OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, HELD IN EDINBURGH, MAY 1844. EDINBURGH: 1844. CONTENTS. . 82 24 Page Pago CASES OF TRANSLATION OF MINISTERS. Call to Mr Thomson (Yester) by Catrine THURSDAY, 16TH MAY. congregation, . 58 The Assembly opened with Sermon by Dr Speeches of Parties, and of Mr Thomson, ib. 1 The Assembly refuse to translate, Roll called, and Dr Brown's closing address as Call to Mr F'airbairn (Salton), by Din. former Moderator, and proposing Mr Grey ib. Speeches of Parties, and Mr Fairbairn, Mr Grey's Speech at opening the Assembly, 2 The Assembly refuse to translate, Dr Cunningham's Speech on his return from REPORT ON The Five Schemes_By Dr Ma- Dr Gordon's Speech in proposing thanks to 9-11 The Moderator's address to ditto Dr Brown's and Dr Wilson's ditto, il REPORT ON ADMISSION OF MINISTERS, AND 79 The Assemb'y engage in Devotional Exer. cises, ib. Forenoon observed as a day of humiliation- Speeches of Mr Macfarlan, Mr Paul, Mr STATE OF RELIGION. ib. 18 Dr Makellar's, Speech of Dr Candlish on ditto, The Assembly appoint next Tuesday as a day Dr Laird's, of humiliation in reference to this subject, Mr Brown's (Largo) ib. and a Sermon to be preached on that oc- Dr Cunningham's, SATURDAY, 18TH: Committee appointed to consider the subject Speeches of Rev. Messrs Cupples, Grey, and The Moderator returns thanks to Mi Dun. Mr Brown requested to print his Sermon, 93 27 REPORT ON INDIA MISSION SCHEME, Constitution of Mariner's Church, Dundee, Moderator's address to Dr Gordon, OVERTURE ON CHEAP PUBLICATIONS, ib. Dr Cunningham's Speech on ditto, Dr Candlish's Speech on ditto, 30 REPORT ON DEPUTATION TO ENGLAND, 108 Assembly approve of the object, and appoint Moderator's address to Mr Tweedie, OVERTURES OM DISSERTERS' Chapels' Bili, ib. Sir J. Forrest's, 33 Deputation to attend Methodists A Petition on the subject to Parliament, or. Meeting at Wales, appointed, 117 OPERTURES Os Irish PRESBYTERIAN MAR- ib. Letter from George Buchan, Esq., Kelloe, ib. Petition againsi Irish Marriage Bill, agreed Assembly resolve to petition Parliament on 36 CASES OF TRANSLATION OF MINISTERS, Irish Deputation introduced, and Speeches of Call to Mr M.Leod (Logie Easter) by Ken. more congregation, ib. The Moderator's address to ditto, The people not having been cited, the call 119 The Assembly resolve to discontinue the Call to Mr Thorburn (Forglen) by Inverness Rev. C. J. Brown appointed to preach before Speeches of Parties, ib. ib. Speeches of Dr Clason, Mr Moncrieff, Pro- ib. 'fessor Brown, Mr M.Naughtan, Mr M. Crichton, and Dr Candlish, 122 52 The Assembly resolve to translate Mr Thor. The Moderator's address to Mr vi. Stuart, 124 ib. (RECAP) 110 11 REPORT ON COLONIAL SCHEME, 125 Cheap PUBLICATIONS-Dr Candlish's Speech Dr Candlish's Speech on the case of Maria Joaquina, referred to in the above Report, 130 Overture ON A'ssenbly's COMMITTEES WITA- The Assembly agree to memorialize Govern. MARINERS COURCH, DUNDEE-Alteration of Speech of Dr Cunningham on American OVERTURE Speech of Graham Speirs, Esq., 'on ditto, ib. Speech of Mr Monteith on Ceylon, The Moderator's address to Mr Sym, 134 REPORT OF DEPUTATION TO UNITED SECES- 135 ib. 137 Speeches of Dr Cunningham, A. Campbell, 142 Overture on Meeting of Assembly at Aber. FRIDAY, 24TH. REPORT ON ADMISSION OF MINISTER'S FROM Committee to prepare address to the Queen, 147 OTHER CHURCHES, Mr Sym appointed Convener of Colonial Overture on ditto agreed to, ib. REPORT ON OFFICES OF ELDERS AND Deacons, 191 REPORT ON The Debt OF THE CHURCH, 148 REPORT OF HOME MISSION SCHEME, Mode to extinguish It agreed to, OVERTUREX ON STATE OF THE Poon, Speech of Mr Dunlop, ib Speech of Dr Candlish, and Regulations as Speeches of Di Laird and Mr Gibson, 154 Acts of Assembly recommended to kirk- Speeches of Mr Millar and Dr Henderson, 155 Speeches of Mr Cupples and Mr Grierson, 156 REPORT ON ALTERATIONS OF FORMULA, ib. ON TRUST DEEDS, ib. given to the state of the poor, and cases of OVERTURES ON WALDENSES AND TURKISH difficulty to be referred to the legal ad. viser, ib. ENGLISU PRESBYTERIAN Synod's DEPUTATION. 