dozen different Presbyterian denominations in India, we shall rejoice if one of the fruits of his visit has been to demonstrate the possibility of our having just one united representative Church there, such as we have already in Canada and Australia. From the character of the divisions which took place in some of the inferior courts, one was not quite prepared for the conclusion come to by the Assembly as to the Irish Church. The debate was begun by Mr. Campbell Swinton, who took very high ground, denouncing the policy of disestablishment as injuriously affecting the honour and security of the Crown. He was followed by Principal Tulloch, who admitted the need of reform in the Irish Church, but deprecated the measures now proposed as unfriendly to the Establishment, while holding out no hope that they would result in substantial benefit to Ireland. Colonel Dundas, again, moved the previous question. But ultimately a fourth motion, submitted by Mr. Cumming of Newington, was adopted in preference to all the three. The successful motion was as follows:-"That the Assembly, while giving no opinion as to any modifications that may be necessary in the Church established in Ireland, resolve to petition both Houses of Parliament against the proposal to disestablish it." It was carried over Principal Tulloch's by 211 to 81; so that we may now say that the Church as by law established in Scotland has formally determined to make common cause with her distressed sister across the Channel. The discussion on Patronage, however, was much more interesting and instructive. Twenty-four overtures on the subject were laid on the table of the Assembly, all of them, with one exception, being in favour of modification or abolition. Dr. Pirie, in a clever and outspoken speech, moved the appointment of a Committee with instructions to endeavour to have the Act of Queen Anne repealed. He justified the proposal mainly on this ground, that when the new Reform Bill passed, society in Scotland would be greatly more democratic than it was in 1843; and that unless they modified the constitution of the Church to be in harmony with that fact, there would be a serious risk of the Establishment going to pieces. "It would never do," he argued, "to give household suffrage to the people in matters civil, and maintain in religious matters nothing more or less than absolute and unrestricted patronage. Would they give a franchise to the people that conferred upon them a command over the lives and properties of their fellow-subjects, and yet not allow the elite of them-the communicants to interpose in the slightest degree in the election of their ministers?" What deepened in Dr. Pirie's mind the conviction that something behoved to be done to meet the natural demands of the people was the fact that, even as it was, no Scotch member of Parliament seemed to care frankly to avow that he had a hearty personal interest in the well-being of the National Church. When questions," he asked, "were put in Parliament regarding the Church of Scotland, who had stood up to support them? Did they remember anybody? (A laugh, and Hear.') He read the reports carefully, and had found none. On the contrary, candidates were coming forward every day, and declaring that the days of Establishments were numbered, and were zealous in supporting the views of what they might call the Voluntary party." "If," on the other hand, he went on to say, "they depended upon the country gentlemen and gentry, they met the difficulty that a great proportion of their patrons were not only Episcopalians, but High Episcopalians, who, while they might have no unkind feeling towards the Church of Scotland, could know very little of themselves or their licentiates. They might speak civilly of the Church of Scotland as a species of moral police, but with the views so many of them held regarding Presbyterianism, could they give to it that zealous, energetic support, which was needed in these times?" Altogether, Dr. Pirie regarded the state of matters in the country as at once unsatisfactory and critical, and the panacea he suggested was the Abolition of Patronage. 66 .... The Hon. Major Bailie seconded the motion. He urged that it appeared equitable that the people should have a direct interest and voice in the choosing of those to whom they intrusted the care of their souls, and went on to argue that patronage had done much to cause and perpetuate dissent. During the last twentytwo years there had been in the Church forty-six cases of disputed settlement, Dr. Bisset of Bourtrie moved that the overtures should be dismissed, on the ground that no sufficient reason had been shown why the existing law should be altered, and that the agitation of the question at all was extremely inexpedient. The Rev. Doctor contended that it was not the event of 1843 which was most disastrous to the Church and country. "The shaking began when overtures were introduced asking a great change in the Church's constitution; and if the Assembly assented to the proposals of Dr. Pirie, he foresaw in vision before him a renewal of the same dispeace and jealousy as led to the great schism of 1843. . . . The change now proposed could not be a final measure. Set the stone a-rolling, and it would not halt until it reached the lowest level—a lower level than at all entered into the contemplation of those who supported the motion of Dr. Pirie. They would not be able to keep their communion rolls pure. It would not be only household suffrage, but might be what the English would call a suffrage of potwalloppers (a laugh). He emphatically denied that the people of Scotland desired to destroy the rights of the patrons, and maintained that this agitation arose from a quarter whence it might least have been expected, for it was purely a clerical agitation, and chiefly from the city Presbyteries." ... The Earl of Selkirk supported the dismissal of the overtures. He argued that "nothing could be more deleterious to the character of their people than to set them in irresponsible judgment, and with imperfect means of acquiring information, upon the qualifications of their ministers. . . . Moreover, he had to tell them, upon the faith of thirty-five years' experience in Parliament, that such a change as was now contemplated was impossible. Parliament had gone as far as it could go in that direction when it passed Lord Aberdeen's Bill." The noble lord added, that never since the Disruption had he felt more apprehension about the future of their Church. A third motion was proposed by Principal Tulloch, in We do not profess to understand this burst, but per- THE IRISH ASSEMBLY. