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blessing they would give the people cause to remember that the Synod met here. Mr Huie, Wooler, could corroborate from his personal experienee last night, what Mr Alexander had said. He had some 60 or 70 listeners to him in Buckingham Street and Arthur's Hill, and though the interruption was on the outskirts, and slight, and such as not to interfere with his being heard,

it would have been better if some one had

been there to keep order, though he would rather go alone than not go at all. He trusted the elders of the Churches in Newcastle and Gateshead would throw themselves into this matter, and then it would be done to great advantage. Dr. Weir said this matter concerned not only their own Church, but all the Evangelical Churches in Newcastle; and if a number of Presbyterian ministers were willing to go into the streets to preach, it was not to preach Presbyterianism but the gospel of Jesus Christ. He could not but believe that Evangelical Churchmen and Dissenters would most heartily co-operate with this movement, and accompany them to the places which might be selected, or at all events assist them by town missionaries or other persons well acquainted with the town. He trusted a large number of volunteers would come forward: he himself was willing to be one, and looked on it as a duty which they could not conscientiously over. The Clerk thought Shields and Sunderland were so completely within reach of Newcastle that many brethren might be induced to go there. Mr Huie thought some one should go to He supposed there was not such an impious thing done in England as the holding of the meeting on the Moor on the Sabbath question. Some of the London newspapers said there were 4,000, others 6,000, others 8,000 present: they had either not counted well or allowed themselves to be a little loose as to the figures. He thought some one should go to Blaydon and list up his voice in presence of the man who had John George Holyoake as his guest whilst he was lecturing against God in Newcastle, and who was the ring-leader in the Sabbath meeting to which he had referred. A member said he was glad to second the motion, and to give in his name as a volunteer in the work of out-door preaching. The motion was unanimously agreed to.

the college.

Mr. Gillespie read the report of the Col. lege Committee, which stated that they had been enabled to carry out to a great extent

tion; and the permanent establishment ol the College was now a matter beyond alf further consideration, and only called for proper exertions on the part of the Church to make its usefulness worthy of its importance. A guarantee fund of £300 for three years had been subscribed for by some mem. bers of the Church as a supplemental fund; and the committee had succeeded in securing the services of Dr. M'Crie to fill the vacant professorship. The salary fixed upon for this chair was £333 a-year; but the committee unanimously agreed that if Dr. M'Crie would accept it they would raise the salary to £400. Dr. M'Crie had entered on his duties on the 4th November, and had delivered an inaugural address (since published) to a crowded audience in Exeter Hall. The results of these proceedings were already visible in the improvement in the College funds. During the year the students had applied themselves to their studies with exemplary diligence. There had been in attendance during the winter session 13 students, being an advance of three upon the previous year, with the most encouraging prospects for the next winter session. The Treasurer's account showed an income of £926 4s. 1d. for the past year, against £766 9s. 8d. for the year 1855. Mr. Gillespie said that the committee were of opinion that the income for the college could not be possibly kept up by subscriptions and donations, and they suggested that they might receive a good deal more than they had hitherto done through church associations, which might be much more extensively worked not only for this, but for all the other schemes of the Church. Mr. Wright moved the adoption of the Report, and urged upon the Synod the §§ adoption of measures for endowing the Chairs of the College. Dr. M'Crie, in an address of some length, returned thanks for the honour which had been conferred upon him by his election to the Professorship, and expressed his own satisfaction with that appointment. Though thoroughly a Scotchman, even to his prei. and feeling it no small sacrifice to eave the associations of his native country, yet after the experience of a year's labour in London, he had never repented of the step he had taken. He bore testimony to the excellent conduct and high promise of the students, and expressed his pleasure in being associated with such a colleague as Professor Lorimer. He took the opportunity of recommending the institution of intermediate schools for the preparation of young men for entering the College, and alluded to one or two other matters embraced in the subject. The resolution adopted was to the effect that the Synod express its sense of the excellent judgment manifested by the College Committee in their proceedings during the past year, and thank them #. their diligence and zeal. And they would especially record their gratitude to Almighty God, for having sent to the chair of the College lately vacant one so eminently well-fitted for the office of professor as Dr. M'Crie; and for having continued the life and services of Professor Lorimer, whose growing reputation reflects increased credit on this school of the prophets. Re-appoint the Committee, with instructions to consider whether the time had not come for attempting to secure the endowment of the chairs of the College, and if they find the circumstances favourable, to take steps for procuring such endowment. And further, the convener having intimated that there were certain other matters to be brought forward, instruct the Committee to meet and present a supplemental report at an early diet.

