cording to the scheme lately adopted ;- |tery, of which he had given notice at the Rev. William Thomson, Slateford, last meeting. The presbytery cordially being convener of the examination. and unanimously approved of the meaCupar. This presbytery met at St sure, and as a preparatory step to its Andrews on Tuesday, the 3d day of adoption, agreed to submit it to the conNovember, for the ordination of Mr sideration of the sessions, that they may John Kidd; Mr Ranken, moderator, pro judge of its beneficial tendency; and aptempore. The edict was returned duly proving of it, which there is ground to attested, and after the other introductory believe they will, may give their cordial services, Mr Young of Ceres, preached concurrence and aid in carrying it into an excellent and appropriate sermon, effect. It is in substance that, within a from Psalm lxviii. and 18th verse. The limited specified period, each congregation moderator proposed the questions of the shall be visited by a deputation, a comformula, and after the ordination, ad-mittee of the presbytery, who shall first dressed the young minister. Mr Gray meet with the session and managers, and of Freuchie addressed the congregation, engage in friendly conference and inand Mr Kidd was cordially welcomed quiry with them respecting the secular by his own people, and those belonging and religious affairs of the congregation to other denominations present. Mr (a list of the various matters of inquiry Young was appointed treasurer to the and conference, and the principal ques. presbytery in room of Mr Laurie. The tions on these to be previously furnished ministers present reported their collec- to them, and a record made of the detions for the Synod Fund, and those who tailed results of the inquiry, with a view had not collected, were enjoined to do to a comprehensive report being drawn so without delay, Appointed next meet-up of the statistics and state of the coning to be held at Cupar, on the Tuesday gregations in the presbytery), and the after the 4th Sabbath of December. deputation shall afterwards, on the same day, meet with the congregation, and address them on such subjects as may seem most conducive, in existing circumstances, to the promotion of their temporal and spiritual welfare. The next meeting of presbytery to be at Dunfermline on the last Tuesday of December. Dunfermline. The presbytery met at Dunfermline on the 3d of November, the Rev. Mr Walker, moderator, when, inter alia, the professors' certificate of the attendance of the students, Messrs Swan, Lawrence, and Moris, on the bygone session of the Hall was read. Mr Swan was transferred to the presbytery of Cold- Glasgow. This presbytery held its stream and Berwick; and Mr Lawrence ordinary meeting on Tuesday Nov. 10. to the presbytery of Selkirk, within whose Rev. Mr M'Laurin of Pollockshaws, mobounds respectively they now reside. derator. The Rev. John Smart of Leith, Mr Alexander Henderson, student of the from the presbytery of Edinburgh, acfifth year, who had been transferred from companied by Messrs Gray and Henderthe presbytery of Edinburgh to this pres- son, from the congregation of Rose Street, bytery, was present, and along with Mr Edinburgh, laid before the presbytery a Moris was examined on various of the call addressed to the Rev. Dr Eadie, theological subjects, which had occupied from said congregation, to be colleague their attention during the last session of to the Rev. Mr M'Gilchrist, their present the Hall. The examination was very satis- pastor, subscribed by 640 members, and factory; and Mr Henderson was entered 133 adherents, together with reasons of on trial for license. He has offered him- translation. The Congregation of Camself to the mission committee, and been bridge Street were summoned to appear accepted to go as a missionary to Canada, for their own interest at next meeting of when he shall have received license; presbytery. A petition from Kirkintilwith this view, subjects of trial had been loch, subscribed by thirty-seven persons, prescribed to him by the presbytery at for continued supply of sermon, was a former meeting, and he now gave part granted, and members of presbytery, in of these trials, which were unanimously the peculiar circumstances of the consustained. The presbytery made the gregation, were appointed to supply them prescribed inquiry respecting the annual till the end of December. A proposal collection, appointed by the Synod, to from the committee of presbytery, in be made by congregations for its general reference to Cambuslang, again to send funds, on the second Sabbath of October. supply of sermon there, was carried by The Rev. Mr Johnston brought forward a majority, the Rev. Dr Beattie disthe proposal, for the presbyterial visita-senting. The presbytery deemed it intion of the congregations in the presby-expedient to send a deputy along with the Synod's deputation to visit Camp- | Mr Baine of Urr preached and presided; belton and Ramsay, and agreed to leave Rev. Mr Rogerson of Thornhill described the matter in the hands of said deputa- the circumstances of the call, &c., and tion. Several students, who had attend- put the questions of the Formula; Rev. ed the Hall, were examined, and allo- Mr Paterson of Dalry (Galloway) adcated among the different committees; dressed the young minister; and Rev. Mr and Mr David Winton, student of the Simpson of Sanquhar the congregation. fifth