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland commenced its sittings on the 1st of June, when the Rev. Charles L. Morrell of Dungannon was elected Moderator. As was to have been expected, there was a large attendance of members; and the Belfast public testified their deep interest in the proceedings by crowding the place of meeting to excess. On the second day, a lively but rather irregular discussion took place on the subject of the use of instrumental music in churches. A congregation in Enniskillen had taken it upon itself to employ a harmonium in worship, and neither the Presbytery nor Synod liking to interfere very decisively, the question of the lawfulness of the act was referred simpliciter to the Assembly. At first a strong indisposition was manifested to meddle with the case in such an unripe state. The inferior courts, it was argued, ought to have pronounced a judgment on the merits in the first instance, But ultimately a resolution was, by a great majority, adopted to the effect, "that the common law of the Presbyterian Church in this country excludes instrumental music." From a statistical report given in to the Assembly, we learn that to the 514 congregations belonging to the Irish Church there are attached 81,393 families, 111,298 communicants, 2116 ruling elders, and 7360 Sabbath-school teachers. The contributions to all objects for the year amounted to £94,218, being £10,448 over the sum reported last year. We regret, however, to observe that, owing to emigration and other causes, there has been a very considerable decrease in the number of members. The Report on the State of Religion is not so bright as it has been in some past years. In many places the once full and lively prayer-meetings are declining or altogether suspended; but there are other encouraging circumstances which in some measure compensate for that. The attendance on public worship keeps up; Sabbath-school work is carried on with unprecedented activity; there is a growing spirit of Christian liberality among the people; and there have been occasionally striking illustrations of the grace of God in the conversion of sinners." As to the various schemes in connection with which the Church seeks to take its share in the grand work of establishing the kingdom of Christ on the earth, these appear to be supported and prosecuted with remarkable zeal and energy; and in view of what we know of the personnel of its ministry and of the character of their operations, we have no hesitation in saying that the presence of such a community in Ireland at the present hour is in an eminent sense a token of good to that unhappy land. We believe that what blights it is its Popery; that the only effectual cure for its many evils is the spread of the true religion; and that the bud of blessing, which is, we hope, to break out into blossom by-and-by, is germinating now chiefly in the Presbyterian Church. 66 We are not in the least shaken in this conviction by the vote of the Assembly on the Establishment question. After three days' debate, the House, by a majority of 211 to 180, passed a series of Resolutions, the nature and drift of which may be gathered from the following Reasons of Dissent given in by the minority (reasons, by the way, which, with all due respect for Dr. Begg, we regard as not only extremely able in themselves, but as still quite untouched by the wordy answers of their gainsayers): "We, the undersigned ministers and elders, protest, &c.-1. Because, whilst said Resolutions profess to set forth the scriptural principles of our Ecclesiastical Establishment, they give a wrong view of these principles, by making endowment in all cases a necessary element of such Establishment -a view not in accordance with the Word of God or the Standards of this Church. 2. Because, when said Resolutions state that the Assembly are called upon in the present crisis to declare their unwavering adherence to the principles of an Ecclesiastical Establishment, such a declaration, in the present circumstances of the country, ought to have been accompanied by a statement that this Church disapproves of existing ecclesiastical arrangements in Ireland, and, in the absence of such statement, seems to commit us to a policy which tends to the perpetuation of the grant to Maynooth and to the upholding of the Church as by law established. 3. Because, the alternative before the country being one of either general endowment or a general disendowment, these Resolutions contain no protest against the former, and will, undoubtedly, be interpreted in favour of the latter. 4. Because we hold it to be the duty of the Assembly at this juncture to look, in the spirit of Christian patriotism, beyond its own immediate interests, and to declare that it prefers a system of general disendowment to a system of indiscriminate endowment-inasmuch as there is in one case merely the sacrifice of endowments, whilst in the other there is the sacrifice of the true principle of an Ecclesiastical Establishment." The debate appears to have been carried on in the midst of extraordinary excitement, the reporters having, we should think, an easy time of it amid the "loud laughter," and " great cheering," and terrible confusion," which made happy pauses for them continually in the heart of the torrents of eloquence which they were endeavouring to preserve. The Reasons of Dissent, quoted above, very clearly state the difference between the two parties. Dr. Kirkpatrick, followed by Mr. Macnaughton, Dr. M Cosh, Professor Wallace, and others, wished the Assembly to take up a position which would allow the Church to testify effectively against the immoral political device of the day-that of giving endowments indiscriminately to all religions alike; and with this end in view they desired the passage of Resolutions which would have sustained the ringing cry of, "Better no State aid at all, than a dole all round to Priest and Presbyter." Dr. Dill, on the other hand, along with Dr. Cooke, Dr. Porter, and the Magee Professors, were not prepared to make so light of the Regium Donum, but claiming to be for themselves the representatives of that ideal of excellence-a Free Established Churchwhile casting it up to their opponents that they had become