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except as the effect of withchcraft; and of an old man, saying, like the Hebrews, hence they lament bitterly when any one" He is gone to sleep in peace, old and is prematurely cut off; while on the full of days, and has been gathered to his contrary, they rather rejoice at the death fathers.”

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.-DOMESTIC.

UNITED SECESSION CHURCH.

PRESBYTERIAL NOTICES.

ture was adopted. Next ordinary meeting of presbytery was appointed to be at Ayr, on Tuesday, the 9th of June.

Kirkcaldy.-This presbytery met in London. At the meeting of the pres- Kirkcaldy, on March 31st. Called for bytery, held at Albion chapel, on Monday, the reports of congregations, respecting March 23, 1846, Mr Callender, student their collections for the Synod's general of divinity, delivered the remainder of fund, when it was found that all the his trials for license. These consisted congregations had collected, with the of a lecture on 1 Thes. iv. 13, a popular exception of the congregation of Betheldiscourse on Psalms xxix. 11, the field, Kirkcaldy, from which there was reading of the 103d Psalm, in Hebrew no report. The clerk, agreeably to the and of the Greek Testament, ad libitum. directions of the Synod, was instructed The whole of the exercises were highly to write to said congregation, inquiring approved, and after the usual questions of the formula, the vote of the presbytery was taken, and Mr Callender was admitted to be a preacher of the gospel, under the inspection of the United Secession Church. A petition for aid was also presented from Pell Street chapel. It was agreed to transmit it to each of the sessions for consideration, and that also an answer should be requested to the following queries from each session-1st, Whether the session thinks it desirable that an extension fund should be formed in connexion with the United Associate Presbytery of London, and if 80, what measures would the session recommend for its formation and establishment. 2d, Whether the session deem it advisable, that the present chapel in Pell Street should be retained for that congregation, or that they should be advised to seek for one in another locality.

was

"whether said collection had been made, and if not made, what reasons had pre. vented it from being made." The clerk reported that, in compliance with their request, he had transferred Mr Greig, student, to the presbytery of Edinburgh, and Mr Logie to the presbytery of Selkirk, of which conduct the presbytery approved. Entered into consideration of the overture respecting the eldership, when, after some deliberation, it agreed to enjoin sessions to take the overture into consideration, and to report on or before the 20th of April; and to appoint Messrs Hardie and Crawford a committee, to receive said reports. It was reported that Mr Pollok, late of Buckhaven, had joined the communion of the Scotch established church, when, after a long and animated discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and agreed to, declaring Mr Pollok to be no longer Kilmarnock. — The Presbytery met, a minister or member of the United March 31. Mr David Young having Secession Church; and expressing the gone through the usual trials for ordina- disapprobation of the presbytery of the tion to the satisfaction of the presbytery, inconsistency of the step taken by him his ordination was appointed to take place with his former zealous profession and at Muirkirk, on the 21st of April ;-Mr advocacy of secession and voluntary prinMathewson to preside, Mr Dalrymple to ciples; and with his statement to the preach, and Mr Forrest to give the ad- presbytery on his demission, that he dress to Mr Young and to the congrega- meant to support his family by teaching, tion. Mr Thomas proposed an overture at the same time that he brought, as the to the Synod, for measures to provide in ground of his resignation, calumnious every congregation a library for the use charges against the congregation of Buckof its minister. A remark or two were haven. Messrs Halley and Johnston made by some members about "too reported that, as a deputation from this many irons in the fire ;" but the over-presbytery, they had visited the Relief

presbytery of Dysart, and been very at variance with the letter of the divine graciously received.

word; at deeper variance still with the Edinburgh. The presbytery of Edin- spirit and genius of the gospel, and deburgh met on 7th April. The Rev. Mr serving an expression of distinct and Cooper read a draft of the letter proposed decisive condemnation from every Christo be read to the congregations, explana- tian, and from every court of Christ. tory of the intended presbyterial visita-2, That, American slavery, from the tions. He was thanked for his services; multitudes it holds in bondage, from the and after some observations, the letter extremely aggravated form it assumes, was ordered to be printed, and distri- and from the lamentable antithesis it buted. At same time, the questions to presents to the professed principles and be proposed to sessions under the scheme, constitution of that country, is, on the were ordered to be printed,-the queries whole, the most foul and hideous kind of of the mission board of the presbytery, slavery the world has ever seen, and to be embraced. The Rev. William deserves from us the most profound and Thomson gave notice, that at next meet-unmitigated reprobation. 3, That the ing, he would propose an overture on the conduct of the various churches in the subject of ministers' libraries, for trans- southern states of America, on this submission to the Synod. A letter was read ject, in admitting slave-holders to comfrom Mr William Cowan, probationer, munion, in defending and supporting declining the call to West Linton. The slavery, in restraining the utterance of call was then laid aside; and the fact the truth on this topic, in permitting appointed to be announced to the congregation. At this meeting, Messrs William Ballantyne, Gilbert Meikle, John Scott, and William Inglis, were licensed to preach the gospel, and to act as proba tioners. Rev. Mr Dyer was appointed to preside in the dispensation of the Lord's Supper in the second congregation, Dalkeith, on last Sabbath of the month; and the Rev. Jos. Brown to constitute the session there, and to preside in their meetings, when requested to do so. The Rev. William Thomson, Slateford, was chosen moderator for next six months; and next meeting of presbytery appointed to be held on 28th curt., at eleven o'clock

