might reasonably be looked for in proportion as the necessities and merits of the Free Church come to be better understood and more extensively known. It is our confident hope, with the blessing of God, that did we only persevere in this course for a year or two longer, it will be regarded as an anomaly to be a sitter in any of our churches, and yet not a member of its association; or, in other words, that a periodical contribution, be it small or great, will come to be acted on as a universal and established propriety in every neighbourhood where either our schools or our churches are to be found. After it had proceeded thus far, we have no fear but that, with all the sureness and inveteracy of a natural custom, the good practice would be transmitted from father to son, so that we might safely count, not on the endurance only, but on the progressive expansion, of our Church from generation to generation.

"That associations might proceed well, it had been of first-rate importance could they have been made to begin well. But regarding the vast majority of the associations already in being, the opportunity of their sound rudimental education is now past, and we can only look for their future improvement in the reformation or correction of their early habits. The worst of these habits is that of doing little or nothing for themselves, in the dependence that others will do all for them; and we do hope that this is a selfishness which will at length give way under the remonstrances that, from Assembly to Assembly, should be lifted up against it. And there is one class of our Associations to which a good elementary training is still applicable, because, if not in the infancy of their being, they may still be regarded as in the infancy of their state--we mean those where the congregations have not yet been ripened into churches, and which have, therefore, been termed non-ministerial. During the last twelve months, they have been made the subject of a distinct treatment from the others; and though this, from peculiar circumstances, has not been carried out, yet we strongly recommend the continuance of the system that has been adopted in regard to them, in so far as circumstances admit, aye and until they become regular charges under the service of an ordained minister. This system has been strongly objected to, as fitted to encourage selfishness, whereas it has been devised for the very purpose of saving the Church from the inroads of selfishness in its most revolting and aggravated form-the form, we mean, of doing as little as possible for ourselves, in the hope that as much as possible will be done for us by others-a selfishness which, if it proceed much farther, will be fatal to her extension, and paralyse every missionary effort for the good of localities not yet entered on. It is therefore our fond expectation and desire, that so rational a method of building up our Associations, as they arise, into vigorous and productive auxiliaries, will not be neglected or put aside on the strength of hasty considerations, however plausible. It is of the utmost practical necessity, that, ere they become ministerial, they should be fostered into greater efficiency than heretofore, and the Church be no longer exposed to those enormous absorptions, which, if not placed under the check of right principles and well-devised regulations, will infallibly run her aground, and make all farther extension impossible.

"For the purpose of carrying these and other views into effect, we crave a discretion from the Assembly for a larger outlay than has ever yet been made for the payment of a greater agency than we have ever yet employed. In the special department of the non-ministerial associations, we hold this to be indispensable, and for its necessity in the more general department, of which Mr Handyside has the charge, we might submit some highly important and judicious suggestions from his supplementary report,-a report which, while it opens the eyes of the Church to the worth of his services, will also demonstrate the expediency of one or more travelling inspectors to fill up the whole length and breadth of a territory which, in his own per son, he cannot nearly overtake. The employment of such a functionary as Mr Handyside, under the direction of your Committee, we hold to be vitally essential for the future well-being and well-doing of our Associations.

"During the many months that your present Convener was laid aside from attendance on the meetings of the Committee, his place was most efficiently supplied by the Rev. Mr Tweedie, who, both by his services in the inner department of our

business, and by his correspondence with the ministers of the Church at large, has done much, not only to sustain, but to extend and put into greater activity the whole system of our operations.

Nothing can exceed the satisfaction and the confidence felt by us all in the invaluable services of Mr Macdonald, our accountant.