converts to Voluntaryism, they asked the Assembly to unite with them in the endeavour to preserve their ancient principles and standing, leaving all debatable questions outside of them to be settled on their own merits. We were not astonished to learn that a majority of the members were found ready to side with Dr. Dill. Our wonder is that the majority was not larger. "One other such victory," says the "Nonconformist," "and the party which triumphs is undone." We all know how powerful is the logic of circumstances. It is easy to speak of "throwing endowments to the winds," but it is not quite so easy to do it; and while casting no reproach on the men who still cling to State aid, we greatly honour those who, for what they believe to be the greater good of the Church and country, are ready to make personal sacrifices. But we entertain no doubt either as to which is the winning side. Dr. Kirkpatrick has argument, public opinion, high and unselfish principle, and the sympathy of most onlooking Presbyterian Churches in his favour, and his ultimate success is inevitable. In the meantime, however, the decision in the Irish Assembly will be made capital of by politicians. In present circumstances it will be regarded as emasculating the testimony of that Church against the principle of "levelling up," and nobody need be surprised | if it is made to do duty against Mr. Gladstone's Resolutions. Already a Rev. Mr. Henderson, the Presbyterian minister of some charge in Ulster, has been represented as telling Mr. Disraeli that “a great majority of the ministers of his Church had stood boldly forward in defence of the Irish Establishment; and that for himself, he regarded it as the great bulwark of Protestantism in that country." No doubt, it is true that the Assembly has called this loose-tongued witness to account, and that he himself denies the accuracy of the reports; but it may not be convenient for the Premier to notice the correction, and he is not to be blamed if, seeing an influential deputation before him professing to report the state and feeling in the different religious communities in Ireland, he should take a Presbyterian minister's word for it that the Bishops and the General Assembly are prepared to stand or fall together. THE AMERICAN ASSEMBLIES. The Old School Assembly met at Albany on the 21st of May, when Dr. Musgrave of Philadelphia was elected Moderator. The Assembly of the New School met the same day at Harrisburgh, Pa., and elected as its Moderator Dr. Stearns of Newark, New Jersey. The subject which excited the deepest interest in both convocations was the proposed Re-union of the two Churches which they represented; and as we too have something like a personal concern in that event, some account of their proceedings in this connection may be acceptable to our readers. To understand the references in the Terms and speeches, it will be necessary to remember that the two bodies were once one-that they separated in 1838 -and that the grounds of the separation were some differences both in doctrine and administration. The Old School party stood by the old landmarks, and were unimpeachably orthodox and Presbyterian;- the New School men had a freer way of stating the extent of the Atonement, and in the new settlements of the Far West they were prepared so far to merge their own Church organization in that of the Congregationalists, as, for example, to give to Independent Committee men the standing in Church Courts of regularly ordained elders. Dr. Beatty gave in to the Old School Assembly the Report of the Joint-Committee, stating it at the same time to be practically unanimous. It is needless to give the whole of the proposed Terms of Re-union, because the most of them refer to matters of detail; but we are sure the following, containing the two main "Articles of Agreement," with the preamble introducing them, will be read with interest : "Believing that the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom would be promoted by healing our divisions; that practical Union would greatly augment the efficiency of the whole Church for the accomplishment of its divinelyappointed work; that the main causes producing divisions have either wholly passed away, or become so far inoperative, as that re-union is now 'consistent with agreement in doctrine, order and polity, on the basis of our common standards, and the prevalence of mutual confidence and love;" and that two bodies, bearing the same name, adopting the same constitution, and claiming the same corporate rights, cannot be justified by any but the most imperative reasons in maintaining separate and, in some respects, rival organizations; and regarding it as both just and proper that a re-union should be effected by the two Churches, as independent bodies, and on equal terms, we propose the following terms and recommendations, as suited to meet the demands of the case:— "1. The re-union shall be effected on the doctrinal and ecclesiastical basis of our common standards; the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments shall be acknowledged to be the inspired Word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice; the Confession of Faith shall continue to be sincerely received and adopted, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures'-it being understood that this Confession is received in its proper, historical-that is, the Calvinistic or Reformed-sense; it is also understood that various methods of viewing, stating, explaining and illustrating the doctrines of the Confession which do not impair the integrity of the Reformed or Calvinistic system, are to be freely allowed in the united Church, as they have hitherto been allowed in the separate Churches; and the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States shall be approved as containing the principles and rule of our polity. "2. All the ministers and Churches embraced in the two bodies shall be admitted to the same standing in the united body, which they may hold in their respective connections up to the consummation of the Union; imperfectly organized Churches shall be counselled and expected to become thoroughly Presbyterian, as early, within the period of five years, as is permitted by the highest interests to be consulted; and no other such Churches shall be hereafter received." Judge Leavitt of Cincinnati, after speaking in high terms of commendation of the spirit and ability of the Report, and