ing. Messrs Paterson and M'Leod were appointed members of the Synod's Committee of bills and overtures. A special meeting was appointed on the 19th April, for missionary business, on which occasion Mr Inglis is to deliver an address on missions, and Messrs Paterson and M'Leod are to lead the devotions of the presbytery.

Inverness. At the meeting of this presbytery, held at Campbelton on the 5th instant, the Rev. Alexander Munro of Inverness brought forward an overture praying the Synod to sanction and recommend the opening of fraternal intercourse with the Free Church, with a view to ultimate union. The overture was favourably received by the presbytery, but on a vote, Transmit or Delay, the latter was carried by a majority of one.

Kelso. This presbytery met on the 15th March-Rev. D. Barclay, moderator. Mr James Scott, student of the third year, delivered a discourse, and was examined to the satisfaction of the court in theology and Hebrew, and had additional pieces of trial prescribed to him. Reports from the congregations of Kelso were received, as to the collection of 13th February having been made for the liquidation of Debt Board. The Report from the Committee on the Better Support of the Gospel Ministry was remitted to sessions, with a recommendation that the opinions of sessions should be communicated to next meeting. The annual production of session records was called for. The Rev. Mr Renton submitted the following overtures to Synod, which the presbytery adopted, and agreed to transmit:-1. Overture anent minutes of synod and its committees. 2. Overture anent moderator's nomination of members of committees. 3. Overture anent introduction of strangers and documents from parties met under the inspection of the synod. 4. Overture anent the time of the meeting of synod. Agreed to renew, in a petition to the House of Commons, the presbytery's expression of their disapproval of the Tests affecting the Scottish University chairs. The next meeting was fixed to be held on the 19th April. The presbytery met as appointed, when Mr James Scott, student, was examined in the portions of Latin, Greek, and Church history prescribed, with which cordial approval was expressed. Reports were received from the congregations of Morebattle and Yetholm, that the collection had been made for the liquidation of Debt Board. Three churches in arrears are instructed to give attention to the same. The convener of Committee on Annual Statistics presented a digest, which was again rcmitted for more deliberate consideration. Returns were received from two congrega

tions as to the better support of the Gospel ministry. It was presumed that the others adhered to the opinion expressed last year on the subject, which was in favour of the committee's recommendations, if found practicable; and the presbytery agreed to report in terms of their decision of same date, which contained the special recommendation, that in future no minister be ordained under the minimum stipend of L.100, exclusive of manse. Records of sessions not given in now, were ordered to be left with the clerk before 31st May, and a committee appointed to examine them. Messrs Cranstoun and Monteath, ministers, were chosen members of the Committee on Bills and Overtures. A petition was read from the church of Leitholm, craving a renewal of the grant in aid of stipend, together with a half-yearly return of financial condition. The presbytery unanimously agreed to recommend to the Home Mission Committee that the present grant be con. tinued; and in the event of the congregation increasing their own amount, suggested the propriety of a corresponding increase by the committee. On the motion of Mr Jarvie, the presbytery adopted and transmitted an overture to Synod anent the more adequate remuneration of the professors and librarian of the Hall of Theology. The next meeting was appointed to be held on the third Tuesday of June.

Kilmarnock. This presbytery met on 13th April. Mr William Taylor, probationer, intimated his acceptance of the call from Kilmaurs, in preference to that from Sanquhar (South Congregation). In intimating this decision, he observed that the step he was about to take might appear hurried, but such was not the case, for the call from Kilmaurs had been virtually, although not officially, before him for the last two months, and the call to Sanquhar had been also before him for five weeks, and had now been sustained and formally presented to him. He was, therefore, in a position to give his decision upon the subject, and this he would now do by accepting heartily and entirely of the call to the congregation of Kilmaurs. There were two reasons which induced him to come to this determination. The first was in reference to Kilmaurs-the state of the congregation there-the length of time it had been vacant--and the consequences that might result from another refusal. The second was in reference to Sanquhar, and to the spirit which that congregation had manifested, more especially in the arrangement of their pecuniary affairs, which was anything but satisfactory. That spirit, he thought, required to be checked-that spirit he was in a position to check, inasmuch as, in accepting Kilmaurs, he took a stipend which was much smaller than that

offered by Sanquhar, even although that was considerably less now than the income enjoyed by their late pastor. Independently of that, however, the leadings of God's providence, so far as he could ascertain, seemed conducting him to Kilmaurs ; and he therefore most cheerfully accepted of the call. This announcement was received with marked approbation by all the members of the Court, and trials for ordination were prescribed. On petition from the churches of Ayr. (Cathcart Street) and Troon, Mr Knox was appointed to moderate in a call at Cathcart Street, and Mr M'Gregor at Kilwinning, both on the 25th April.

