PRES. CH. OF NOVA SCOTIA AND PRINCE EDWARD ISL'D

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

THE SYNOD met as usual. The ministers are as follows:

THE SYNOD met as usual. The ministers are as follows:

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

THE ASSEMBLY met in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 26, 1866. JOHN COOK, D.D., of Haddington, was elected Moderator. Lord Belhaven was her Majesty's commissioner, who presented the usual royal gift of $10,000 for spreading the gospel in the Highlands and islands.

PRAISE AND PRAYER.-The question of the use of organs in the public worship of God was brought before the Assembly in connection with the use of Prayers printed in a book prepared by Rev. Dr. Lee and used by him in his church of Old Grayfriars, Edinburgh. It appears that notwithstanding the Assembly of 1859 had ordered the discontinuance of the practice, it was not obeyed. Edinburgh Presbytery declined enforcing the action of the Assembly. The Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale reversed the action of the Presbytery, and from the decision of Synod Dr. Lee appealed to the Assembly. The appeal was founded on two grounds: first, that the practice of reading prayer was not inconsistent with the law of the Church; and, second, that the case had already been decided by the Assembly of 1865. Parties were heard at great length, and the historical aspects of the question were debated with much ability. Dr. Lee contended that the reading of prayer had never been prohibited by any constitutional enactment, and that, though the usage for a century and a half had been otherwise, that usage could not be said to have the force of law. The argument on the other side was that the Church of Scotland derived her constitution from the acts of the Scots Parliament and Assembly between the Revolution and the Union; and that the "form at present in use," then rendered binding on the Scottish clergy, was the form of extemporaneous prayer, and that the usage since that period had been uninterrupted. In the course of the debate Dr. Lee made offer, if that would remove cause of offence, to discontinue reading from his printed book, but reserving liberty to read his prayers from manuscript or otherwise, if he found it necessary. It was responded that the objection was to the reading of prayers at all, and not mere reading from a published book. After parties were removed from the bar, a long discussion took place in the House; when it was (by a vote of 147 ayes to 106 nays)

Resolved, That the General Assembly dismiss the appeal and affirm the deliverance of the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale complained of, and remit the case to the Presbytery of Edinburgh, with instructions to inquire, either by conference with Dr. Lee or otherwise as to them shall seem fit, into the manner in which public worship has been conducted in Old Grayfriars Church since May, 1859, and in which Dr. Lee proposes to conduct it hereafter; and to take such steps as the result of the inquiry may show to be requisite for the

regulation of the services of the said church in a manner consistent with its deliverance and with the law and usage of this Church.

There were several overtures on the table praying the Assembly to declare against the use of instrumental music in public worship; but, in respect of the decision upon the general question, consideration of these overtures was suspended.

The Assembly received a report of some importance, pointing out the great number of small livings within the Church, and the diminished amount of many of them through the reduction in recent years of the prices of grain, which are the standard of value of stipend in most of the parishes. It was intimated that an association of laymen had been formed to give special attention to this matter, and to all competent measures for securing augmentation of the small livings. The bill before Parliament for the feuing of glebes was approved by the Assembly as one means to that end.

An overture calling on the Assembly to apply to Parliament to repeal the law of patronage was submitted by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and was supported on the ground that nearly all the secessions from the pale of the Church of Scotland had been caused by the right of patronage being vested in the landed aristocracy instead of the people. It was now thought that by a repeal of this law the Free Church and other Presbyterian denominations might again become reconciled to the National Church. The overture was opposed by the Earl of Selkirk, who expressed his belief that the Church. would only get relief from patronage by the surrender of her endowments. Dr. Macleod, of Morven, moved that the overture be dismissed. Dr. Pirie moved that a committee be appointed to consider the subject and report to next Assembly. Dr. Pirie's motion was adopted.

The ministers number 1250; churches, 1287; communicants not given.

THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

THE ASSEMBLY met on Thursday, May, 26, 1866. Rev. WILLIAM WILSON, of Dundee, was elected Moderator. The usual address to the Queen was adopted, and the subject of UNION occupied the attention of the Assembly to a considerable extent, but action on it was put off till the next Assembly. Reports were received, and the various schemes of the Church show an increased amount of interest on the part of the congregations.