after the Assembly had spent half an hour in prayer, submitted the following propositions:“1. That the basis be approved, and sent down to the Presbyteries for their action. "2. That the stated clerks of the General Presbyteries report to the stated clerks of the General Assembly. "3. That the Report of the Joint-Committee be printed and distributed among the Presbyteries." Dr. Hodge moved to substitute the word accepted for approved, that the Assembly, if it wanted to send down the matter to Presbyteries, might not be under the necessity of approving all the terms proposed." showing the great necessity for it in the West. As for the petty differences between the Old and the New Schools, it would puzzle some of our ministers to expound them to an outsider. Mr. Smith of Baltimore said there was not that unity of sentiment between the two bodies that made Union desirable. "We must go to them, or they must come to us; there is no middle ground, no compromise. We would not accept any four of their theological professors for four of ours; we would not commit our sons to them to be taught. We have distinct forms of thought. We are different Churches or denominations, and we cannot." Rev. Dr. Backus of Baltimore thought the Old School Presbyterian Church was not prepared for this Union. It is a great mistake, he said, to suppose that the Church is opposed to Union; but we do not understand the terms alike, and until there is a more substantial uniformity of opinion, it is better not to come together. At the late meeting of the Joint-Committee, one of the leading New School men declared that three-fourths of the New School are on the same platform of theology that they were on at the time of the division; and this opinion prevailed so that a basis of Union was believed to bo impossible until Dr. Gurley's amendment was adopted, | allowing each body to have all liberty in interpreting their doctrines as it has heretofore understood them. And so firmly was he convinced we are not agreed, that he would prefer to postpone the adoption of the present proposition, and with all kindness and tenderness seek conferences by committees with all the branches of the Presbyterian Church, to advance the spirit of Union, until finally an organic Union might be accomplished. Rev. Dr. Monfort of Cincinnati explained the views of the Joint-Committee, and stated that the remark quoted by Dr. Backus was disavowed by the New School brethren, and was afterwards qualified by the brother making it. It was testified by the members that the views of Mr. Barnes on the Atonement are not generally held in the New School Church, and the substantial soundness of the ministers was affirmed. The Committee were unanimous in their opinions that such is the fact. Mr. Day of New York spoke with great earnestness against taking up reports on hearsay testimony, when we have the documents and the statements of the Committee, which make us certain as to the truth that there is such harmony of sentiment as justifies our cordial Union. He traced the history of the movement, and in tender, eloquent terms urged its consummation. Rev. Mr. Bergen referred to Barnes, Beman, Gilbert, Beecher, Cox, and others, as authorized expounders of the New School theology, and as having shown such utter differences from the Old School system as to render harmonious Union impossible. He opposed large bodies in one organization, and thought it better to have smaller rather than larger. Dr. Hodge rejoiced over the love and harmony and courtesy that prevailed among those who differed about the subject in debate, but he was opposed to Re-union on the basis proposed. The whole thing, he said, may be thus condensed: "There are forms of doctrine which the whole Presbyterian Church has united in pronouncing inconsistent with the Confession, and only | New School brethren honestly believe that these forms are consistent with the Confession of Faith. Rev. Dr. Patterson, in the New School Assembly, justly states there that his Church is in the habit of receiving men with the views peculiar to Andover and New Haven, and they will do the same; and the question is, Will we agree to admit them as holding our doctrines?... I believe," he added, "that the time has come when you are to determine whether Old School Presbyterians are to live or die! If this Union takes place, we shall be one vast New School Church, and the Old School will be no more! But we are true Presbyterians, and we shall submit to lawful authority. To a constitutional decision we shall bow; but I trust this General Assembly will never say that the New School doctrines shall be the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church." Rev. Thomas P. Hunt argued that the division of 1838 was not caused by doctrinal differences. The Assembly did not turn one man out from the Church. The New School went out on account of the alleged wrong and injury of the "Rescinding Act." And as for the present state of opinion, he had travelled widely over the country and conversed with hundreds of New School men, and had never yet found one man who believed in Rev. W. Y. Allen made an earnest appeal for Union, the theology of Barnes, or Beman, or Duffield. Dr. Blanvelt of New Jersey opposed the substitute, and urged the Assembly to give a decided expression to its views. If they were not largely in favour of Union, it was not worth while at all to send the matter down. Judge Finley discussed the subject in its legal bearings, and pronounced it a perilous experiment to accomplish the Union. He believed that all property given to the Old School Assembly, in particular, would be endangered by coalescing with the New School. Henry Day, Esq., of New York, went over the whole ground involved, the doctrinal and legal, and urged that there are no obstacles in the law of the Church or of the land to prevent this Union. He stated that the laity almost unanimously demand the Union. The Moderator, Dr. Musgrave, by consent of the House, made a few remarks, showing the gradual progress of the New School toward the Old School in polity and doctrine; and added, "I believe the great mass of them are as sound as we are. If we are united, fundamental errors cannot be tolerated; and this must be distinctly understood. If we deal with heresy, we shall be a numerical majority." Dr. Humphrey contended that the distinction between the Old and the New School Churches is that the former holds to the