Lanark. This presbytery met on the 19th of April-the Rev. Robert Cordiner, moderator. Mr Aikman, student in divinity, delivered a homily, which, after some critical remarks, was sustained. The remit of synod regarding "Congregational Finance" was again taken up and considered. Written answers to queries which had been transmitted to them were received from nearly all the congregations within the bounds. The questions, with the answers given to them by these congregations, were then read seriatim. After some conversation the former committee, along with the clerk, were appointed to prepare a digest of the answers, and to transmit this, along with the questions, to the Synod as the report of this presbytery. A number of congregations reported that they had made the collection ordered by the Synod for the Liquidation of Debt on Churches Fund." All the students under the superintendence of the presbytery were enjoined to be present for examination on the exercises prescribed to them at next meeting, which was appointed to be held on Tuesday the 7th of June. The Rev. James Dunlop was chosen moderator for the next twelve months.

Paisley and Greenock.-This presbytery met at Greenock, 19th April-the Rev. Sutherland Sinclair, moderator. Mr George Sandy, under call to Gourock, delivered all his trial discourses, and his ordination was appointed to take place on the 17th of May next-the Rev. James Dunlop to preach, the Rev. James Meikle to ordain, and the Rev. George Brooks to address the congregation. Mr Robert Knox, student, was licensed to preach the gospel. An overture on the subject of the better support of the Gospel Ministry was adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to the Synod.

Stirling.-This presbytery met on the 5th of April. Mr John More, preacher, having delivered his remaining trials, was appointed to be ordained at Alloa on the 20th of April-Mr Hunter to preach, and Mr Gilfillan to preside and give the charges to minister and people. Messrs David Rin

toul, student in divinity of the 4th year, and Mr Robert Ewing, of the 2d year, were examined by Mr Brown on the history of the British Reformation, and of our own Church. They and Mr Thomas Russell, of the 1st year, delivered discourses. The presbytery had under their consideration the subject of the more liberal support of the ministry, which, from the pressure of other business, had been delayed at the meeting in February. They agreed to state that their only difficulty in the matter relates to the ways and means; and that they will be happy if measures can be devised for accomplishing an object of which they cordially approve. The members were appointed to forward to the clerk the information required by the Synod in reference to the financial regulations of their congregations. Mr Russell of Bucklyvie and Mr John G. Aitken were appointed members, for this presbytery, of the Synod's Committee of Bills.

by Mr Daniel M'Lean, Mr John Robson, Mr George Wade, Mr James Paterson, and Mr James Muir. The annual sermon of the society was preached on the evening of

the preceding Sabbath in Renfield Street Church, by the Rev. Dr Robertson, when a collection was made in behalf of the Nova Scotia Academy.

SLAVERY AND THE AMERICAN CHURCHES.

FROM an address which has just been issued by the committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society we extract the following statements, showing how slavery is interwoven with the churches and religious institutions of the United States, and what is the duty demanded of Christians in this country in relation to this state of things:

"At the present time, when, by a concurrence of circumstances, some of a deeply painful, others of a more cheering character, the attention of the whole civilised world has been specially turned towards American slavery, the committee feel it to be incumbent upon them strenuously to recommend Christians of all denominations in the United Kingdom, and especially Christian ministers, to adopt towards such of their brethren in America as are involved in the guilt of slavery, a specific course of action, based on the principles embodied in this appeal. As a first step, the committee would respectfully suggest that they should address to their corresponding denominations in the United States, a solemn and Christian remonstrance against the guilt and sin of slave-holding, entreating them to bear an open and uncompromising testimony against it, and to use their influence to effect its immediate removal."

In an appendix, the committee furnish a statistical account of the extent to which the American churches, missionary associations, and religious societies, are directly implicated in slave-holding, or otherwise instrumental in supporting the system.

United States amounts to 3,300,000 in round numbers, of which the above list includes only a fifth..

Religious Societies that refuse to treat slave-holding as a sin:

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; American Home Missionary Society; American Bible Society; American Baptist Missionary Union; American Baptist Home Mission Society; American Baptist Publication Society; American Bible Union; American and Foreign Bible Society; American Tract Society; American Sunday School Union; the Missionary Societies of the Protestant Methodist, Episcopal Methodist, and Moravian bodies respectively.

It is only an act of justice to the churches and missionary associations which have refused to receive slaveholders as members, to record their names in honourable contrast with those who are implicated in the enormous iniquity of slave-holding. They are therefore subjoined :

American Baptist Free Mission Society, aided by about 10,000 members; American Missionary Association, aided by 20,000; American Free Presbyterians, nearly 1000; American Free Will Baptists, 49,215; American "Friends," 300 congregations; American Covenanters, a few hundreds ; American Wesleyan Methodist, 20,000.

BRITISH ANTI-SLAVERY SENTIMENT-
MRS STOWE.

