made the annual collections for the Synod's General Fund; and such congregations as were defaulters, were ordered to make it without delay. It was ordered, that all the students of theology within the Presbytery, be informed of the injunction of Synod, at its last meeting, relative to their preaching at any time in vacant congregations. Agreed to consider at next meeting the draft of a summary of principles; also, to take steps on the question of national education; and, in the meantime, appointed a committee to communicate with the Synod's committee on public questions on the subject, and, if necessary, to call a pro re nata meeting of Presbytery to consider it. Next meeting at Brechin on February 7.

Cupar.-This Presbytery met in Burnside church session-house on Tuesday, December 13; Mr. Wise, moderator. The committee appointed to visit Kilconquhar congregation gave in their report, and it was agreed unanimously to transmit a copy of this report to the Home Mission Committee, with a strong recommendation to receive Kilconquhar into the number of their supplemented churches. Read a petition from Kettle, praying the Presbytery to appoint one of their number to preside in the moderation of a call, and promising £150 in name of stipend, with manse and garden. The prayer of the petition was granted, and the moderation appointed to take place on Monday, December 26. Mr. Burnet to preach and preside on the occasion. Mr. Barclay delivered some exercises, which were sustained as parts of trials for license, and the Presbytery adjourned to meet in the same place on the Tuesday after the second Sabbath of January, 1854.

the principles set forth in the foregoing resolutions, which would supersede the system which operates by means of Privy Council grants to different churches, which would increase the number of schools, provide for the election of properly qualified teachers, without regard to religious sect or party, raise the status of the schoolmasters, and vest the powers at present possessed by the heritors and Presbytery of the Established Church, in committees elected by the heritors, parents having children at school, and other contributors, would be hailed by this Presbytery as conferring an unspeakable boon upon Scotland.

These resolutions having been considered by the Presbytery, were approved, and unanimously adopted, with the exception of the Rev. Mr. Walker, who craved that it be recorded that he could take no part in this discussion, inasmuch as he holds the matter of education to be beyond the province of civil government, and the consideration of such matters in the form presented in the resolutions submitted as beyond the province of a court of Christ. The next meeting of Presbytery to be in Dunfermline, on February 14.

Edinburgh. The usual monthly meeting of this Presbytery was held on Tuesday, December 6-the Rev. G. Johnston, moderator. They were engaged till near two o'clock hearing the trial discourses of the various students who came forward. Mr. Davidson wished his dissent entered from the resolutions of the last meeting of Presbytery, on the subject of national education; after which there followed a discussion on the summary of principles, which was engaged in by Drs. Brown, Harper, and others. Only the historical part of the summary was agreed to; the remainder will be taken up and discussed at next meeting.

Falkirk. This Presbytery met on December 6-the Rev. Andrew M'Farlane, moderator. The clerk reported, that since last meeting he had appointed supply for five Sabbaths to the pulpit of Dennyloanhead, in consequence of the illness of the Rev. James Stevenson. The following rule, regarding extraordinary meetings of Presbytery, was unanimously adopted:-"That when an individual or congregation, or any party of any description, apply either to the moderator, or the Presbytery itself, for an extraordinary meeting of Presbytery, for

the transaction of their own business, and it be deemed proper to grant the application, it shall be granted on the understanding that the applicants shall pay the expenses of the members who attend said meeting; and if, in any case the operation of this rule shall be felt to bear hard upon the applicants, and the Presbytery be disposed to grant them exemption from it, the expenses shall be defrayed from the funds of the Presbytery.' Mr. Andrew Wilson, student of the fourth year, was examined on Hebrew and Calvin's Institutes, and his examination was sustained. Dr. Jeffrey called the attention of the Presbytery to the subject of national education, and proposed resolutions embodying the scheme of Sir J. Kaye Shuttleworth, which were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to the convener of the Synod's committee on public questions. Appointed the Rev. George Hutton to dispense the sacrament to the West Church, Bathgate, on the third Sabbath of January. Next meeting of Presbytery to be on February 7.