A.M.

ministers and even congregations, in some instances, to hold slaves themselves, and in drawing the deepest line of demarcation between the two races at the blessed table of him, in whom there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, is altogether indefensible, implicates them in the sin of slavery, and renders it impossible for this presbytery to recognise them as sister or christian churches. 4, That this presbytery feel themselves called upon, from the circum-> stances of the times, from the state of public feeling in the country, as well as from their own convictions, and their regard to the general cause of Christ, to record their special protest against all Dundee. This presbytery met on the attempts to palliate slavery, by perver7th April. A moderation of a call was sions of the word of God, from whatever granted to the Rattray congregation, to quarter these come, and against all take place on the 23d April : Rev. Robert measures, by whatsoever church adopted, D. Duncan to preach and preside. Pub- which may have tended, or do still tend, lic worship to begin at seven o'clock to perpetuate and uphold a system which p.m. Called for reports from sessions, lies under the ban alike of nature and of regarding the overture on the eldership, God's word. 5. That the presbytery which were given in, and the presbytery agree to memorialize the Synod, respectunanimously approved of said overture. fully craving it to take up, at the ensuing The committee on the revival of religion meeting, the question of American slavery, in the presbytery and bounds, reported and particularly the state of our conprogress; to this committee Messrs Dun-nexion with the slave-holding churches can and Ogilvie were added. Resolutions of America, and with their abettors and from the School Wynd congregation, Dundee, against American slavery, and fellowship with its abettors, were laid on the table and read. When the following were proposed and seconded :-), That, in the opinion of the presbytery, slavery, in every shape, form, and degree, is at once an enormous evil and a deadly sin,

advocates at home, and to prosecute the subject as their wisdom seems fit." After the members of presbytery had expressed their views on the subject, it was moved and adopted," That the presbytery express the substance of these resolutions in a memorial to the Synod, respectfully craving it to take up at its ensuing

meeting, the question of American Busby, gave in part of his trials, which slavery, and particularly the state of were sustained, and intimated his accepour connexion with the slave-holding tance of said call. A moderation was churches of America, and with their granted to the congregation of Lismore, abettors and advocates at home, and pro- Rev. David M'Rae to preside, on the secute the subject as their wisdom seems 30th instant. Rev. A. W. Smith of fit." From this decision Messrs Ogilvie, Cambuslang laid on the table the deDuncan, and M'Gavin dissented. The mission of his pastoral charge of that next ordinary meeting of this presbytery congregation. It was agreed that the to be held in Dundee, on Tuesday, the congregation of Cambuslang receive notice 9th June. of this, and be summoned to appear for their own interests at next meeting of presbytery, to be held in Edinburgh on the evening of Tuesday, 5th May. It was also agreed to overture the Synod as to Ministers' Libraries, and as to the propriety of petitioning parliament in favour of the abolition of university tests. It was also resolved to overture the Synod, that further steps be taken with a view to expedite the union with the Relief church.

Stirling and Falkirk.-The presbytery met at Stirling on the 7th of April. Mr Smith was chosen moderator for the year. A considerable part of the day was spent on a case of appeal by an elder against a deed of his session, and in considering the report of a deputation sent to inquire into the circumstances of one of the congregations which had applied to be recommended to the Synod for pecuniary aid. The presbytery, after some conversation respecting the overture on the eldership, which, from a press of other business, could not be considered at an earlier

CALL.

OBITUARY.