WE gladly join our voice in the welcome, which now echoes throughout Great Britain, to Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe, the gifted authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Negro Life in America." In company with her husband, Professor Stowe of Andover, and other near relatives, she has landed on our shores, in compliance with the invitation of the friends of the negro, in Glasgow. The manner of her reception deserves to be noticed as a great fact, strongly indicative of the depth and breadth of the anti-slavery sentiment among us. On Monday morning, 1st April, the day after her arrival at Liverpool, where she was the guest of the Hon. Mrs Cropper, an address of congratulation was delivered by the Rev. Hugh M'Neile, in name of the friends assembled. On Tuesday evening, at a great public meeting, she was presented, by the ladies

of Liverpool, with a testimonial,-an elegantly worked purse, containing one hundred and thirty sovereigns. At half-past ten o'clock on Wednesday night, a vast throng of people, including a number of ladies and ministers, had met at the railway station to wait her arrival in Glasgow, where she was received by Bailie Paton and Dr Robson. Addresses from various bodies which have identified themselves with the cause of humanity and liberty were presented to her during her stay in Glasgow; and much attention paid to her by the Lord Provost and other distinguished citizens. On Friday evening she received Glasgow's peculiar ovation-a City Hall Soiree when the company, upwards of 2000 persons, was too large to be accommodated at tea in that capacious building, and had to be entertained separately till the repast was over. On the appearance of Mrs Stowe, Professor Stowe, and Rev. Mr Beecher, on the platform, the assembly simultaneously rose to their feet, and greeted the lady again and again with a reception as cordial and enthusiastic as ever was accorded to any celebrity in the city of Glasgow. On the platform were a great many of the most esteemed and distinguished clergymen and laymen of the city. Bailie M'Dowall occupied the chair, and in an admirable speech gave the key-note to the subsequent proceedings. The meeting was addressed by Dr Wardlaw, the venerable and veteran advocate of the rights of the slave, Dr Robson, Professor Stowe, Rev. Mr Beecher, Dr King, Dr Smyth, Dr Runciman, Rev. Mr Edmond, and Rev. Mr Guthrie. Again, on Saturday evening, a soiree of the working-classes was held in honour and welcome of Mrs Stowe in the City Hall, Bailie Paton presiding; and on the evening of Wednesday, 20th April, an equally enthusiastic demonstration was made in her favour in the metropolis of Scotland, when the largest place of meeting the Music Hall-was needed for the accommodation of the admirers there. During their stay in Edinburgh, Mrs Stowe and her party were guests of the Lord Provost's. Several invitations to other large towns in Scotland Mrs Stowe has been constrained to decline.

Another demonstration equally emphatic, and more peculiarly striking, seems to be awaiting this noble daughter of genius and philanthropy, at the approaching meeting of the Bible Society in London, where, of course, she will be present. It appears that one of the delegates appointed to that meeting by the American Bible Society, is a Rev. Dr Prince of New York, who has distinguished himself as a bitter opposer of the Anti-Slavery movement, and has denounced "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as an

"Anti-christian book." Such an appointment will be felt by the friends of the Bible Society here, if not as an open insult to the Christians of this country, at least as a bold and rash experiment upon our christian forbearance. How to adjust the claims of courteous hospitality on the one hand, and those of self-respect and outraged humanity on the other, will be felt to be no easy problem by the audience in Exeter Hall. İf, as perhaps will be best, they allow the reverend advocate of slavery and the fugitive law to utter his admiration of the Bible, without any interruption expressive of their pent-up feelings, they will, no doubt, relieve themselves by a more than ordinary burst of admiring applause in favour of the christian lady whom he has maligned, and the noble cause with which she has inseparably linked her name. While protesting against such an excruciating test of British urbanity as this unhappy appointment seems to involve, we still hope that only such an expression of feeling will be given, as shall attest our determined regard for the claims of oppressed humanity, without injuring the moral weight of our opinion in the estimation of the misguided brethren by whom slavery is upheld.

SCOTTISH ANTI-STATE CHURCH ASSOCIATION. SINCE the accession of its able and efficient secretary, Mr Allen, this association has been proceeding in its good work like a giant refreshed. Meetings for the advancement of its objects have been held recently in all the principal towns in Scotland, and such a degree of interest excited as reminds one of the heroic age of Voluntaryism, when the cause started from obscurity, and almost contempt, into one of the great public questions of the day. In former times the friends of the Voluntary principle stood much indebted to a party in the Established Church, who seconded their efforts by measures of assumption and aggression, displaying the compulsory system in a more scandalous light than it had appeared in before. Many of the chief movers in the endowment scheme of that day survive still, though in very different circumstances as regards the civil government; and some of them, as members of the Free Church, have begun to renew, in a similar fashion, the good service they formerly did to the cause of free Christianity. We find the following morsel in the news of the week:

