model wooden men for the vacant pulpits. Others grew sanguinary, and expressed a hope, that the parish minister would be placed under the ban of every man, woman, and child in the parish, and that slices of aristocratic hearts might be seen dangling at men's button-holes. But the first gush of spontaneous liberality soon began perceptibly to diminish, and gentle hints to the contributors to the Sustentation Fund were quickly followed by instructions to deacons to work up the collections by every means in their power. What a contrast between the tone of the early bulletins of the Free Church, and that of the following discussion which took place at a late meeting of the Free Presbytery of Glasgow.

"Dr. Buchanan said, that it was well known to this Court, and the Church generally, that they had not been progressing, recently, in this fund. It had been rather retrograding; and this Committee felt it was absolutely necessary to do something to arrest the backward movement, and if at all necessary, without further delay, to bring the fund to the position which the General Assembly in the meeting of 1847 determined to aim at. . . . They had, in the Free Church, 697 ministerial charges, and of these only 167 contribute as much to the fund as they draw out of it; or, in other words. contribute at and above the rate of L.128. All the remainder, being 530, are debtors to the fund; and, observe the amount, take the aggregate amount contributed by these 530 congregations, and how much did the Presbytery suppose it required in addition to pay the ministers of these congregations even the paltry stipend of L 128? It took all that these 530 congregations contribute, and no less than L.37,160 more. That is to say, the 530 congregations are debtors to the 167 no less than L.37,160. Now, it was impossible for any one who understood a scheme of this kind not to perceive, that the danger to the fund was great and imminent, so long as the burden was so unequally distributed-so long as 530 congregations were leaning upon 167. Unless that enormous load was taken off, the fund would be in a very precarious position, like a pyramid placed on its narrow end, and they all knew that such was not a very stable position.

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Dr. Paterson said, the statement just made exhibited a position humbling, indeed, but yet he could not despair. It was afflicting to see how many were doing little. He could not imagine any more correct figure of speech than that used by their respected brother, Dr. Buchanan, of a pyramid on the wrong end; for to his (Dr. P.'s, mind,) this scheme was just like a top-nothing would keep it up but whipping. This appeal when made to the public, he hoped would cast a glow of shame over many of the congregations who were defaulters, &c.

"Mr. Gibson thought it extremely discreditable, that when a minister obtained a manse, the money which the congregation considered equivalent to rent was deducted from the ministers supplement, or the Sustentation Fund. It was their duty openly to state these things. The Free Church had, undoubtedly, placed itself in a position in respect of all other bodies, and they had nothing to fear from a comparison with any body, Established or Dissenting. It was right to look these things fairly in the face; there was strong reason why they should do so; for his conviction was, that if the present generation of ministers were not enabled to make strenuons efforts in this way, their successors would have far more difficult and serious efforts to make."

Not long ago, when the Free Church found it necessary to use the

goad, in order to prick on those patient Issachars, the contributors to the Sustentation Fund, she observed the delicate precaution of ordering strangers to retire. Matters have now arrived at a critical extremity, when she drags her offending children before the public bar in the avowed hope, that correction inflicted openly, in presence of their enemies, may shame them into better behaviour. It is evident enough, that so far from being able to overtake her original design, and bring the neglected masses under religious training, that she has blundered in her tactics, by extending her lines too much. Had she been content to occupy fewer posts, the concentration of her power would bare more than counterbalanced the loss of numeric influence, by the more wholesome influence of free and unrepressed energy. As it is, all the energy which she is able to call into action, is not sufficient to maintain the ground she has already gained; and in her case it is ruinous to remain stationary, for hers is not the calm and easy energy of strength. but the energy of excitement, rivalry and revenge. It seems, that the Sustentation Scheme, which was begun so hopefully, has reached, in less than six years, a condition in which nothing bnt whipping can keep it moving; but there is a likelihood that, instead of whipping in the gifts, she will but whip away the givers. Her leaders have always been sensible, that success would be greatly promoted by keeping up the excitement; and from the first they had recourse to a variety of devices to sustain the prestige of the movement. They imported foreign divines largely, paying all wayfaring expenses, and calling them in with a trumpet-note of preparation; and the service expected from these brethren was certainly not the communication of fresh intelligence concerning the state of religion abroad, but laudatory expressions of sympathy from the churches they represented, increased moral power from the lustre of their names, and a collateral aid to help the Free Church to outdo and humble the Establishment. With the same view of maintaining the prestige of their superiority, they study to lead in all charitable effort, and in every popular movement. When a famine occurs, or any other national judgment is threatened, their policy is, that the Free Church trumpet shall be the first to sound; and if by some mischance it fall out otherwise, their policy is to make a great sound with their trumpets, and to shout with a great shout. There is a limit, however, to excitement, and there is a limit to the topics suitable to the use of excitement-brokers. It is amusing to find one of their champions who, of yore, bearded the Court of Session, reduced to such a scarcity of grievances, that he can find no other theme for platform elocution than the selfish iniquity of the Golfing Club, in disturbing the washer-women on the Links !