"But while we thus desiderate a greatly more vigorous and better appointed executive than heretofore, (the benefit of which change is abundantly obvious), we would, with as great earnestness, deprecate the hasty adoption of other changes in the administration of the fund, the benefit of which is not so obvious, and would infinitely rather that the Church should wait the experience of another year, and perhaps of another and another more, till the lessons of this great schoolmaster had been thoroughly perfected and become palpable to all. served that we do not foreclose the advantage, or put out the light of experience. At this rate, it will be obWe maintain a middle course between the extremes of immutability and of sudden innovation. On this principle, however strong our conviction that the equal dividend of our first year, for the outgoing ministers of the disruption, might have been modified, with great and general advantage to the Church at large, we at once abandoned that proposal, when we saw that the opposition raised to it met with the countenance which it did in the last General Assembly. The proposal, again, that the equal dividend should not be the rule in future cases, we did not regard as a change, but as a new provision adapted to a new emergency,-that is to the extension of the Church, and not, as the former rule was, to the object of replacing the endowments which had been relinquished by those ministers who quitted the Establishment. It is, therefore, our earnest hope-we could almost adopt stronger language, and say, it is our earnest entreaty,—that on the subject of a prospective maintenance for new ministers and new charges, the Church would look well to its effect and bearing on the great object of a Christian Home Mission. arrest should be laid on this best and highest of interests, by means of a wrong It would, indeed, be grievous if an financial arrangement, that might stand as a barrier in the way of forming additional congregations, and this at a time when so many hundreds of thousands of our people are living beyond the pale of gospel opportunities and gospel ordinances. An indifference to this, the most sacred of all concerns, were fatal to the vitality and spiritual character of any Church; nor can we fancy a more withering imputation, than if it could be said that it suffered the personal comfort of the minister to carry it over the national and religious good of the families of the land.

"It is our earnest prayer, that the Free Church of Scotland may ever have the will to acquit herself fully and aright as a Home Missionary Church, however much her ministers may differ, for a time, on the best way of carrying this highest of her destinations and her duties into effect. Meanwhile, and when employed in the calm and thoughtful entertainment of this question, may the spirit of love preside over her deliberations, and let it be the thorough determination of us all to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. "THOMAS CHALMERS, Convener."

The MODERATOR said,-Before any motion is made respecting the report now laid on the table, I have to present to you a communication, which I am sure will be received with regret by all of you. It is a letter from Dr Chalmers, declaring his intention of resigning his charge of the Sustentation Committee. I know he has long had this in contemplation-in fact, that it was his wish some years ago to have retired entirely from the business of public life, and to confine himself exclusively to the duties of his Professorship; but the events that took place in the history of the Church of Scotland, its subsequent disruption, and the necessity of calling into energetic action every mind that was on the side of the non-intrusion and spiritual jurisdiction cause, was felt so strongly by Dr Chalmers, that he came forward with his usual zeal and ardour, and simplicity and earnestness of character, and used his great influence and talents in making a right adjustment of our affairs. You will not therefore be surprised that, now that he has brought the financial affairs of the Church to their present state of perfection, he has requested me to read to you this evening his letter of resignation as Convener of the Sustentation Committee. The letter is as follows:

"EDINBURGH, May 29, 1845. "MY DEAR SIR,-I beg, with all respect for the Assembly, and gratitude to the Church, for the manifold indulgence which I have experienced at their hands, to resign my Convenership of the Sustentation Committee.

Be assured, that nothing could have led me to relinquish this office but my inability for the requisite discharge of its duties, and, at the same time, for the duties of that still more sacred and responsible office which I hold in the Theological Seminary of the Free Church.

During the past year, my place has been filled, in a most admirable and efficient manner, by my highly esteemed friend, the Rev. Mr Tweedie, under whose able guidance and guardianship the Fund has received a most important augmentation; and I should feel the utmost confidence and satisfaction that, were he appointed my successor, the office which I now quit would be left in safe and sufficient hands.

With most intense and ever increasing affection for the Free Church, and earnest prayer for every blessing from above on its ministers and people, always believe me, my dear Sir, yours with the utmost respect and affection, (Signed) "THOя. CHALMERS.

The Very Reverend the Moderator of the Free Church."

I lay this letter (continued the Moderator) on the table, and I do it, I confess, with regret; but I know that the resolution of my excellent friend is unalterable. The letter was ordered to be engrossed in the minutes.

The MODERATOR stated, that at the private meeting yesterday, the report was fully discussed; and it was understood that, at the present meeting, there should be no farther discussion of its conclusions. But he had to ask if any member had any observation to make with respect to the following out of its recommendations.

Mr CARMENT suggested that an admonition should be given by the Assembly to the brethren both in the north and the south, to be more faithful and earnest in calling upon the people to support the Sustentation Fund. It was but too true, as stated in the report, that in some parishes where there might be a generous and wealthy individual, the people just went under his cloak, and appeared in the report to be doing very well, while in fact they were scarcely doing anything except by this generous individual in the parish. With all their poverty, several of the Highland parishes could do a great deal more than they had done; and now that their churches were nearly all built, he trusted they would do better than heretofore; at the same time, ministers should be admonished against indulging that feeling of delicacy-he confessed he had none of it himself (laughter)—which prevented them from urging the support of the Sustentation Fund upon their people. It was the duty both of ministers and people to do all they could for that fund; and it was the duty of every member of the Free Church in this respect to imitate the conduct of their ministers who had resigned their livings, and given up all for the sake of their Lord and Master. (Hear, hear.) Let them, therefore, do what they could, and what they ought, and prevent the Free Church from dwindling down into a mere sectarian section of the people of Scotland. (Hear, hear.)