year, was entered on trial for license. The weather, in the kind providence of As it appeared that some of the students God, was most propitious, and the auhad entered some time after the Hall dience, from various parishes and diswas opened, and that others had left be- tances, was large, and seemed deeply infore its close, it was agreed that hence- terested. Rev. Mr Fraser, the established forth all the students be required to minister, was present, and Rev. Mr Gibattend during the whole session of eight son of the Free Church,_together with weeks, otherwise the presbytery cannot many of their hearers. In the evening sustain their attendance as a session of was held a soiree, almost as numerously the Hall. The consideration of the re- attended as the forenoon services, and port on presbyterial visitation was in the quite as "good and pleasant;" for then meantime postponed. also was beheld the comely spectacle of "brethren" and sisters from different sec Dundee. This presbytery met on the 10th November,-The Rev. George tions of the catholic church "dwelling Gilfillan, moderator. The clerk read together in unity." The young minister a testimonial from Dr Harper, certi- presided; Rev. Messrs Croom of Sanfying the regular attendance and dili- quhar, and Scott of Dumfries, conducted gence, at the past session of the Hall, the devotional services; and Rev. Messrs of Messrs Henderson and Ballantyne. Riddel of Moffat, Martin of Lochmaben, Appointed, as a committee of presby- and M'Whirter addressed the meeting. tery to superintend the studies of Mr The congregation at Mainsriddell, preJohn Ballantyne, Messrs Ramage, viously to this most agreeable and proHogg, and Muir; Mr Muir, convener. mising settlement, was vacant nearly Most of the congregations in the pres-"a great fight of afflictions;" but, as Mr seven years, and endured, it may be said, bytery reported, that they had made the Synod's Fund collection. Rogerson happily remarked, the fight was presbytery proceeded to hear the trial bravely and gallantly endured: it was discourses for licence of Mr Andrew principle, it was "faith" which determined Henderson. With all the discourses and exan:inations the members of presbytery expressed their entire satisfaction; and Mr Andrew Hender Sou The was licenced, according to the usual form, to preach the gospel in connexion with the United Secession Church. Next ordinary meeting of presbytery was appointed to be at Dundee on the 9th February 1847. ORDINATION. At Mainsriddell, in the presbytery of Dumfries, on Tuesday, 27th October, Mr Peter Mercer was ordained minister of the United Secession Church there. Rev. and sustained the conflict, and obtained the victory. May faith abide, and hope, and chiefly charity: that will be“ as the dew of Hermon, the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion,"-aye, and still descendeth on the sweet romantic hills, of various forms and sizes, which shelter and shadow Mainsriddell. "There may the Lord command his blessing, even life for evermore." CALL. On the evening of Thursday the 22d ultimo, the United Associate Congregation, West Linton, gave a harmonious call to Mr John Young, preacher of the gospel, to be their pastor. SYNOD OF RELIEF. THIS Synod met at Glasgow, on Mon- of the basis of union with the United day, 5th October; when, after sermon Secession Church, and the happy reby the old moderator, Mr Reston of sult of the deliberations on that subDundee, on Psalm cii. 13-" The set ject being already well known, a prolix time is come"-Mr Pettigrew of Dy- report would in any circumstances sart was elected to the chair. The have been superfluous; and in the chief business being the consideration present over-crowded state of our UNION OF THE SECESSION AND THE following are the articles of the Basis of Union, as finally agreed upon by the respective Synods of Secession and Relief: I. That the word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule of faith and practice in this church. II. That the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, are the confession and catechisms of this church, and contain the authorised exhibition of the sense in which we understand the holy Scriptures; it being always understood that we do not approve of anything in these documents which teaches or may be supposed to teach compulsory or persecuting and intolerant principles in religion. III. That presbyterian government, without any superiority of office to that of a teaching presbyter and in a due subordination of church courts, which is founded on and agreeable to the word of God, is the government of this church. columns, a few general statements are authorised to take them on trials for all that can by possibility be given. license. Reports highly favourable to the union were received from all the presbyteries, generally embracing the substance of reports from the sessions, almost all of which were in favour of immediate union, though a few inclined to delay. In these reports a number of suggestions were offered, chiefly respecting the name of the united body. The Synod, after mature deliberation, and a variety of communings by deputation to and from the United Associate Synod, "solemnly adopted, with uplifted hand," the articles of the basis in the amended form, in which they will be found in our present number; and "resolved, that it is their duty to agree to union with the United Associate Synod, on the