Glasgow. This Presbytery met on December 13-the Rev. Mr. Edwards, moderator. The Rev. Mr. M'Gill, on the part of the committee on Mission Churches in connection with the Presbytery, gave a very interesting and encouraging report of three stations, in Stirling Square, Gorbals, and Cowcaddens, Glasgow; whereupon, the Presbytery agreed to call a public meeting on this subject, and to renew their expression of desire to give the scheme every encouragement. In terms of a notice given at a previous meeting, Dr. Taylor was heard very fully on the national education question. Drs. Beattie and Struthers took a prominent part in the discussion. The Rev. J. S. Taylor was addressing the Presbytery when the hour of adjournment arrived. The discussion of the question will be resumed

this month.

Hamilton.-This Presbytery met in the session-house of Brandon Street Church, on September 17-the Rev. Peter Leys, moderator. Certificates were read from the different professors, stating, that Messrs. James Martin and John Mackie, students of the fifth year; Messrs. William Martin, Robert Rennick, and James Wilson, of the fourth year; and Mr. William Craig, of the first

year, had attended the respective classes, and performed the different exercises prescribed to them during the last session of the Divinity Hall. Appeared Mr. James Martin and John Mackie, who had completed their theological course, and made application to be taken on trials for license. Discourses and exercises were prescribed to them for this purpose. The Presbytery also appointed a variety of exercises and discourses to the other students under their superintendence. This Presbytery again met in the same place, on October 25-Mr. Leys, moderator. Inquiry was made as to collection for the Synod's General Fund, when it was reported that a number of congregations had done so, and the others were instructed to collect without delay. Mr. James Muter, student of the third year, applied for a transfer ence to the Glasgow Presbytery, which was granted. A proof of the proposed summary of principles was handed to each member of court, and it was agreed to consider the same at the meeting in January next. This Presbytery met in the same place, on November 29 Mr. Leys, moderator. Appeared Mr. Appeared Mr. James Martin, and delivered part of his trials for license, which were cordially sustained. Mr. Struthers was appointed moderator for the next six months. This Presbytery meets again on the last Tuesday of December.

Lanark. This Presbytery met on December 6, and was constituted by the Rev. James Dunlop, moderator. The clerk reported that he had certified and transferred Mr. James H. Scott, student in divinity, at his own request, to the oversight of the Presbytery of Elgin, within whose bounds he now resides. Messrs. Aikman, Mann, and W. Scott, students, gave an account of the lectures which they heard at last session of the hall, and were examined in the Greek Testament. The committee of the Presbytery on congregational finance. reported that they had examined and compared the written answers received from the congregations connected with the Presbytery, as to their modes of management, and were pleased to find that these were substantially in accoriance with the printed rules of our church. Proceeded to consider the purposed summary principles of which draft copies had been received, and cirealated at ast meeting. After a number of alterations,

chiefly of a verbal kind, had been suggested and agreed to recommend to the Synod's committee on this matter, it was resolved to defer the farther consideration of the document till next meeting, which was appointed to be held on Tuesday, February 14.