MR GEORGE DOUGLAS SYME

meeting, agreed to express their appro- On the 30th March, the United Associate bation of its object, and to transmit to congregation of Methven gave a unanithe Synod's committee on the subject a mous call to the Rev. John Millar of copy of measures adopted by the presby- North Middleton, in the Presbytery of tery in 1839, for promoting, among other Newcastle, to be their pastor. The Rev. objects, the greater efficiency of the D. Young of Kinclaven preached and eldership. Mr M'Dowall having ex-presided in the moderation of the call. pressed an earnest desire that the presbytery should proceed to dispose of the case of John Melvin, elder in the first congregation of Alloa, it was resolved to take it up at a meeting in Edinburgh during the sitting of the Synod. The presbytery adopted an overture on the superintendence by the church courts of students while prosecuting their course at college with a view to the ministry, and agreed to transmit it to the Synod. Appointed next meeting to be held in Edinburgh on the 5th of May, at the close of the evening sederunt of Synod; and the annual meeting for missions and revival (to which all the elders in the bounds are invited), to be held at Falkirk on the 2d day of June.

Glasgow. This presbytery met on the 14th April-Rev. John Inglis, moderator. The Rev. Andrew Johnstone narrated his procedure in a moderation at Campbelton, and laid on the table a unanimous call from that congregation, addressed to Mr James Anderson, preach

er.

The conduct of Mr Johnstone was approved of, the call sustained, and subjects for trial assigned to Mr Anderson. Mr James Dick, preacher, under call to

Was born at Kilconquhar, Fifeshire, on February 5, 1814. His father was poor, but a man of decided piety, and an efficient elder during a long period of years, until his death. His son was educated in the village-school of Kilconquhar, and in 1829 entered the University of St Andrews, where he distinguished himself as a Greek scholar. Before he had ended his college curriculum, he became assistant teacher in the grammar school at Rothesay, where also he acted as tutor in a highly respectable family. It was here that he made a public confession of his faith, by joining the church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Samuel Macnab.

In the autumn of 1834, he entered our Theological Hall, where he prosecuted his studies with assiduity and success; and in May 1839, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the United Associate Presbytery of Cupar.

His public labours were everywhere highly acceptable; and towards the close of 1840, at the urgent request of the con

gregation of Mainsriddle, Galloway, he sickness. His room and attendance in was located there for two months. Here the Institution befitted the station of a he preached generally three times on Secession preacher; and all which skill the Sabbath, conducted a weekly prayer could suggest, or money command, was meeting, and visited much from house to done first for his recovery, and when that house. These labours were appreciated became hopeless, for the alleviation of by the people; but they exceeded his his sufferings. The hand of Providence strength, and probably contributed to must here be thankfully acknowledged, bring on that malady which necessitated as much christian liberality was displayed his removal, on the 23d November 1840, by kind friends, particularly in the first to the Royal Crichton Institution near United Associate Congregation of DumDumfries, where he died January 23, of fries, who, aided by an annual grant from the present year. the Synod Fund, by contributions from Rothesay and Paisley, by collections from most of the congregations in the Presbytery of Dumfries, and from several in that of Annan and Carlisle, generously supplied what was required for his comfortable maintenance.

During the five years of his seclusion, without having any lucid interval, he could generally recognise the ministers and preachers of his former acquaintance, who called to see him. A few weeks before his death, whilst one of our ministers was with him, he said, amid much that was incoherent," I hope the great Spirit from on high will come down with power to save me;" and when the minister supposing, from the firm grasp of his hand, that he wished something, asked if he should like him to pray, he readily answered in the affirmative; the prayer was offered up, but it was evident that Mr Syme did not join in it. A few days before his death, the same minister called, accompanied by a preacher whom Mr Syme had formerly known: Mr Syme recognised him, and said, " I once was a preacher too, and I liked it well." Gleams of reason and piety these which made the set darkness, that extinguished them in a moment, only the more visible.

Bodily disease was not wanting to aggravate the mysterious sufferings of his mind, and so gradually did he sink, that he was only two days confined to bed in his last illness.

He was interred in the churchyard of St Mary's, Dumfries, where a neat monumental stone, bearing the following inscription, is about being erected :

"George Douglas Syme, Licentiate of the United Secession Church, died in the Royal Crichton Institution, Dumfries, 23d January 1846-Aged 32.

"The urbanity of his manners, the worth of his character, and the excellence of his public ministrations procured him many friends. They accompanied him to the place of his retreat with their prayers and attentions; and as a last token of their affection and esteem, they dedicate this stone to his memory."

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What a tragedy of human life! less gloomy, however, because its scenes were witnessed by human sympathy, and its last act closed by the tears of friends.