union. With other Presbyterians.

On the Synod calling for the report of the Committee on Union, Dr. Hamilton, the convener, said the committee which was re-appointed last year, had held only one meeting during the past year, and had at present no hope of effective proceeding. Mr. Wright submitted to that meeting a document suggesting a plan of union to a certain extent, and a step to ultimate amalgamation. Perhaps Mr. W. would be kind enough to communicate his plan to the Synod, not that he supposed they would be able to take action at that meeting. There were many difficulties, though he did not believe them insuperable. He believed there was more preparedness for union now, than two or three years ago, and he hoped union would be effected without any concession of principle. He hoped the Synod would re-appoint the committee.

Mr. Wright said the first condition of a union must be that the standards of the united church should be the Westminster standards; but the chief obstacles to union had been alienation of feeling arising from local jealousies and the memory of past divisions and controversies: 2nd, legal barriers arising from the terms of the trust deeds of church property; another reason was the financial and economical arrangements of the several churches. The hints he threw out were—first, that their brethren of the United Presbyterian Church in England should be constituted into a Synod with independent jurisdiction; 2nd, that the union should be effected by a general assembly of all England, in such terms as might be agreed upon ; 3rd, that the internal arrangementsof the two Synods remain in the mean time as at present; 4th

that the Synod of each church be the fina court of appeal on all matters affecting the ordinary affairs of each church. He replied to objections that might be raised to this scheme; the objections being that, in the first place, it set aside the territorial arrangements of the Presbyteries; 2nd, that a supreme generalassembly, without the power of receiving and determining appeals, would be unconstitutional ; 3rd, that it would be impossible to secure adequate attendance at both Synod and Assembly. The chief argument in favour of this mode of effecting union was, that it secured the immediate advantage of union, whilst it escaped the dangers which some apprehend, and the difficulties which all feel. It might be the means of removing the scandal of divisions attaching to Presbyterianism, and by a union with the Calvinistic Methodists of Wales with the United Presbyterians, and with “isolated” congregations, making them the second largest Free Presbyterian Church in the empire, instead of being regarded as the young and weak, and to be pitied, and patronised, sister. The committee was re-appointed.

Foreign MISSIONS.

Dr. Hamilton read the following report on Foreign Missions.

Most members of Synod will recollect the interesting service at Liverpool in April of last year, when, in the presence of many friends, and amidst the prayers of a large congregation, the Rev. David Sandeman was ordained and set apart as a Missionary to China. The five following months were spent by Mr Sandeman, chiefly within the bounds of our own Church, preaching not only in places of worship but in the open air, on o and week-days, and frequently to numerous auditories; and in this way, whilst introduced and endeared to many friends of the Mission, his own spirit was refreshed by the power which in many instances accompanied the word spoken. On the 3rd of October, Mr Sandeman left these shores on his eastward route, and after a journey made pleasant by fraternal intercourse with brethren of other Churches, and by frequent opportunities of usefulness, he safely reached Amoy in the beginning of December.