strict, and the latter to a literal, interpretation of the Standards, and this renders them so dissimilar that it is a question whether they can be amalgamated harmoniously. Rev. Dr. Shedd said the question was what the New School Church was to-day, not what it was years ago; and he was prepared to bear testimony from the best possible opportunities of knowing the fact, that the New School is a sound Calvinistic body of Christians. He showed that in the Union, Auburn, and Lane Theological Seminaries they taught the same system of truth which was taught at Princeton. No one book in all their seminaries is more carefully thumbed than Hodge's "Outlines of Theology." Rev. Dr. Beatty, Chairman of the Joint-Committee, stated that the Committee had been true and faithful to the Church and to the truth. No seminary, he said, and no professor, had a right to set up his or its assertions as the authorized sense of the Church or its doctrines. They differed, and had a right to differ, among themselves. Chancellor Green, of New Jersey, gave his opinion on the question of property, and said that he did not believe there was any court of law that would take away any of the property from the Assembly. 'But," he went on to say, "shall we be deterred from doing what we think a duty for fear of losing property? Would any of us do so in our private capacity? As a trustee of Princeton, I would not hesitate to consummate this Union, if I thought we would lose every cent of the property." In the midst of the discussion, a telegram was received from the New School Assembly, announcing the unanimous adoption of the Joint-Committee's Terms of Reunion. The intelligence was received with lively applause, and ordered to be entered on the minutes. The final vote took place on Saturday the 29th, when 187 voted for the basis, and 69 against it. Dr. Humphrey gave notice, for himself and others, of their intention to protest against the decision; but the majority was regarded on all sides as overwhelming, and if threefourths of the Presbyteries concur, the Union will be consummated next year. In the New School Assembly, the feeling in favour of Union seems to have been from the outset more intense and more nearly unanimous. The following is a description by an eye-witness of the manner in which the Report of the Joint-Committee was received: "At the hour of eleven, every minister of the Assembly was in his seat, and the large audience-room was filled in every part, apparently. The Rev. Wm. Adams, D.D., of New York, Chairman of the Special Committee on Re-union, presented the long-looked for Report on the work of the Joint-Committee. To say that it was heard with almost breathless attention, expresses but faintly the interest of the Assembly. It was easy to see that their expectations were fully met. The applause with which various portions of it were received was hearty, and not to be suppressed. When the article on the doctrinal basis had been read, the satisfaction was loudly expressed. When the reading of the whole report was concluded, at the expiration of an hour, and the whole Assembly rose and sung, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," the burst of song filling the whole house gave unmistakable indications of the current of feeling which pervaded the Assembly, and which will surely sweep away all opposition to the plan of the Joint-Committee." At the same time, there were Anti-union men to be found here also. We mentioned in our last, that Dr. Patterson, of Chicago, was expected to resist the passing of the Report, and the expectation was fulfilled. He stated that, while he fully sympathized with the movement for Re-union, and cordially approved of last year's Report, he was altogether dissatisfied with the Report that had now been made. He begged leave, therefore, to present the reasons of his dissent, and indicate the general drift of his mind on the subject of Union. He then read a carefully prepared document embodying the views already given to the public through the columns of the " American Presbyterian" and other journals. His principal objection was to the doctrinal article, that it left "entirely unsettled the vital question, Whether all the various views that are treated as allowable by our Church as a body are to be allowed in like manner in the United Church? and the further question, Who is to decide what views do and what views do not impair the integrity of the Calvinistic system?" He objected to the article on the mixed Churches as equivocal, and implying excision and a breach of good faith. He insisted, also, that to yield the right of examination to every Presbytery in the reception of members, was putting the power in the hands of the O. S. portion of the Church, and conceding all that they have ever claimed and we have denied in the past controversies between us. He wanted also some specific statement of the powers of the General Assembly, restricting the exercise of their powers within proper limits, so as to preclude all possibility of a repetition of the high-handed measures of 1837. Dr. Spear, whom we also referred to in our last, gave in his adherence to the plan of Re-union. He intended to vote for the Report, even if his vote should determine the issue. He had been opposed to the proposition for Union, but he said that Union was predestinated by the Church. He was not altogether satisfied, but he would waive his objections, and go with the brethren for the good of the Church. Professor Smith said it had been alleged that the New School had received subscriptions to its Confession in an Arminian sense. It was necessary, therefore, in this basis to bind the united Church to the Calvinistic system. It was not a concession, but a flat and authorized denial, that the New School had departed from the Confession. He eloquently recounted the advantages of a perfect Union. Any price should be paid to attain it. There should be one true blue Presbyterian banner, to be carried all over the land. Rev. Dr. Hickok said the great body of the people of the Presbyterian Church, in both branches, were convinced that Union was right, and that disunion was wrong. Here was the index-finger of God pointing in the right direction. They must go that way. The great inward spirit of prayer was guiding them, and it should not be resisted. The venerable John Rankin, one of the patriarchs of Southern Ohio, made a speech replete with piety and good sense. He maintained