Let us not forget that there is a tragedy more common in human life, and more awful still. To lose the mind is melanOne who lodged with Mr Syme during choly to neglect or abuse it, is treason four sessions of the Hall, bears testimony against its Author. We have seen a to the courtesy of his general deportment, clear and active mind eclipsed and arand the strength of his particular attach-rested; let the still darkness inspire us ments. He had the politeness of a gen- with sympathy and awe; but, before that, tlemen for all, a warm and generous we saw the lustre of a pure heart, and a heart for his friends. His piety was blameless life, let us imbibe their rays, equally removed from indifference and and reflect them back. enthusiasm. It was rooted in a faithful study of the Bible, had grown up under the shade of his closet devotions, and brought forth the fruits of purity and joy in his life and ministrations. His family and public prayers were deeply imbued with the spirit of the gospel, and could have been uttered only by one who took delight in fellowship with God.

It is pleasing to reflect that one so amiable in health was not abandoned in NO. V. VOL. III.

ASSOCIATION FOR OPPOSING

PREVALENT ERRORS. A CIRCULAR lately issued by the committee, gives the following interesting statement of the objects and plans of the society under the name of the " SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION FOR OPPOSING PREVALENT ERRORS" :

The designation is general; but the

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The number and character of the new ecclesiastical edifices in connexion with the Romish church, which are found in this country, and the accessions to its communion, on the part of highly-edu

more immediate design of the society is to employ what measures may be deemed advisable to oppose the spread of SUPERSTITION under the forms of Popery and Puseyism; and of INFIDELITY, under the forms of Pantheism, Anti-supernatural-cated members of the church of England, ism, and Socialism.

Little can be needed to convince any intelligent Christian of the bold and energetic efforts now making on behalf of these erroneous systems. Every one devoted to the sacred interests of divine truth, who is in the habit of marking the signs of the times, must be already tremblingly alive to the alarming inroads of these forms of superstition on the one hand, and the insidious progress of scepticism and disbelief on the other; and he must be inquiring, "What can I do to stem their destructive tide ?""What more can I do, than I am doing, to move, or to co-operate with that Spirit, who alone can effectually lift up a standard against them?" Our association is intended to meet the wishes of such inquirers, and with divine assistance, to concentrate and direct their exertions to the preservation of the religion and morals of our native country.

The gigantic efforts of the church of Rome, in heathen lands,—wherever the "seed of the kingdom" has been sown,to sow the tares of her own baleful superstition, or to monopolize the field and gather the harvest for herself, are well known. But they are, perhaps, surpassed by the intensity of desire and the eagerness of hope, with which she is looking for the restoration of her dominion in Britain, and preparing herself for taking advantage of every opening which may lead to that result. Nor are her expectations unwarranted by facts. In 1844, the contributions from the British Isles to the funds of the" Society for the Propagation of the Faith," exceeded those of any other country, with the exception of France and the Sardinian States. The Roman States did not supply half the amount derived from the British dominions; and the amount is yearly augmenting. Such a fact speaks volumes: and not less instructive is the other fact, that upwards of L.5400 of this money were, last year, devoted to the support of Romish missions in Scotland. As this money must come chiefly from Ireland, it becomes doubtful whether rich Britain be doing nearly as much for the evangelizing of Ireland, as poor Ireland is doing for the Romanizing of Britain.

which are daily taking place, also demonstrate its growing influence and power. Within five years, upwards of 100 individuals of note, connected with the English universities, have gone over to the profession of Romanism: and seldom does a week pass without additional instances of the same kind. Between three and four thousand of the clergy of the church of England are said to be deeply tainted with the Tractarian heresy, which differs from popery only in name, and in the degree of its development: and all must have noticed that, had it not been for the opposition of public opinion, several of the most distinguished heads of the hierarchy seemed ready, a short time ago, to lend their authority and names to the same thinly-veiled system of Roman superstition. And when we add to these things, the consideration of the shoals of Puseyite publications that are issuing from the press, and the numbers of Puseyite chapels, and Puseyite seminaries of learning, which have been erected, or are in course of erection, in Scotland; and when we reflect that there is little in the piety or principle of the mass of the population to which we can confidently look as a barrier to this tide of superstition; there seems enough, and more than enough, to convince all the friends of truth, however little disposed to become alarmists, of the urgent necessity of immediate and strenuous exertions to withstand or counteract that tide.

Nor does there seem, looking to a different region of society, less reason to dread the progress of infidelity, on the one hand, than the spread of superstition on the other. For a long period, Socialism has been labouring to diffuse its degrading and demoralising tenets among the labouring classes, and it appears to have been but too widely successful. Socialism, as an economical system, indeed, has never been able to maintain its footing in any locality, and perhaps never will be able; but its infidel and immoral principles, so congenial to the corrupt heart, have been, there is reason to fear, extensively disseminated, and deeply imbedded in the minds of multitudes, and are bringing forth fruits unto death. For what other fruits can pro

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