Mr.Sandemanfound Mr. Douglas the solitary representative of our Church at Amoy ; and even for him our Mission is indebted to the liberality of the Association in Scotland. From Mr. Douglas the most cheering accounts have been regularly received, both as to his own health, his progress in the language, his pleasant relations with the agents of the London Missionary Society

and of the American Board of Foreign

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Missions (which last, as members of the | Dutch Reformed Church, are almost identical with ourselves), and above all as to the | continuance of the good work in Amoy and its neighbourhood. In a letter written on the 3rd of December, he mentions that on the previous Sabbath it had been his privilege to admit by baptism to the membership of the visible church five persons; and at that date there still remained twenty-five candidates for baptism. The church at Amoy now contains 360 adult members. Of course, it is only a small portion of these who can be reckoned as the immediate results of our own agency, either directly or more remotely; but in the present happy and harmonious state of the Mission brotherhood, they have all such things in common, and when the Lord is adding almost daily to the church of such as shall be saved, it becomes us one and all to adore His doing, rather than to discriminate the instrumentality, and “number the people.” At Pechuia and its off-shoots, Cheo-B and the hill-station of Ma-ping, the condition of the little Christian community is such as to call forth much thankfulness. As in almost every instance of the first plantation of the gospel in a region where Satan has long kept his empire in peace, there has not been awanting opposition. But magisterial oppression and private persecution have only served to demonstrate the genuineness of the work, and, as might have been anticipated, the converts whose faith has most flourished are those who have encountered the greatest fight of afflictions. At | Pechuia it has been found necessary to prowide larger accommodation for the attendants on Christian worship, and a sum of 800 dollars (£188) has been applied from the Building Fund in order to purchase ground and make the requisite alterations on the existing building. On the 12th of March, 1856, Mr Burns, accompanied by Mr Taylor of the Chinese Evangelisation Society, arrived at Swatow, a village 120 miles south of Amoy, and, owing to its proximity to the Double Island with its shipping station, rapidly rising into importance, and which has hitherto been occupied by no Protestant missionaries. Here they succeeded in obtaining a lodging, and a twofold door of usefulness was opened in itinerating among the neighbouring villages and in preaching to the crews of trading vessels on the Sabbath. At last, however, Mr Taylor having in the meanwhile returned to Shanghai for his medical apparatus, on the 19th of August Mr Burns was arrested at Chaou-Chou, along with two native Christian companions who had been sent to his assistance by the American Baptist Mission at Hong-Kong. After | a full examination, which was fairly and