Dr BROWN of Langton, referred to the great loss the Church was about to sustain by the retirement of Dr Chalmers. But although the reverend Doctor had ostensibly withdrawn from the place which he occupied in the financial department of the Church's business, they might still calculate on his continuing to aid them by his invaluable advice. He (Dr B.) had to propose that the Assembly empower the Moderator to write a letter to Dr Chalmers, expressing their deep gratitude for the services which he had already rendered as Convener of the Sustentation Committee, and request of him that, although he has ostensibly retired from the Convenership of that Committee, he may still render all the service which his health and strength will admit of. (Hear, hear.)

The Hon. Fox MAULE.-Moderator, this is a question upon which the ministers of our Church, from what I know of their feelings, will have great delicacy in addressing themselves to the Assembly. I feel, Sir, that we have need of great thankfulness, in the first place, to the Head of the Church for the improved position of our finances (hear, hear)—as detailed to us in the report which we have heard; and we have reason to congratulate ourselves that, under the Divine protection, our Church has continued to strike its roots deeper and deeper into its own native soil. True, it is, Sir, that we have this evening to lament the circumstance, which we must all feel most deeply, the loss to the Sustentation Fund, not only of one who has most efficiently worked its machinery, but who was the inventor of the machine himself. (Cheers.) In parting from Dr Chalmers, his name must be engraven on the heart of each one of us. We can only do it under the stern necessity that, on his

own showing, and of this he must be the best judge himself,-it becomes incumbent on us, "Solvere senescentem equum." He has done his duty to the Free Church. He has done his duty to the cause of truth and essential religion throughout the world; for which we shall not only be grateful to him, but we shall be moreover grateful to God for having furnished such an instrument for his cause. (Hear, hear.) When we see him retire from active service in this one branch of our Church, we must have been delighted to observe, from his appearance last night among us, that there still remains with him vigour to prosecute that branch of which he still takes charge, -to superintend with the vigilance of a father, the tuition of the youth who are coming forward as ministers of the Church; and I am sure that we shall all join in prayer that he may be long spared to be useful in our Church-to be an ornament, as he is a benefit, to our Church; and to enjoy that European reputation, which there is more honour in conferring upon such a man, than such a man can derive from the possession of it. (Cheers.) Sir, with reference to the subject more immediately in hand, I hail with the greatest satisfaction the increase that has taken place in the Sustentation Fund; and I gather from the report, that that increase has extended in one year to no less than an addition to the income to be derived from it, of L.20 a-year,-of twenty per cent. and more in a twelvemonth. This, Sir, is no proof of languishing. (Hear, hear.) [Here a communication was made to the honourable gentleman by some member near him.] I am informed that I am under-stating the fact, and I have learned in public business that it is better to understate than over-state facts. (Cheers.) This shows, I say, no proof of any languishing or want of disposition on the part of the people of Scotland to maintain that which seems to be, and which they are determined to uphold to be, the principles of the Church of their fathers. (Hear, hear.) And if the report glances at an alteration which will be necessary in the working of the machinery, I should hope it is only done from that spirit of prudence and caution which would rather lead them to hold out a prudential view of the circumstances of the church, than one which would savour of ovation, and tend to lull the Church into false security. I take the Scottish fir as an emblem of the Free Church. It has struck its roots into its native soil; and you might as well talk to me of that goodly tree going back from the growth to which it has attained, as hint to me that the people of Scotland will allow the Free Church to go back from the point at which it has arrived. (Hear, hear.) No, the Free Church will increase more and more every day, not because I believe it to be the work of man, but because I firmly believe it to be the work of God. (Hear, hear.) I believe that our Associations, in different parts of the country, do require stimulation. There is no man, or body of men, in whatever work they may be engaged, who may not, and do not require the eye of general supervision in any department which you may select. It is with our Free Church Sustentation Fund as with every other human arrangement. Here parties are more zealous-there parties, perhaps, are not so zealous; but when they are so-when, by visitation, by the proposed increased agency, of which I entirely approve, they are shown what their brethren are doing in one part of the country, and what they are forgetting to do in another-I am quite convinced that the Church of our fathers is so dear to the hearts of all of us, that we only require to be reminded of our duty to do it as a matter of duty. (Hear.) In talking of this subject, I should wish to refer to the name of one to whom we are much indebted in this matter. We have heard various subordinate plans proposed in order to bring the machinery of the Sustentation Fund to the greatest perfection as to the mode of working it; and, having had particular experience of it in my own district, and being anxious to recommend it to the great body of subscribers to the Sustentation Fund throughout the country, I take the liberty of mentioning, that we derive the greatest assistance in my own district, in awakening all parties in the congregation to a sense of their duty, from the simple machinery of Mr Thomson's card. (Hear, hear.) We are greatly indebted to Mr Thomson for devising this very simple expedient; and I am sure we ought to be extremely thankful to him for what he has enabled us to do already, and for what he enables us to do in future. (Hear, hear.) Now, as another reason why additional exertion should be made towards supplying the Sustentation Fund in the coming