But they are already obviously aware themselves that their original idea is not practicable, and their policy has, in consequence, undergone a very perceptible change. They do not now object to accept aid from all the churches in the grand enterprize of evangelizing Scotland. To be sure, they are the men, and the great evangelistic influence by which the task is to be accomplished resides in then and proceeds from them; but with laudable charity, they no longer scruple to admit the tributary influences which other churches can lend towards the fulfilment of

their high emprize. The tributary from the Established Church, to be sure, is a very slim and discreditable runnel; but it says all the more for the fervency of their zeal, and the largeness of their charity, that they are willing to let it mingle with their own great tide, and to acknowledge it such as it is. At the meeting of the Free Church party held in Glasgow, after the late decision of the House of Lords, there was in the speech of Dr. Candlish a slight approximation towards charity, when he declared his readiness to rejoice should evangelical ministers occupy the pulpits now left vacant. Slight as this advance may appear, the disapprobation which it instantly called forth from his auditory showed that he was stepping out in a direction where he would have few followers; and his ready tact and other properties easily saved him from straying too far. When the reverend doctor smiles upon his oponents, we have ever found that his smile bodes mischief; for, under his exaggerated solemnity of sentiment, and intensity of voice and manner, there lurks a sectarian animus which colours every opinion which he utters, and every measure which he recommends. Below the meek, loving, and animated surface, there is a busy spirit at work, ever bent on compassing a party aim, and ready to take any advantage to ensure success. Admirably versed in the artful use of language, he is able to express offensive opinions delicately, to cover the weaknesses of a cause with skill, and to exaggerate the errors of his opponents with dexterous subtlety. He is thus able to make concessions generous in appearance, but worthless in reality; for when closely inspected, they are found to be either an innocent grouping of words, or necessity made a virtue; but in every concession he makes, he strives to place his opponents in an invidious light by the speciousness of his assumed liberality. These qualities render him a formidable antagonist in debate; for while he is ready to make an unscrupulous use of an opponent's arguments, his opponent finds it would be easier to hold an eel than this sinewy and subtle disputant. With the multitude, who often take a man at his own price, he enjoys more credit than with his brethren, but his controversial ability is of too much service to their cause to be, on slight grounds, dispensed with. Yet, when he takes pen in hand, his controversial ability is very second-rate. His ambition leads him astray from the proper direction of his powers; for as nature did not intend him to be a profound and comprehensive thinker, it is unwise to fight against nature, as none but a novice can mistake for profound and comprehensive thinking mere mental pressure and the elaboration of periods.

It was quite in keeping with his character to utter hard and unkind things of the Church in a tone of exalted solemnity and earnestness. He would be happy should the Church fill these pulpits with faithful ministers of the word, but can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? The Church, it seems according to our veracious Doctor, has iniquitously resisted not only the most righteous, but the most generous overtures of compromise; she has laid ruthless hands upon the spoils of the India Mission; she has remorselessly ejected schoolmasters and catechists for joining the Free Church; and lastly, she has wickedly ousted many congregations from the property which of right belongs to