that there never had been any great doctrinal difference between the two schools. He himself had been always Old School in doctrine, but he found himself most at home in his present connection. The Hon. William E. Dodge, of New York, spoke warmly in favour of the Report, and said he believed the very best arrangements had been made by the Joint-Committee. Elder Arthur Morrison, of the Presbytery of Dubuque, said that he had travelled 1200 miles to vote for the Union, and could not be scared out of it by that Tenth Article [the article which gave a right to Presbyteries to examine applicants for admission]. If a minister had clean papers, it was not likely he would be examined. If he was not a good Presbyterian, he should be rejected. If he was a good Presbyterian, he ought not to object to a few simple gentlemanly questions on that subject. Ultimately, as it appeared that, while there was a general approval of the Report, two of the Articles were objected to by some of the members, it was agreed to suspend the Standing Orders and call the roll informally; to give all who desired it an opportunity to express their dissent in a word. The result was that 28 ministers and 7 elders dissented from the Tenth Article; 1 elder to the Second Article; and of those who thus dissented to the Tenth Article, 2 ministers and 2 elders dissented also from the Second. The whole number of dissents recorded, in this way, on the minutes, was 36, of which only 8 were those of elders. This process having been completed, the regular order was resumed, and the question recurred to the adoption of the Report of the Special Committee, approving of the basis of Re-union, and ordering it to be sent to the Presbyteries as an overture. The question was taken by a standing vote, Dr. Patterson and two or three others having been previously excused from voting. When the affirmative was called, the assembly, in a vast body, sprang to their feet. When they had resumed their seats, the negative was called, without a single response; and the Report was then declared to be adopted unanimously. These are events which will be regarded with intense interest by every Presbyterian Church in the world. It would of course be presumptuous in us to pronounce an opinion on the merits of the matters which formed the ground of disputation in the Assemblies; but we can fully appreciate the excellence of the spirit which animated the two bodies, and all our sympathies go with the Re-union which now seems certain to be consummated. THE ENGLISH EVANGELICALS. The proposal to disestablish the Irish Church is calling forth from some of the organs of the Church of England bursts of indignation so violent and so incoherent that we may well rejoice in the controversy which has been raised about the relations of Church and State as affording some hope that thereby the deplorable darkness which now prevails in many quarters may in some degree be dissipated. We are not surprised at keen feeling being displayed. We can make every allowance for that. But it is another matter when a Parliamentary proposition, which has received the support of thoughtful men in all communities, is ascribed to "insanity" on the part of its author, and when in opposing it two such positions as these are taken up,-either, first, that the Church can have no independent existence as such apart from the State, or that, without the State's aid, it cannot hope to carry out with any efficiency the great commission which its divine Head intrusted it to execute. The "insanity" theory is that which has been suggested by the "Rock;" the Church's phantom character is stated with most explicitness in the "Globe." "A Church," says the latter, "differs from a sect mainly in this, that it is of the essence of a State. . . We are unable to conceive a Church of England independent of the State of England." While views like these are finding expression in high quarters, we regret exceedingly to observe how ill-prepared the Evangelical party are to meet them. That they believe in a visible Church which may exist apart from the State, and may, by the blessing of Christ, do a good work in the world, we do not doubt; but they want a hearty faith in such a principle, and they have no confidence in themselves. The consequence is that they try to run for shelter in troublous times to questionable refuges, and manifest a most unhappy dread of Church Assemblies and public discussion. One of the refuges they most delight in is the Queen's Supremacy. We do not believe that this delight is indicative of any genuine love for Erastianism. We are sure that they value the ægis of the Crown just because they think it their only present defence against currents of evil which they feel themselves unable to resist. But it gives one the heartache to see men whom we so sincerely respect and admire lending their countenance, especially in those days, to a doctrine about the relation of the State to the Church, which is fraught with danger to the cause of our common Christianity. If the Queen's Supremacy be what they say it is a bar for the moment against the progress of Ritualism-we can understand why they should be content in the meantime to acquiesce in it; but it is, we confess, to us rather an affecting sight to see the "Record" not only hugging its chains, but exulting in the discovery that other Churches are as little free as that of England. That paper described lately with great gusto the close of the Established Church Assemblya ceremony which, it says, "Free Church journals rather delight to omit, for obvious reasons,"—and it informed its readers that, as the opening of the Assembly was illegal until the Queen's Commission was read and the Lord High Commissioner had taken his place on his throne, amid the booming of the Castle guns, so at the close the Queen still asserted her right as "Supreme Ordinary." We do not know what are the "obvious reasons to which the "Record" refers as sealing the mouths of Free Church journalists. It does not much concern us now in what form the Assembly of the Establishment is opened or closed; but if our contemporary imagines that the Church of Scotland before the Disruption did not claim the right to hold Assemblies by the authority of its divine Head alone, we can only say that he is lamentably ignorant of its history and constitution. If the Evangelicals are satisfied to fight the great battle of the truth in the way they are now