Lancashire. This Presbytery met at Birkenhead on December 20-Rev. William Graham, moderator. Read and ap proved the previous minute. Heard reports from congregations in arrears of collections for the Debt Liquidating Fund, and agreed, in the meantime, to sustain the reasons assigned for not making said collection; and instructed the clerk to communicate the decision of Presbytery to Mr. James Peddie. Heard also rẻports from those congregations in arrears of collection for the Synod's General Fund; found that some had made the collection since last meeting, and instructed the others to do so as soon as convenient. Mr. J. P. Alexander, student, delivered a lecture, which was sustained. Messrs. Alexander, Shorthouse, and Stobbs, were examined on the professor's lectures; Mr. Stobbs on Dr. Dick on the doctrine of the Trinity; and Mr. Shorthouse on Calvin's Institutes, all of which were cordially sustained, and subjects of trials appointed for next meeting. Mr. Burrell from Bolton was present, and gave a very interesting account of the state and prospects of the Mission Station there, and urged the importance of getting a preacher located there for six or twelve months. Members of Presbytery having expressed their sentiments, it was unanimously agreed to raise £50, upon the understanding that the people at Bolton raise £100, to secure the services of an efficient preacher; and appointed the Rev. Mr. Towers and Mr. Scott, with Mr. Herald, elder, to visit Bolton on January 10, to encourage the people, and make further arrangements. A report was read from the Mission Station at Prestatyn, North Wales, which was very encouraging, the people connected with the station having expressed a desire to be formed into a congregation in connection with the U. P. Church. Though no former application was made by the people, the Presbytery agreed to instruct the clerk to write to Mr. Robb to examine those who wished to join in the fellowship of the U. P. Church; and appointed Dr. Crichton to go to Prestatyn, and form them into a

congregation as soon as matters could be fully arranged. Appointed next meeting of Presbytery to be held at Manchester, on the second Tuesday of February, at 1 A.M. Closed with prayer.

Newcastle.-At a meeting of this Presbytery, December 6, the committee for effecting a union among some of the congregations here, reported that they had not been successful in the attainment of that object. The Mission Committee stated their arrangements for a series of missionary services in March, the Rev. Messrs. Waddell and Anderson being then expected to be present. Mr. Riddell reported his proceedings in the moderation at Houghton-le-Spring, and laid on the table a call from the congregation there to Mr. Thomas Baxter, preacher, which was sustained. Trials

for ordination were assigned to Mr. Baxter, whose instructions with regard to the call are to be duly ascertained. A petition from the fourth congregation here for a moderation, with the view of obtaining a fixed pastor, was delayed; a continued supply of preachers to be granted to them; and, should they request it, to have a preacher located for some months among them.

Perth. This Presbytery met on November 15. A moderation was granted to the North Church, Perth; and Dr. Newlands was appointed to preside on the evening of Monday, November 26, at 7 o'clock, P.M. Mr. James Hill, called by the congregation of Scone, delivered all his trials for ordination; and his ordination was appointed to take place on Wednesday, 4th January next.

Is the pleasing hope of spending the evening of "New-Year's Day" in friendly and familiar conversation with a goodly company of warm-hearted Scottish and English friends on both sides of the Border, I am constrained to give utterance to the feelings of my inmost heart, by extending to them every one, the customary, but not less cordial greetings of this festive season. Old and common as the phrase which one hears so often in the busy shop, the crowded street, and the social circle "A happy New-year to you"-it is nevertheless full of kindly and cheerful meaning; and when employed by those whose hearts are as true and warm as the day is usually keen and cold, it is beautifully suggestive of right brotherly and most affectionate emotions, and deserves, therefore, to be ever in fashion. "A happy New-Year," then, to one and all of the large and rapidly-extending number of Christian readers by whom the Journal is received and welcomed, month after month, as it modestly asks to be read, and seeks for renewed admission to the charmed circle of their intelligent and beloved families. The "London Correspondent" could say

much, of the great and increasing pleasure which he feels in the literary and Christian intercourse which he is permitted to hold with his Scottish friends through the pages of the Journal, but must now pass to other

matters.

In the absence of many special topics of discourse, I may be allowed to make a few remarks upon that much-talked-of subject, Table-turning and Spirit-rapping. It is just now exciting an unusual amount of public interest among all classes, not only in the metropolis, but throughout the country. Being one of the curious-and much averse to hearsay evidence, however unimpeachable, where personal investigation is possible-I associated myself with four other gentlemen a few evenings ago, in order to create and behold the required phenomena. For an hour and a quarter, the spirits were invoked, and around the table in the usual manner, but without effect. Some of the party thinking that the spirits might be averse to oilcloth-the material on which the table was standing, uninsulated-an adjournment took place to another room, which was carpeted. Here, in about five minutes, the

rose.

