hitherto pleasingly realized. He was a firm Presbyterian, but prompt, and delighted to give the right hand of Christian brotherhood and co-working to all holding the truth as it is in Jesus, in its grand essential articles.

On October 13th the Lord's Supper was dispensed at English Settlement, and though quite sick he was able to attend to the solemn ordinance. On his return home he was confined to his bed, and on Thursday afternoon he wrote a note to Mr. Fletcher, the last thing he penned, requesting him to act for him in regard to some presbyterial missionary meetings. The substance of it is this: "My dear Mr. Fletcher, the Presbytery saw fit to appoint me convener of the Missionary Committee for this section. My mind sees that this is not the Lord's way. Instead of being at present better, I think I become worse. I apprehend the trouble will culminate in bilious fever, it may be in dissolution. I am happy to say, 'My times are in Thy hand.' It is the Lord; sustain me by grace, then do with me as thou wilt. I am perfectly without mental anxiety. I believe all shall be well with me in Christ my Lord. The gospel is real and rich and true. I am your affectionate brother in the gospel of Christ, JAMES SKINNER."

His disease now rapidly increased, and withstood all medical skill, but his mind remained quite calm and reliant on his Saviour. All was indeed well with him, and in faith he could commit those who were so dear to him, his weeping wife and family, to the divine promises in Christ and the everlasting covenant, and Christ's blood-ratified Testament-the subjects on which he had recently discoursed in public. On the afternoon of October 17, 1865, he fell asleep in Jesus, so peacefully that the cessation of his breathing was hardly observable.

He adorned the profession of religion by the grace of God; he approached the condition of the Christian, given by Paul and illustrated in his life: "The things that are true, honest, just, pure and of good report.' The uniformly benign expression of his countenance, the kindly tones of his voice, the warm, friendly pressure of his hand, his genial disposition and the manifestations of it, all readily commended him to those with whom he came in contact; and the thought of what he was in these respects will always call up pleasing reminiscences in the hearts of those who knew him and enjoyed intercourse with him.

STARK, M.A., MARK Y.-Was born at Dunfermline, Scotland, Nov. 9, 1799. His grandfather was minister of the parish church at Tullybole, and his father was proprietor of the Brucefield linen works of Dunfermline. mother, who was a Miss Young, of Cleish Castle, died whilst he was an

His

infant. His father married a second time to a daughter of Dugald Bannatyne, Esq., of Glasgow. His father died in 1812, and his step-mother, who is still living, proved to be a tender Christian mother. He was educated at Essex, England, and he subsequently passed through Glasgow University, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1821. He studied theology at the same university, and was licensed by Glasgow Presbytery of the National Church of Scotland. After graduating he was a tutor, and by his talents and culture gained the affection of his pupils. He traveled on the Continent and extended his studies. These opportunities he diligently improved, attending lectures at the University of France as well as at Berlin. During his first visit to the Continent, he remained for a considerable time in the family of Dr. Becker, of Offenbach, with whom he contracted an intimate and lasting friendship. One winter he spent in Rome, thus having an opportunity of making himself familiar with the works of art which are to be found in that celebrated city. Mr. Stark had very great taste in everything connected with the fine arts, and could use his pencil with great effect and skill.

While Mr. Stark was still a probationer, repeated prospects were presented of a settlement in the Church of Scotland, but while he was highly esteemed wherever he was known, the hopes of his friends in regard to his settlement were not realized. He then began to think of Canada as a field of labor, and in 1833 emigrated thither, with recommendations from the Glasgow Colonial Society, a society which did much about the period referred to in sending Presbyterian ministers to the North American Colonies, Soon after his arrival he was called by the congregation at Ancaster and Dundas, where he was speedily inducted as pastor, succeeding the Rev. Mr. Sheed, who had some time before been removed by death. At the time referred to there were but few Presbyterian ministers in the western part of Canada, and these were very widely scattered. The Presbytery of Hamilton extended from Lake Ontario to Amherstburg. For a short time Mr. Stark had but few fellow-laborers within reach, but soon after his own settlement the late Mr. Gale was settled at Hamilton, Mr. Stark officiating at his induction. Other congregations were organized and other ministers soon settled. In the life of a minister in Canada, in such a situation as that occupied by Mr. Stark, there are not usually many incidents of importance

to note.

When the disruption in the Church of Scotland took place in the mother country and was followed by a similar division in Canada, Mr. Stark, although always disposed to be a peace-maker, was quite decided in adhering to the party sympathizing with the Free Church. He occupied the Moderator's chair of the last Synod held before the disruption, and was chosen Moderator of the first Free Church Synod in Kingston in 1844. As Moderator of the Synod at the time of the disruption. his situation was one of great delicacy and difficulty; but he never hesitated in the path of duty, and was resolved, by the grace of God, to adhere to the principles which he regarded as scriptural and authoritative. Mr. Stark's people did not all adhere to him, and he and those adhering gave up the churches in which they had formerly worshiped, and they soon after erected a church at Dundas and rented a hall at Ancaster, which soon became prosperous congregations. After a few years he gave up Ancaster and remained at Dundas.

In 1861, when the "union" of the Churches in Canada was consummated, it met with his hearty approval. In the following year his health, never robust, became infirm, and he was prompted to resign his charge. Being relieved from the duties and care of pastoral work, Mr. Stark was permitted to enjoy a period of improved health. He preached occasionally in vacant congre

gations where his services were required, and during the vacancies at Dundas performed many duties among his former flock, both public and private.