doing, one need not be a prophet in order to be qualified to foretell that they will soon enough taste of failure and disaster. The barrier of "the Crown" is a poor defence against the living intellects and earnest faith and fearless courage of a great religious party. Error can be confounded and the truth advanced only by equal courage and equal faith, and we cannot express a better wish for those who are put in trust with the pure Evangel in the Church of England than that God may speedily raise up among them a leader, who shall not merely be a good parochial clergyman, but who shall have genius enough to conceive a wise and generous plan of ecclesiastical policy, and boldness enough to contend for it against all comers. MISCELLANEA. Dr. Calderwood, author of the "Philosophy of the Infinite," and one of the ablest of the Glasgow United Presbyterian ministers, has been appointed by the Curators of the University of Edinburgh to succeed Professor Macdougal in the Chair of Moral Philosophy. We see it stated that Dr. King is to be recalled from London to succeed Dr. Calderwood. Two prominent Free Church ministers are at present under call to London-Mr. Wilson, of the Barclay Church, to Regent's Square; and Mr. D. Fraser, of Inverness, to Marylebone. We regret to observe an announcement of the death of the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, late President of the Lancashire Independent College. He was at one time Professor of History in the University of London-more recently he had edited the "British Quarterly Review;" and so little was it expected that his day of work was so nearly over, that he had within the last year commenced a new and hopeful Congregational Cause " (as the English Nonconformists call it) in the town of Torquay. The "Spectator" says that "one of the most marked signs of the times in Catholic countries is the extent to which irreligion is becoming a religion-a fanaticism as fierce and as propagandist as that of any creed has ever been;" and it agrees with M. de Montalembert, who has declared publicly his belief that “paganism is winning, that the Continent is on the eve of a burst of irreligion, or hatred to religion, such as even the Revolution did not produce, in which all institutions claiming to be divine will be overthrown, and men commence the organization of a new and secularist world." In the Old School Assembly, a unanimous vote was come to expressive of the satisfaction felt at the acceptance by Dr. M'Cosh of the Princeton Presidency. An immense German Catholic procession passed through the streets of New York on the last Sabbath of May, during the hours of divine service, with rifle companies, bands of music, and banners. The din drowned the voices of the preachers whose churches were passed, and in at least one instance the worship had to be suspended altogether. Romanism is a great power in New York, but if its Protestant citizens submit to a repetition of such an outrage, they will deserve no sympathy. During the sittings of the New School Assembly at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Moderator and members paid their respects to the Governor of the State in the Executive Mansion, and were received by him with great cordiality. On another day they made an excursion to Gettysburg, and walked over the famous battlefield in which Lee was defeated. FROM OUR GERMAN CORRESPONDENT. You ask me to inform you of religious progress in Germany, and I shall with pleasure contribute what I can with this object. In writing you, I shall not regard it as my duty to deal with German theology. Many of your own theologians are thoroughly versant with this. It will be rather my design to tell you of what is going on in the Church and world in Germany in relation to the gospel. The progress of events here really merits attention; and now that the Evangelical Churches feel liged to choose three, their right would have been virtually lost. The Government of Baden, besides, had good reason for their refusal. Kitteler, the Bishop of Mayence, whom the Chapter wished to have, is hostile to the independence of Southern Germany. His influence, had he been elected, would have been given in favour of France and against his own country. As regards Austria, it is most satisfactory that, in reference to marriage, education, and relations between Churches, the State now assumes an impartial place. It is not yet known what Rome will do, but it is not unlikely to adopt an extreme course. Meanwhile, the Bishop of Brunn and Moravia has openly declared that all will be considered guilty of sacrilege, and liable to extreme ecclesiastical pains, who submit to these new detestable laws which have been passed. There is here an illustration of the difference betwixt Protestantism and Popery. You in Scotland, when the State demanded of you what you could not concede, honour and abandoned your temporal goods; but the Romish hierarchy will make no such concessions. With arrogance, it insists on the right to dictate to the civil magistrate what his duties are, and by spiritual penalties to enforce its demands. T. NELSON AND SONS' PUBLICATIONS. NOW READY, D.D., Author of "Outlines of Theology." Edited by W. Next month I trust to give you an account of the festival in honour of Luther at Worms. A noble monument has been erected to his honour there, and its unveiling is an event of interest not only to Germany but to all Evangelical Protestatism. Meanwhile, let me briefly note the leading ecclesiastical events of the month. There has been a meeting of the Protestant Union at Bremen. This congress, I may say, is composed of Broad Church Christians, to use an English phrase, but I do not know if even this characterizes them definitely. They go further than even Dr. Stanleyaud that is saying a great deal. The Alliance was welcomed to Bremen by the educational director, Mr. Lüben, in a speech conspicuous only for its uttering your Master, rendered to Cæsar all that was his, repudiation of our Confessional Christianity. Then there followed a sermon by a Dr. Schwall of Bremen, denying openly the inspiration of the Bible, the divinity of Christ, miracles, and the resurrection! Jesus, according to him, is the central point of the gospel, not in his doctrine, but in his life; he did not found a religion, but religiousness, awakening and enlivening by his discourses the divine forces that lie in the human heart. How a theologian like Baumgarten