basis adopted, with all convenient speed; and resolved to meet at Edinburgh, on the 10th day of May next, should said day suit the convenience of the United Associate Synod, that the union may be consummated; and re-appointed their committee to meet with the same committee of the United Associate Synod, to consider and adopt the arrange ments for carrying the union into effect." The committee on congregational debt reported, that the number of members in the Relief churches is 45,357, which with adherents may be reckoned 59,000. The debt on manses and places of worship five years ago was about L.80,000, and is now L.49,725, being about L.1, 2s. for each member, or 17s. for each person including ad- V. That the term of membership is herents. A large committee was apa credible profession of the faith of pointed for exciting the churches to Christ as held by this church-a promake further efforts for the reduction fession made with intelligence, and of debt, prior to the union with the justified by a corresponding character Secession. A report was also read and deportment. relative to ministers' stipends, setting VI. That with regard to those forth that there are 31 falling short of ministers and sessions who think that L.100 per annum, and that it will re- the second section of the 26th chapter quire L.986 to raise the whole to that of the Confession of Faith authorises amount; said sum, however, including free communion, that is, not loose or all donations at present given, amount- indiscriminate communion, but the ing to about L.400 yearly. It was re- occasional admission to fellowship in ported that the Rev. A. M. Ramsay the Lord's supper of persons respecthad sailed as a missionary for Au- ing whose christian character satis stralia, and that it had been agreed factory evidence has been obtained, that he should receive L.100 for outfit, though belonging to other religious deand the same sum annually for three nominations, this church allows them years. It was also reported, that three what they enjoyed in their separate students of divinity had completed communions-the right of acting on their attendance at the Hall; and their conscientious convictions. their respective presbyteries were VII. That the election of office NO. XII. VOL. III. IV. That the ordinances of worship shall be administered in the United Church as they have been in both bodies of which it is formed; and that the Westminster Directory of Worship continue to be regarded as a compilation of excellent rules. 4 C bearers of this church in its several of our congregations may be promoted, congregations belongs, by the autho- and the great end of our existence as rity of Christ, exclusively to the mem- a collective body may be answered bers in full communion. VIII. That this church solemnly recognises the obligation to hold forth as well as to hold fast the doctrine and law of Christ, and to make exertions for the universal diffusion of the blessings of his gospel, at home and abroad. with respect to all within its pale and to all without it, whether members of other denominations or the world lying in wickedness. And, in fine, the United Church regard with a feeling of brotherhood all the faithful followers of Christ, and shall endeavour to maintain the unity of the whole body of Christ, by a readiness to co-operate with all its members in all things in which they are agreed. MISSION. IX. That as the Lord hath ordained that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel-that they who are taught in the word should communicate to him that teacheth in all good EDINBURGH GRASSMARKET EVANGELICAL things that they who are strong should help the weak-and that hav- In this age of missionary zeal and effort, ing freely received, they should freely it is well to bear in mind, that we do not give the gospel to those who are desti- need to go to foreign and distant places tute of it-this Church asserts the in order to find the heathen. They are obligation and the privilege of its members, influenced by regard to the authority of Christ, to support and extend, by voluntary contribution, the ordinances of the gospel. X. That the respective bodies of which this Church is composed, without requiring from each other an approval of the steps of procedure by their fathers, or interfering with the right of private judgment in reference to these, unite in regarding as still valid the reasons on which they have hitherto maintained their state of secession and separation from the judicatories of the Established Church, as expressed in the authorised documents of the respective bodies, and in maintaining the lawfulness and obligation of separation from ecclesiastical bodies in which dangerous error is tolerated, or the discipline of the church or the rights of her ministers or members are disregarded. to be met with in thousands at our very doors. In many respects, the condition of the heathen at home is more deplorable than that of the heathen abroad. The light of the gospel is shining round about them, but they hate it, and will not come to it, because their deeds are evil. The means of grace are within their reach, but of these they will not avail themselves. They are as much strangers to the sanctuary and its services, as if they lived in a land of pagan darkness. They will not come to the gospel, and therefore the gospel must be carried to them, otherwise they will perish in their sins, the