mildly conducted, before the native magistrates, Mr. Burns was informed that he had been arrested on a false report; but that being a foreigner, now that he was arrested, it would be necessary for their own security to deliver him up to a foreign consul. Accordingly, provided with a servant and every requisite for the journey at the expense of the authorities, he was sent under an escort to Canton. This city he reached after a slow journey of thirty-one days, during the greater part of which he was suffering severely from debility and intermittent fever. Immediately on his arrival he was free; but four months elapsed, owing to the tedious formalities of the Chinese executive and the corruption and covetousness of Chinese officials, before his native companions were set at liberty. In their first examination they were not treated with the forbearance extended to the foreigners. For avowing their Christianity, and for the work in which they were engaged, they each received forty blows on the cheek; and but for the energetic exertions of their friends and the salutary dread of British interposition, they would probably have still been in durance. How devoutly are we called on to acknowledge the shield thrown over our dear brother in the day of danger! and how gracious was the Providence which ordered his arrival at Canton previous to the breaking out of the disturbance there ! In the month of November he returned to Swatow, and found the place tranquil, his property safe, and the opportunities of usefulness even greater than before. Last April the Committee had to deplore the dangerous illness which had so soon recalled Mr. Johnston from the sphere of labour; and coincident with this, an alarming indisposition arrested the departure of Mr. Tait. Knowing how entirely the heart of each was in China, the Committee felt constrained to grant to these brethren a period for rest and recruiting, in the hope that the health of one or both might be thoroughly restored. This hope has not been realized. The Committee have just received a commu nication from Mr. Tait, dated from Cairo in Egypt, March 10th, in which he announces the conclusion to which he has been regretfully and reluctantly driven, that he must relinquish the hope of being a missionary in China; and in the depression of spirit accompanying the abandonment of a fondly-cherished hope, the Church will deeply feel for one who gave himself to the work so readily and so cheerfully In February a communication was received from Mr. Johnston, dated from Pau, Basse Pyrenees, stating that although a trace of the affection which had necessitated his return from China was still perceptible, he was desirous of obtaining the consent of the Committee, so that he might go back to his field of labour. The Committee, however, felt that, in justice to the interests of the Mission, they could not take on themselves this responsibility without the sanction of a full and matured medical opinion: a conclusion to which they had the less hesitation in coming, as there is every reason to hope that, with God's blessing, he has the prospect of lengthened and abundant usefulness in a temperate climate. The consequence is, that Mr. Johnston ceases to be one of our Church's Missionaries; and in this enforced separation from the scene of so many affectionate associations, and such hopeful beginnings, the Synod will deeply sympathise with our brother. At the same time, we cherish with esteem and gratitude the remembrance of his brief campaign in China, when, much of the time, singlehanded, he brought to the work of the Mission, in combination with a truly evangelical zeal, so large an amount of administrative talent and active oversight; and we tender him our warmest thanks for the services rendered since his return—the numerous congregational meetings and juvenile associations which he has addressed, the series of lectures on China and Chinese Missions, which he has delivered at Benrhydding and Pau, awaking in either place an interest of which our funds have felt the benefit, and the noble building fund of £2,000, which mainly through Mr. Johnston's exertions, is now o completed. Fain would we hope that, in the good providence of God, as a minister of our Church and a member of its courts, he may yet be permitted to exert an effective influence in carrying forward the work to which he had devoted his days and well nigh sacrificed his life. In these circumstances, the Committee have felt called upon to institute inquiries after other agents, and, having received from various quarters the highest testimonials as to the fitness of Mr. John Macpherson, whose thoughts have for many years been turned towards China as a field of labour, after mature deliberation, they invited him to become one of the Church's agents in this Mission; and they are happy to be able to add that Mr. Macpherson has accepted the invitation. He has just completed his studies in the Too! Hall at Aberdeen, and it is hoped that in a few months he will be ready to proceed to Amoy, In the meanwhile, our friends in Scotland have been plying their work with much zeal and success. Encouraging meetings have been held in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in these cities, aided by Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth, and other auxiliaries, the money raised at year amounted to £527 9s. 4d. And

content with one representative in so

vast a field, our brethren there have selected as their second agent in connection with our Mission, the Rev. George Smith, a licentiate of the Free Church of Scotland. It is hoped that Mr. Smith will soon be able to proceed and join Messrs. Douglas and Sandeman at Amoy ; and we regard it as a circumstance peculiarly happy that, as was the case with the two brethren last named, Mr. Smith and Mr. Macpherson have long been intimately acquainted with one another, and rejoice in the prospect of labouring together in a land towards which their prayerful affections and hopes have long been directed.

It is impossible to conclude this report without adverting especially to one source of income by which this scheme continues to profit more and more : we have the contributions of juvenile collections and associations. From this source alone the funds received, during the year now ended, an accession of £322. For a large proportion of these offerings we are indebted to our Sabbath-school teachers, who have directed the minds of the scholars to the work in China; and perhaps even more are we beholden to the “Children's Messenger,” so admirably edited by Mr. Alexander Anderson. For this labour of love, as well as for the missionary lectures which he has found time to give to the younger members of some of our congregations, we tender to our esteemed friend our warmest thanks; and we earnestly hope that there may be kept alive among the children of our Church that interest in missionary enterprise which is our best hope for the future.

CORFU.