M

year, let me just mention the growing prosperity of the cause of our Church. Last year we added, I believe, nearly seventy charges to our original number. This year we are likely to add between thirty and forty. When there is such a demand from all parts of the country for an extension of our Church and its operations, shall there not be a corresponding supply from those who can give, from those who ought to give, and, let me add, from those who are willing to give, when they hear of the necessity that exists for their granting a supply corresponding to this great work in Scotland? (Hear, hear.) Let me say, I have no fear for the generosity of the people of the Free Church. I have no apprehension with regard to the Sustentation Fund. I know it has gone on increasing. I believe it will go on increasing; and when I feel, also, that if every member of the Free Church lays it to heart, that we are not only confirming our own position as a Church in this country, but that we are testifying to the world that Protestantism has a rallying point at least in Scotland-(hear, hear)—that all of us will do all that lies within us to keep up that fund which is so essential to the maintenance and extension of the Church,-that fund which removes us, on the one hand, from the control and influence consequent on the endowment, and, on the other hand, from the necessity of entire dependence on the people,-which insures activity free from external sources of influence, and which insures independence and upright honesty of duty and of discipline on the part of our ministers; because, in matters referring to the provision of raiment and the provision of food, we keep them above the people over whom they have the pastoral charge. But I also call upon the congregations of the Church to do their utmost in behalf of the supplementary stipends. I have great faith in these; for the stipend from the Sustentation Fund is little more than is absolutely necessary for the purpose to which I have referred; and I call upon all the laymen of the Church to remember what these men have sacrificed,-to remember what we owe them,-to remember how much the comfort of our lives is enhanced by their counsels and their ministrations, to remember that our pillows in sickness and in the view of death are solaced by their ministerial attendance,--to remember that in them we not only have friends in health, but that through them we have comfort in the hour of death; --and oh! in the Supplementary Fund, show your gratitude to men whom we honour so much, and to whom we are so deeply indebted. (Loud cheers.)

Mr CAMPBELL of Monzie.-Moderator, I cannot express how deeply I feel gratified by being allowed to raise my voice at such a time and in such an Assembly. Were I to endeavour to express my sense of the important services of Dr Chalmers, I hesitate not to say, that every word in which I should attempt to eulogise him, would be merely detracting from the name of that truly great man. But I hope it will not be deemed presumptuous if I venture to express, along with you, the profound regret which one and all of us must feel at the announcement made this evening of the retirement of Dr Chalmers from the Convenership of the Committee. At the same time, I rejoice that we have not yet lost Dr Chalmers. I rejoice that, although not openly, and prominently, and publicly, as heretofore, yet we shall still have the advantage of his honest, active, energetic, and zealous interest and aid, whenever we require his counsel and assistance in behalf of the Free Church. (Hear, hear.) I am aware that a paltry use has been made of a statement in Dr Chalmers's recent pamphlet relative to his contemplated resignation, as if that eminent individual were cooling and calming in his enthusiasm for the Free Church; and I can very safely leave it to the Rev. Doctor's future conduct to give the appropriate answer to this truly paltry insinuation. (Hear, hear, hear.) And now, as regards the Sustentation Fund, we must all have been gratified with the increase of subscriptions reported to us on this occasion. I may, however, state, from what has come under my own observation throughout the country,-and I have a good deal to do with various parts of it,—that the means which should be employed for increasing the Sustentation Fund have not been applied, I believe, to one-half of our people. It is pretty well known that, in many places where associations exist, very few individuals contribute to the fund, not merely because they have not been in the habit of contributing, but for a stronger and more efficient reason still,-because, I fear, they have not at all realsied their duty in this matter. I feel bound