them. And still further to aggravate the heinousness of her conduct, she has done all these cruel wrongs, from the mere pleasure of wrongdoing, without having ever received the slightest provocation. The Free Church, like a meek and suffering child, has besought her often with tears in her eyes, to cease from persecuting the innocent; proposed to her the most honourable compromises; never used hard terms, but ever spoke of the Old Church with a suavity almost miraculous: and during every part of the controversy, not only never did aught to widen. but much to heal the breach! But the Old Church, like a harsh and cruel step-dame, was implacable, and could not be turned from her course of iniquity and dishonour! The Old Church no doubt said that she was not at liberty in the sight of God and her country to consent to the alienation of property which she held in trust, but as a faithful guardian was bound to see it applied to the purpose for which it was created; but pray, what right had the Old Church to talk of conscience? Did she wish to drive the Free Church mad? Did not the whole world know that conscience was the property of the Free Church, and that the Old Church had no more title to it, than she had to the "spoil" on which she has laid her ruthless hands. The Doctor did not choose to tell his hearers that the law of the empire had determined that right was on the side of the Old Church,-that the Free Church had dragged the Old Church to law, and was beaten with her own weapons-that the Free Church" compromise" was not proposed till an adverse decision with costs was given against her, that not a single congregation was disturbed by the cruel old dame, till they chose to remove of their own accord, and that they did not choose to remove from houses, not theirs, till five long years had come and gone. Many other things the Doctor did not choose to utter. He forgot to mention that only L.12,000 were contributed by the pursuers to the building of twenty churches, although the whole outlay exceeded L.40,000. Our limits as well as the scope this article, forbid our dwelling on the tempting theme at any length. Dr. Candlish found no use for the facts which a simple understanding would have considered essential to the right statement of the question; but he would have been a less skilful tactician than we allow him to be, had he permitted the cause which he advocated to be so hopelessly damaged as it would have been by a plain statement of facts.

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There was one averment, however, which all the speakers repeated so pointedly, that it demands more than a passing notice. Dr. Buchanan affirmed, that the Church had taken wrongful possession of property which she can turn to no practical use; and imagined that she must be sorely embarrassed by her success, and scarcely able to stagger on under such a burden of stone and lime. Dr. Candlish, improving on the hint, affirmed that the churches are wrested from the only party that is capable of using them, and pours forth an animated lament over this cruel maladjustment. These are averments springing from irritating disappointment, and those who remember the similar vaticinations which were uttered in 1843, when so many pulpits fell at once to be supplied, will be disposed to hold them very cheap; but mere counter-averments will certainly not be accepted by the country as a satisfactory reply. The Church, believing herself charged with an important trust, could not

feel herself free to alienate any of her chapels; the view which she took of her position has been confirmed by the judicature: and we allow at once that the possession of these quoad sacra Churches devolves upon her a very solemn responsibility. She is put upon a great trial by her Supreme Head; she cannot escape from it; but if she pass through it with honour, as we pray she may, her success in the law-courts will be beneficial to the Church of Christ, and certainly not hurtful to any that bear his name. There is other use for these churches, than to leave them the undisturbed receptacles of dust and cobwebs. Around their walls is an untutored populace, whose vast heaving mass would not be greatly lessened, though all of them were filled. From the Free congregations we have no desire whatever to draught; nor have we any wish to see these churches devoted to the work of proselytizing; but we do wish to see them filled from our city heathenism with congregations of happy and God-fearing men. We do not count it an easy task; our Free brethren's harsh allegations have made it no easier; and pos sibly long and laborious efforts may be needful, before any marked measure of success be secured. It is for the Church now to prove by the wisdom of her councils, and the energy of her conduct, that she is sensible of the sacredness of her trust; and so to put all these churches as soon as possible into the best position to bear efficiently upon the task in hand. The best position is unquestionably that cf churches fully endowed and equipped with every requisite for the celebration of ordinances, and the administration of discipline; and can it be doubted for a moment that were the Church to put forth the strength which she possesses, this desirable consummation could be reached. How easy would it be to endow one or two each year, and thus overtake the work by gradual and easy steps. Some, we understand, have already begun to move in this matter; we trust that the movement will ripen into a holy cause, and that they will earn for themselves the highest consideration for having in the hour of her trouble sought the good of our National Zion.

The many thousands added to the Glasgow population yearly will render more than these Churches necessary, if Christian benevolence is to keep pace with the growing exegencies of the times; and it is to be hoped that no Church, already built, will be suffered to remain unemployed while such multitudes are growing up in ignorance and crime. So great is the crisis as regards the industrial classes, that in order to recover them to the habits and hopes of religion, we must not rest content with planting among them a Church and a gospel mínistry; we must seek every auxiliary that is wisely adapted to the furtherance of our grand aim. The Sabbath School is now recognized by all as a most important means of diffusing a religious leaven among the people; but to the minister who wishes to make a successful inroad upon the masses, its importance cannot possibly be overrated. It is found that the views of Dr. Chalmers about the irresistible power of the minister's household visitation were too sanguine, and that the heathenism of our wynds and narrow lanes is proof against reiterated calls, if other means besides are not brought into operation. But it is somewhat cheering to find that even among the worst class, the Sab

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