SINCE the Corfu Mission was commenced in August, 1844, a school for Jewish girls has been a prominent feature of the scheme. But, although conducted with much steadiness and efficiency, and, on the whole, well attended; and although undoubtedly productive of many benefits to the pupils, its spiritual results have scarcely fulfilled the hopesand desires of the benevolent founders. However desirable it may be to introduce into the houses of Jewish families education and English habits of neatness and industry, the paramountobject of our Church's Mission is Christianisation; and although we would fain hope that of the good seed sown in so many youthful minds, some may yet spring up to life everlasting, the conductors of the Mission did not feel justified in longer continuing an experiment of which the fruits were so slender. The school has accordingly been relinquished for the present. In the meanwhile, Mr. Charteris continues to labour among soldiers and civilians

as of old, and within the year he has met with several cases of interesting inquirers among the Jews, the original objects of his mission; and, as the agent of the Bible and the Tract Society, he has numberless opportunities of usefulness amongst all classes of residents and passers-through which he gladly seizes. Every year gives Mr. Charteris a deeper place in the esteem of the authorities in the island and in the garrison of Corfu ; and we are happy to be able to state that, by the orders of the Right Hon. ourable the Secretary of the War Department, he now receives the official allowance due to him as a military chaplain.

, this Church, and ought not to beintroduced

in any case, without the permission craved and obtained of the Supreme Court; and enjoin Presbyteries to take order accordingly. But with regard to the cases of St. John's, Warrington, and St. George's, Lito: inasmuch as instrumental music had been introduced into them by the sanction, express or implied, of the Presbyter of Lancashire, and is agreeable to the . ings and wishes of the said congregations, while its prohibition would disturb their peace, destroy their prosperity, and endanger their very existence, the Synod instruct the Presbytery of Lancashire to take no further action in regard to them, and renew

its injunctions to all Presbyteries to take steps, as far as practicable, to encourage

and cultivate the harmonious exercise of vocal praise.” The following amendment was moved by the Rev. Thomas Duncan, of Newcastle, and seconded by the Rev. W. Bannatyne, wouz. -“The Synod having heard the statement of the reference and of the relative dissents, agree to maintain the declaratory deliverance regarding the use of instrumental music in public worship, as having respect to all the congregations within its bounds; dismiss the dissents and complaints, and enjoin the Presbytery to take order that

instruments shall forthwith cease in St. George's, Liverpool, and St. John's, Warrington.” A second amendment was proposed by the Rev. Dr. Hamilton :“The Synod receives the reference, and whilst generally approving of the procedure of the Presbytery of Lancashire, and reretting that the Session of St. George's, i. has not acted on what is acknowledged to be the spirit of the last Synod's declaratory deliverance. Considering that an organ was used in St. John's, Warrington, at the time when it was received into the Presbyterian Church in England, and that an organ was introduced into St. George's, Liverpool, in 1855, with the consent and sanction of the Presbytery of Lancashire, the Synod in hoc statu forbears from issuing any prohibition of the continued use of i. organ in these churches, but refers the matter to the Sessions of these respective congregations, in the hope that they will take order to bring the mode of conducting the psalmody into harmony with the declared practice of this Church.” The Clerk, in a few brief observations, proposed the following motion, which was seconded by Colonel Anderson:— “Sustain the reference, find that the Session of St. George's ought to have received the Presbytery's committee appointed to confer with them, and to have deferred to the Presbytery's brotherly desire to reason and remonstrate with them on the use of an organ in public worship, and that they are answerable for having failed so to do—find that an organ was used in St. John's, Warrington, at the time when it was received into this Church, and that an organ was introduced into St. George's, Liverpool, in 1855, with the consent and sanction of the Presbytery of Lancashire, and the Synod declare that such use is not approved by this Church. But in consideration of the peculiarities and specialties of these cases which render them exceptional and incapable of being hereafterso cedents, authorise the Presbytery of cashire to forbear further proceedings in hoc statu for silencing the instruments now in use in their congregations; desire the Presbytery and all other Presbyteries of this Church carefully to obtemper the finding of last Synod on the introduction of instruments in the public worship of God, and further to take notice that on no pretence such instruments be elsewhere sanctioned in the public worship of God.” Dr. Hamilton requested leave to withdraw his motion in favour of that of the Clerk's, which was agreed to. On proceeding to the vote it was agreed to put the two amendments against each other, which, on being done, the numbers