spirits-if they were such -were suf ficiently obliging to give indications of their presence, first by a slight cracking of the top of the table, and then by the usual rotatory movement. Farraday's theory of involuntary muscular agency received no confirmation here, for the table certainly moved in a contrary direction to that desired, according to previous agreement, by the operators; and it occasionally moved suddenly and rapidly, when the persons surrounding it, having their hands laid gently on the table, were conversing, and least expected the rotation. On the table (or its spiritual associate) being asked to give the company the sign for "Yes," one leg was lifted about three inches from the floor, and then gently descended, making but a slight noise at the time of coming in contact with the carpet. When asked for the "no" signal, the table remained perfectly stationary. It was then proposed to test the intelligence of the motive power, whatever it might be. A gentleman was present-not touching the fable-whose Christian name was unknown to any in the room but himself. The ques tion was asked, "Do you know the first name of Mr. now present?" The leg "Is it John?" No movement. "Is it Frederick ?" No movement. "Is it William?" The leg rose. William was the gentleman's name. Other names were in like manner responded to, and always with accuracy. Some coins were then put on the table, no one knowing how many there were, and the table sprite was poditely requested to state the number. The leg lifted sixteen times, the precise number of the coins. There was also on the table a small coin under the hand of one of the operators, but it was not visible; nor did the question have any reference to it, but simply applied to a particular number in the centre of the table, and that number was 16. Several tunes were then played on the flute and the piano, and the table moved backwards and forwards, now on one leg and now on the other, keeping excellent time with the music. A large cushion was placed on the table, and the invisible being was requested to throw it off. The table rose on two of its three legs until the top was in a sloping point, about 45 degrees from the horizontal, so that the cushion slid off on the ground. Some shillings were thrown off in a similar way. Whenever money was put upon the table, it appeared to manifest a strong inclination to move towards the person to whom it belonged, the table lifting itself

in the required direction. Observing this. one of the party remarked, that the table was a peculiarly conscientious piece of furniture, and mentioned something about "giving the devil his due;" whereupon the said piece of furniture, as though shocked with the profanity, rose so much, that it lost its balance and fell to the ground, one of the party falling with it. Some questions were asked relative to the Eastern question, and the table, in its replies, exhibited an anti-Russian tendency, that even Mr. Urquhart would have lis tened to with complacency. Similar investigations are being constantly made in hundreds of families in London. Some half-score clergymen, moreover, of the Established Church, have thought it desir able, by means both of the platform and the press, to publish to the world the results of their own experiments, with the philosophical conclusions which they have derived therefrom. There seems, however, to be as much diversity of opinion among our divines as among any other class of the community, concerning the actual cause of the strange manifestations in question. The majority, it would appear, of those ministerial gentlemen who have written upon the subject, incline to the belief, that Satanic influence is the motive power by which tables talk, and "rap" out the secrets which they now so plentifully reveal. These reverend teachers of the people, who profess to be intimately ac quainted with the devices of the devilhaving carried matters thus far, thought it well that one of their number should deliver a public lecture in London, in illus. tration and defence of the Satanic theory. An announcement was accordingly made, that the Rev. Mr. Godfrey, of Wortley, near Leeds, who has written two small, but most unsatisfactory works upon the subject, would lecture in the Hanover Square Rooms, on the "Theology" of the infernal subject. No sooner had the advertisement of this lecture appeared, than the Bishop of London-that meek repressor of all irregularities in the Church, except semi-Popery-wrote to Mr. Godfrey "in very strong terms, requiring him to desist from his purpose, and also informing him, that he could not allow him to officiate in any church or chapel of his diocese." Nothing daunted, however, by this episcopal rebuke, the faithful clerk appeared upon the platform at the appointed time; and, although the night was piercing cold, the snow lying thick upon the ground, and the charge for admission somewhat high,