victims of a worse destruction than that of those heathen who have not, like them, willfully turned their backs on the means of salvation. Did our zeal for foreign missions lead us to overlook the condition of our degraded and vicious, and perishing population at home, we might well question whether it were zeal according to know The United Church, in their present most solemn circumstances, join in ledge. But this, happily, is not the case. The zeal for home missions is keeping expressing their grateful acknowledgment to the great Head of the Church pace with that for foreign missions, and this fact, in our judgment, is a pleasing for the measure of spiritual good which He has accomplished by them in their proof, that the missionary ardour of the churches is not false fire, but a flame of separate state their deep sense of the the Holy Spirit's kindling. A home many imperfections and sins which mission, though not inferior in real imhave marked their ecclesiastical man-portance to foreign missions, wants that agement and their determined resolu- charm of romance and adventure which tion, in dependence on the promised invest the latter with an interest pecugrace of their Lord, to apply more liarly exciting, and captivating to the faithfully the great principles of imagination. Church fellowship-to be more watch- During the past year, the Grassmarket ful in reference to admission and dis- Evangelical Mission, as we learn from cipline, that the purity and efficiency the report, has been prosecuted with increased vigour, and with encouraging His parents were pious, and he was tokens of success. The missionary, Mr Nicol, besides visiting assiduously from house to house, has preached three times in the chapel every Sabbath, once every Wednesday evening, and in the street every Sabbath, between the afternoon and evening services, during the summer months. A series of revival meetings has also been held, it is hoped not without good results. Tracts, likewise, to a large amount, have been distributed weekly by a zealous band of visitors, and five prayer-meetings have been instituted in different parts of the district. Special attention has been paid to the young, and a Sabbath school, conducted by efficient teachers, has imparted christian instruction to not a few poor children, who, otherwise, would have been running idle about the streets. We cordially recommend the mission to the prayers and liberality of the christian public. OBITUARY. MR EBENEZER KENNEDY, STUDENT IN OUR main object in presenting the fol- Mr Kennedy was born in the year 1819, at Dalricket Mill, in the parish of New Cumnock, Ayrshire. His father was a farmer, and occupied a middle rank in society. "From my earliest days," said he, reflecting on early life, "I was engaged in manual occupations; that is, so soon as I was able to do any thing. My education was slender indeed. The elements of it I received at a school in the neighbourhood of my father's dwelling. I was not allowed to attend school during the whole year, but only during the winter months. In summer I attended cattle so soon in life as I was able to carry and wield a staff. The progress I thus made in learning to read and write was slow, and often interrupted; so much so that, after returning to school in the fall of the year, I was just about as deficient as I was the year previous. Much time was thus lost; and, considering all things, I sometimes wonder how I have got the length I now am.' early instructed in the principles of christian truth. From a child he knew the holy scriptures, which are able to make wise unto salvation. His father, who went to glory before him, having departed this life in 1841, was long an elder in the Secession Church at Cumnock, under the pastoral care of the Rev. David Wilson, and subsequently under that of the Rev. Robert Brown, the present pastor. In a very wide circle of christian friends, extending much beyond the congregation to which he was an ornament and a blessing, James Kennedy was known and highly respected for his soundness of judgment, and depth of piety. The writer of the present notice was wont, from his earliest years, to revere him; and the very mention of his name calls up a thousand hallowed associations. In the midst of his own family, in the house of God, in the social circle, and in the chamber of affliction, he proved himself to be eminently a man of God." A walk with him was emphatically a "walk of usefulness." The green fields of summer, or the waving crops of autumn, afforded him an opportunity, of which he readily availed himself, of speaking of the Creator's goodness; and, without affectation or weakness, he entered naturally into this subject, rising gradually in a strain of devotional reflection, while those who had been conversing with him listened with silent admiration, as if they heard a seraph in glory, rather than a saint on earth. Individuals of kindred spirit greatly enjoyed his company; and often, after parting with him, the pleasing reflection shed its hallowing influence over their souls,— 6. "If thus our fellowship below, In Jesus be so sweet, When round his throne we meet." After he commenced the study of the Latin language, he became the teacher of a small school in the neighbourhood of his father's farm, and this situation allowed him more time for study than he had previously had. The session of 1840-1, was his first session at college;. |