At the beginning of the present year Mr. Stark was more than usually well. He went to visit his eldest son, who is settled in Woodstock, and after spending a few days very happily with him, he went to Galt to visit his youngest daughter. While there, he preached in Knox's church, where he had officiated not unfrequently during the vacancy before the settlement of Mr. Smith. This was his last sermon. On the following day he went home, leaving Mrs. Stark in Galt. On his arrival at Dundas he felt well and attended a union prayer-meeting-it had been the week of prayer. Tuesday he went to Hamilton to attend a meeting of the Presbytery, walking to and from the station both at Dundas and Hamilton. After returning home in the evening, he again attended a prayer-meeting. On Wednesday evening, he attended another meeting in his own old church-St. Andrew's Church-and took part with an unction and a fluency which were remarked by several.

On

The next day he was taken with an acute attack of pleurisy, and after much suffering died Jan. 24, 1866. In the midst of his distress, which lasted over two weeks, he was tranquil and peaceful, taking great delight in listening to passages of the Scripture and to some of the sweet hymns in the little book, "Able to Save," which were read by Mrs. Stark. He gently breathed his last, surrounded by all the members of his family except his eldest daughter, who was in Scotland.

As a minister, Mr. Stark was conscientious, earnest, and especially excelled in ministering to the afflicted and sorrowing. His sermons were prepared with very great care, exhibiting in the composition a peculiar neatness and finish. They were at the same time thoroughly evangelical and practical. In their delivery there was no attempt at effect, nothing of what is usually called a popular manner; but his pulpit ministrations exhibited an earnestness and an affectionate persuasiveness, especially during the latter years of his ministry, which made them very precious to those who really loved the truth; he moreover exhibited a higher eloquence than that of the pulpit orator the eloquence of a uniform, steady, growing, Christian consistency in his whole character and deportment. We have known but few Christians whose life and conversation presented a more beautiful exhibition of the graces, especially the gentler graces, of the Christian life.

LIST OF MINISTERS OF THE CANADA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Black, John, Fairfield,
Blain, William, Springville.
Borrie, James, Evetron.
Boyd, James, Wellesley.
Boyd, D.D., Robert, Prescott.
Bremner, George, Paisley.
Brown, Archibald, St. Vincent.
Brown, George, Howick.
Burns, D.D., Robert.....
Burns, D.D., R. F., Chicago, Ill.
Burton, John, Lynn.
CAMERON, CHARLES, Priceville.
Cameron, Duncan, Lochiel.
Cameron, James, Sullivan.
Cameron, Laughlin, Acton.
Campbell, Hugh, Manilla.

NAME.

POST-OFFICE.
Caven, William, Ridgetown.
Caven, D.D., William, Toronto.
Chambers, T. S., Battersea.
Chestnut, J. W., Mandawmin.
Cheyne, A.M., G., Tapleytown.
Chiniquy, C., Kankakee, Ill.
Christie, T., Flamboro', West.
Clark, W. B., Quebec.
Cochran, A.M., W., Brantford.
Coulthard, Walter, Valleyfield.
Coutts, David, Mayfield.
Craigie, William, Port Dover.
Craw, George, Craighurst.
Crombie, M. D., John, Iverness.
Cross, Archibald Ingersoll.
Cuthbertson, G., St. Thomas.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CANADA

IN CONNECTION WITH THE

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

THE SYNOD met in Toronto, C. W., June 6, 1866, and was opened with a discourse by the retiring Moderator, Rev. George Thomson, M.A., from Matt. xiii. 17: "For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

WILLIAM SNODGRASS, D.D., Principal of Queen's University and College, Kingston, C. E., was elected Moderator.

PRESBYTERIES.-MONTREAL Presbytery having inducted Mr. Ross, at Dundee, at a meeting where but two members of Presbytery appeared, it was moved that inasmuch as Montreal Presbytery was not legally constituted when Rev. Donald Ross was inducted over the congregation of Dundee, the settlement be declared null and void; that the members of the Presbytery here present be appointed to meet in this place to-day at 1 o'clock P.M., and constitute, with power to adjourn; and that the Presbytery, and especially that portion of it that presumed to override the rules of the Church, be censured, and they are hereby censured accordingly.

HAMILTON Presbytery held a meeting at which one minister, one elder and one retired minister are recorded as being the only persons forming the meeting; it was Resolved, that whereas Hamilton Presbytery was deficient for want of a quorum (retired ministers not being members of Presbytery) when the final action was taken Dec. 20, 1865, which led to the induction of Rev. Adam Spenser over the congregations of Nelson and Watertown, the settlement be declared null and void; and that the members present of the Presbytery be appointed to meet in this place to-day at 5 o'clock P.M., and constitute, with power to adjourn.

UNION.-An overture from Ottawa Presbytery, concerning a union between this Church and the Canada Presbyterian Church. It was Resolved, That the overture be rejected, inasmuch as the union referred to, however desirable in many respects, would, if carried out in present circumstances, tend to create disunion in this Church, and continued agitation of the matter would seriously interfere with the working of the schemes of the Church.

TEMPERANCE.-On a memorial from the Grand Division of Sons of Temperance, it was Resolved, That, the Synod express their cordial sympathy