"At the meeting of the Free Church Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, held on Tuesday, 11th April, an overture was adopted, setting forth 'that at a fitting time the Legislature should be approached with a view to recognising the principles contained in the Bill of Rights, and that the General Assembly should adopt

such other measures as to them in their wisdom should seem meet.' The Rev. James Gibson, in introducing the overture, said, The Free Church of Scotland possessed the right to all the privileges, immunities, aye, and even the endowments too, of the State. If ever there were a time since the disruption when it was fitting to go to the Legislature on the subject, it was now. Who were the men who were instrumental in driving them, not from the Church of Scotland-for they took the Church of Scotland with them-but from the Establishment? Sir Robert Peel was now gone to his account, but Sir James Graham and the present Prime Minister, the Earl of Aberdeen, were both instrumental in driving them from the Establishment, and, if report spoke truly, they knew that in so doing they had done, if not a moral wrong, at least they had committed a political blunder. Why, therefore, should the Free Church not go and let the sin of these men stare them in the face? If they confessed their error in private, why should they not be made to confess it publicly?'"

What the Free Church Assembly will do with this overture, it is not for us to predict; and though the favour it has met with in the inferior judicatories is fitted to awaken suspicion, and stimulate watchfulness, we are unwilling to assume that it expresses the mind of the Free Church generally, till we hear of the deliverance of the supreme court regarding it. Meanwhile we only remark, that the renewed agitation of such claims at the present time is most opportune for the objects of the AntiState Church Society, and that it is matter of congratulation that such a society exists, to keep an eye on the field of action, and sound a note of warning, which may be heard through all the country at once, should the danger become more imminent, which threatens us from this or any other question.

"The annual meeting of the members of the association was held on Tuesday evening, 12th April, in the Trades' Hall, Glasgow,David Anderson, Esq., in the chair. On the platform were the Rev. Dr Wardlaw, Rev. Dr Baird of Paisley, Rev. Dr James Robertson of Glasgow, Rev. Dr King, Rev. Mr M'Gill, Rev. Mr Burgess, Rev. Mr Williams, Rev. Wm. Allen, Bailie Macgregor, Deacon Convener Yuille, Henry Bruce, Esq., G. C. Dick, Esq., Gavin Walker, Esq., James Gray, Esq., and other leading friends of the Voluntary cause. The Rev. Wm. Allen, secretary, read a very interesting report of the society's proceedings during the last twelve months.

"The report stated that, owing to the excitement occasioned by the general election, the committee were not able to accomplish so much for the association as they desired. But though little had been done for the organization, much had been done for the principles of the association. Dissenters had adopted a new policy at the election, and the result was

that seven members have been sent to the House who are opposed to all endowments of religion, and these seven represent 23,500 out of the 46,000 burgh electors of Scotland; and no doubt many members who have not committed themselves to Anti-State Church principles will, in consequence of the discussion of them at the last election, give them more careful study, and be more cautious in recording their votes on ecclesiastical questions. Every honourable effort was made by the Executive to induce Free Churchmen, who have no interest in upholding any endowment now in existence, to unite with Dissenters, but except in a few gratifying cases without avail. The report referred to the proceedings of the committee in reference to the Religious Equality Movement in Ireland, the Annuity-tax in Edinburgh, and the Canada Clergy Reserves, in all of which cases action had been taken, founded upon the principles of the association. The appointment of the Rev. William Allen as secretary was mentioned as an important step in the progress of the society, and most honourable reference was made to Robert Millan, Esq., Edinburgh, for his valuable services as interim secretary. The committee contemplate the publication of a monthly report, to contain articles, intelligence, and lists of subscriptions. Branch associations have been formed in twenty-one towns, and meetings held in many of the most important in the kingdom, and members are daily increasing. The committee urged the meeting to increased efforts. The corruption of the English Church, the oppression of the Irish, and the unsatisfactory position of the clergy of the Free Church, who, at least many of them, are disposed to ask reendowment from the State, show that AntiState Church principles must be re-discussed, and never again be allowed to fall into abeyance.'

"

In the subsequent proceedings the following speakers took part:-Dr Baird, Dr Robertson, Dr King, Mr Williams, and Mr Dick, and Mr Yuille. The principal Mr M'Gill, ministers; and Mr Walker, resolutions adopted were as follows:

"That the measures, ecclesiastical and political, now before the House of Commons, or shortly to be introduced, will afford opportunities highly favourable to the ultimate objects of the Scottish Anti-State Church Association;" and, "that faithfulness to principle, and a just regard to the signs of the times, require those who are opposed to all State endowments of religion to give practical exposition of their principles on every suitable occasion, and to aid the Scottish Anti-State Church Association in its efforts to enlighten and move the public mind."

BRITISH ANTI-STATE CHURCH ASSOCIATION.

FROM a circular addressed to the members of the Council, we learn that the Third Triennial Conference of this Association