158 Speeches of Mr Ferguson and Mr Blyth, ib, Rev. Mr Monod, 161 Continental Committee appointed, The Moderator's address to ditto, 162 The Moderator's Address to Mr Monod, ib. OVERTURES ON AMFRICAN SLAVERY, 163 REPORT OF BUILDING COMMITTEE, Dr Candlish and Dr Cunningham's Speeches, ib. REPORT ON SUTHERLAND AND Ross, Committee appointed to make report on do., 164 Speech of Rev. Mr Gray, and Letters be- ib. REPORT OF CONFERENCE with ORIGINAL SC- twixt Prezbytery of Perth and Lord Ruth. ven as to site for manse at Porgandenny, 241 165 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, 244 Dr Candlish's Speech, 166 OF COMMITTEE AS TO REPRESENTA- Report on ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, 170 OVERTURES ON SABBATA OD ERVANCE, 245 Speech of Mr M‘Donald, 173 Speeches of Mr Thomson and Mr Monteith, 156 Sabbath School Teachers' Memorial, 178 The Moderator's address to Mr M.Donald, 180 The Address of Moderator to Dr Chalmers, 246 CASE OF DISCIPLINE- Mr Law of Dundee de. clared no longer a Minister of the Free Church,ib. Coinmittees on Psalmody and Manses ap- Dr Candlish, 202 The Moderator's closing Address, Call to Mr M'Leod (Maryburgh,) by Loch- carron congregation, 182 Speeches of Parties, APPENDIX. Speeches of Mr G. Speirs, Rev. Mr M Gil. 1. Speech of Rev. C. J. Brown at Synod of Lo- livray, and Mr Dunlop, 184 inian and Tweeddale, on the State of Reli. The Assembly agree to translate, 185 21 OVERTURE AXENT CONFERENCE WITH OTHER 2. Petition to Parliameni regarding Irish Pres- 278 186 Committee upon the State of Religion, 276 ib. ib. PREFACE. The following Report of the proceedings of the Third General Assembly of the Free Church bas been prepared mainly, though not entirely, from the Witness newspaper. In many instances the speeches will be found altered and enlarged, and some are supplied which were altogether omitted in that publication. The impor. tance of the subject which occupied the most prominent place in the Assembly's proceedings, namely, THE STATE OF RELIGION, is a sufficient reason for the documents which are introduced into the appendix. In reference to the whole proceedings of this Assembly, the following extracts from an article in a recent number of the Presbyterian Review, may be here inserted as an introduction to this Report. “ Our prosperity as a Church must not be viewed simply in the light of our success as a movement. Very effectual and complete has the movement been. It has passed through no stage of precarious infancy, or sickly chiidhood, but all as in a moment, it has clothed itself in the triumpbs of matured and indomitable manhood. But how fares it with the inward progress of the body—is there as much spirituality as partizansbip_does the Church arise and shine, while the tide of movement runs as strong as ever? “ Tbis is the real point for consideration; and on which we would desire both friend and adversary to fix their eye. Unfortunately, it is a question which those who dis. countenance us will not answer, because they will not put it. But it is the only view of matters that a godly soul cares for; and it is likewise the subject in regard to which our third General Assembly furnishes us with the most abundant materials for judging. Nothing new as to our position or prospects transpired on this occasion; neither was anything new developed as to our plans and operations. Previous exertions bad succeeded beyond all expectation in laying down the platform, and organizing our economy as a Church; and workmen, numerous up to our present means of using them, were ready for duty at their assigned stations. The engine was set up, and all in order. But now came the question —under what impulse shall all this tremendous machinery be driven,-in what direction shall it move upon its way? Our constitution as a church was all we could desire; but our character as a church, wbat shall it be? Great is our influence-our force. We must tell prodigiously for evil, or for good. Whence, then, shall come the inspiration that is to guide usfrom the devil or God? This was the question which this Assembly had to de. termine; and it was an anxious--an awful one. On the answer given there bung the loss or salvation of ourselves and our posterity. The fortunes of Protestantisin and Christianity were involved in it; and more than the simple event of the disruption, would it affect the interests of vital godliness in Scotland, and over tbe world. Bless the Lord, O our souls, for ever and ever! He who rescued us from the fowler,'— even the devil,gave us not over to ourselves. If we have had reason to mourn that, as to extensive revival, God was not in the earthquake' of our great secession, though it were bis own doing; or, in the fire' of our indefatigable zeal, though it were all of bis own kindling; surely, amid the stillness' of love, and prayer, and sorrow, vouchsafed at this Assembly, his voice' was heard, and it was then made evident that in spite of all her sore defection, he had chosen our Church as a polished shaft for the battle of truth and holiness. |