can associate with men who thus repudiate all positive Christianity, it is hard to understand. The written apology which he The Atonement. By the Rev. A. A. HODGE, makes is substantially that Christianity is a science; that the orthodox often indulge in extravagances; and that it is well, as a counterbalance, to admit the opposite party. We do not often agree with the Kreuz Zeitung" journal, but its strictures on the Bremen Alliance seem to me just. “If you wish,” it says, “ the old flat rationalism, go to China; if you would frequent the temple of the senses with their intoxication, visit Mecca; if there is earnestness in your pantheism, you may learn much on the banks of the Ganges." I may notice that the Church and State theory of this Protestant illuminated party is quite analogous to that of Dr. Stanley. Dr. Bluntschli, an able Heidelberg professor, and a member of the recent Zollverein Congress at Berlin, made a speech pointing in Dr. Stanley's direction, advocating not the disendowment of the Church, but as he would have it-its liberation; religiousness, not religion, being its end. This tendency of heterodoxy in the Established Churches of England and Germany-I suppose I may add in Scotland-seems to me a new argument in favour of a separation of Church and State; in such times as the present, at least. In millennial days, when society, with all its institutions, will rest on a Christian basis, the question may well be entertained,-Cannot society, as a corporation as well as in its individuals, help the gospel? And we have no hesitation in our answer to this, but the Church of Christ has fallen now on very different times. In Southern Germany, Ultramontanism is arming itself to the teeth. One of our German politicians has justly observed, that if Rome dare not appeal to religious passions as formerly in the Thirty Years' War, yet, indirectly, it is sparing no effort to excite war. No one can listen to the discourses of Dupanloup or of the Abbé Baur at Paris, as I have done, without being persuaded Extract from Letter by the Author to the Editor of this Edition." This work has been written with a view to meet the rationalistic speculations of the present day as to the nature of sin, the extent of human depravity and moral ability, the nature of our connection with Adam, the nature and extent of the Atonement, &c. &c. So much has been written that is positively false, or fatally defective, by Maurice, Jowett, Bushnell, and others, that it appeared high time that those who love the truth should rouse themselves to do what they can to defend and exalt it." VALUABLE WORK FOR MINISTERS, STUDENTS, AND Outlines of Theology. By the Rev. A. A. "We can best show our appreciation of this able body of divinity by mentioning that we have used it in our college with much satisfaction both to tutor and students. We intend to make it a class book, and urge all young men who are anxious to become good theologians, to master it thoroughly. Of course we do not endorse the chapter on baptism. To a few of the Doctor's opinions in other parts we might object, but as a handbook of theology, in our judgment, it is like Goliath's sword-'there is none like it.'" -Spurgeon. HANDSOME PRESENT BOOK.: The Bird. By JULES MICHELET, Author of "History of France," &c. This beautiful volume is Illustrated by Two HUNDRED AND TEN EXQUISITE ENGRAVINGS BY GIACOMELLI, Doré's Collaborateur on his celebrated Bible. Imperial 8vo, handsomely bound in Cloth and Gold. Price 10s. 6d. "It is a charming book to read, and a most valuable volume to think over.... It was a wise, and we cannot doubt it will be a profitable, duty to publish it here, where it must take a place second only to that it occupies in the language in which it was written. The Engravings on wood are of a very masterly character; they are all firstclass, admirably drawn and exquisitely engraved; they may be classed, indeed, with the best productions of the art that have been produced in our age; and Messrs. Nelson have done full justice to them in the minor accessories of paper and print."-The Art Journal. NEW GIFT-BOOK FOR BOYS. that Rome favours a great Franco-German war. Even The Playground and the Parlour: A Père Hyacinthe, of whom better things might have been Handbook of Boys' Games, Sports, and Amusements. By ALFRED ELLIOTT. With One Hundred Illustrations. Post 8vo. Price 4s. All the games that boys most delight in-from the ancient "Prisoner's Base" to the modern La Crosse," and from "Cricket" to "Croquet"-are here described in easy and agreeable language. Sports suitable for indoor amusement are also included, and plain directions for keeping pet birds; while Angling, Archery, Boating, Swimming, and other athletic occupations, are illustrated with anecdote and quotation. It is believed that, considering its price and portable size, this is the most comprehensive work on boys' games ever published. Just published, Their His tory, Phenomena, and Probable Causes. By MUNGO PON- The Chapter of the Cathedral of Freyburg is now in open war with the Baden Government. The Grand Duke is naturally detested by the Ultramontanes, because he is favourable to the North German Confederation and Prussia. It is the usage in the country that the Cathedral Chapter present a number of candidates Earthquakes and Volcanoes. for the vacant office of Archbishop of Freyburg, the Crown reserving the right of veto. On the occasion of the last nomination, all those proposed save one, Dr. Orbin, were rejected by the ministry. The Chapter pretend that this is contrary to their rights, as at least three ought to have been left. I have no sympathy Round the World. A Story of Travel with them on this view, even as regards legal right. We may view the question in connection with our own old veto law. The congregation had by it an absolute veto on the appointment of the patron; had they been ob 'Just published, compiled from the Narrative of Ida Pfeiffer. By D. MURRAY SMITH, Author of "Karl-of-the-Locket and his Three Wishes." With numerous Engravings. Foolscap 8vo, cloth. Price 28. T. NELSON AND SONS, London, Edinburgh, and Now York. MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE AT MODERATE PREMIUMS. The Scottish Provident Institution. A HEAD OFFICE-No. 6 St. Andrew Square, EDINBURGH. COMPARISON of the Rates and Provisions of this Office with those of JAMES NISBET AND CO.'S PUBLICATIONS. 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