The Ministers number 890; Churches, 915; Communicants not given.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CH. OF SCOTLAND.

THE SYNOD met in Queen Street Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, May 14, 1866. JOHN MACFARLANE, D.D., of Clapham, London, was elected Moderator.

UNION. This subject occupied the attention of the body, and it was deferred till the next Synod.

SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL.-A committee was appointed to awaken the Church to the necessity and importance of a better support being given to the Christian ministry.

FREEDMEN.-A deputation on behalf the Freedmen's Aid Society of America addressed the Synod; and it was Resolved, That the Synod express their cordial sympathy with the great object which they advocate, and recommend it to the liberality of their people, and thus aid them in their philanthropic efforts for the physical, intellectual and religious improvement of the negro.

MANSE SCHEME.-Rev. Hamilton M. MacGill read his report, which showed that the number of cases altogether that had come before the Board had been 142, and from an aggregate calculation it is safely assumed that the Board have granted $75,000 to aid in the erection or acquisition of 74 MANSES, and $9500 to aid in repairing 21 MANSES. In a considerable number of instances Manses have been bought, built and repaired under the sympathy of this general scheme, though independent of its pecuniary aid. The original estimate was 144 new Manses and 80 to be repaired or enlarged, and the amount to be raised was $225,000. Of this amount only $181,000 has been collected, leaving the sum of $44,000 yet to be raised. Of this sum $177,890 was given by 1320 persons, and only $3110 by 62 congregations. This deficiency must be made up by appealing directly to the people. It was Resolved, That the Board have power to take whatever steps they might deem advisable for advancing the scheme, and that Presbyteries be instructed to inquire into the state of Manse accommodations within their bounds.

STATISTICS.-Ministers settled, 605; preachers, including stated supplies, 105; students of divinity, 134; churches, 592; ruling elders, 4466; communicants, 178,752; baptisms, 10.619; income for congregational purposes, $975.120; benevolent purposes, $258,385; total congregational, $1,233,505. Contributions for other items, $90,465.

The following deaths were reported:

Brown, James, Shapinshay, August 8, 1865.

Burnet, William, Boston Church, Cupar, March 19, 1866.

Hogg, Robert, Altyth, April 6, 1866.

Hunter, John, Savoch of Deer, June 3, 1865.

Ker, James R., Pittenweem, May, 16, 1865.

Leishman, Robert, East Church, Kenvors, September 9, 1865.

Lindsay, William, East Church, Perth, September 25, 1865.
Martin, Andrew, Lochmaben, November 22, 1865.

Pringle, James, Clavering Place Church, New Castle, March, 8, 1866.

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CH. OF SCOTLAND.

THE SYNOD met in Glasgow, Scotland, May 7, 1866, and was opened by a sermon from the retiring Moderator, Rev. WILLIAM MCLACHLAN, from John xvii. 21: "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.' The union of Presbyterian Churches was the subject of his discourse, and it occupied the attention of the Synod during its sessions.

Rev. JOHN KAY, of Castle Douglas, was elected Moderator. SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY.-The committee submitted the proposition if the time has not arrived when $600 and a MANSE be not the minimum. UNION-WILLIAM GOOLD, D.D., Chairman, reported on this subject, a clear and complete account of the efforts made in behalf of this object. STATISTICS.-The ministers are 41; churches, 44; communicants, 6535; Manses, 21; contributions, $7585.

ORIGINAL SECEDERS.

STATISTICS.-Ministers, 23; churches, 27.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY met in Belfast, Ireland, June 4, 1866, and was opened with a discourse by the retiring Modetor, DAVID WILSON, D.D., from John xv. 16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name he may give it you."

DAVID WILSON, D.D., of Munster Presbytery, was re-elected Moderator.

STATE OF RELIGION.-It was Resolved, That it be earnestly enjoined on our ministers that while they seek by prayer and by the ministry of the Word, in public and in private, to promote the spiritual improvement of their own people and of the outlaying population around, they also watch for suitable opportunities of preaching the gospel in any part of the country they can find people, whether these be many or few, who are willing to receive it.