Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Evangelist

Scotland—

Scotland

Free Church.

The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, met in Edinburgh in May last; Dr. Clason, of Edinburgh, was chosen Moderator. It appeared from the various reports that were read, that the Sustentation Fund had amounted to about £80,000, being an increase of nearly £0,000 during the past year. The number of ministers on the fund was 693. The annual stipend paid to the ministers out of this fund for the last three years, has been page 213 £122 each, but a special effort is being made throughout the Church to raise this fund so that each minister may receive at least £150 a year, leaving each congregation as formerly, to supplement this sum to their minister as they may be able. The amount raised for Foreign, Colonial, Jewish, and Home Missions, and Educational purposes, was nearly £57,000. Ten years before, in 1838, the sum raised by the undivided Church of Scotland for all purposes, was under £14,000. It was resolved, after a long and animated discussion, to have a Theological College in Edinburgh alone, to be furnished with five Theological Professors, and the Students to attend four full Sessions. Dr. Candlish, at the request of his congregation and himself, was released from the office of Professor of Theology, to which he had been appointed in the room of Dr. Chalmers. At the meeting of the Commission of the Assembly in August, several candidates were brought forward, but to sccure greater unanimity in so important an appointment, it was agreed to dela till a subsequent meeting. Since that time it has been proposed to bring Dr. Duff from India, to fill the office.

Intemperance.

Ecclesiastical decisions regarding Intemperance, in May, 1848.—In the General Assembly of the Established Church, the Rev. Mr. Wilson read an overture on this subject from the presbytery of Dunkeld. “Pains had been taken to make enquiries on the subject, in particular parishes, and, taking these parishes as an average of the general population of the country, the result was, that instead of 600,000, there was at least 1,000,000 of habitual drunkards in Great Britain.” On the motion of Dr. Muir, a Committee in terms of the overture was appointed.

In the General Assembly of the Free Church, Dr. Mac Farlane of Renfrew, read a report on this subject, in which it was stated, “That Intemperance more than any other vice is a disgrace to this country,—a main cause of the ruin of families, and of the deterioration of society, and is the chief hindrance to every attempt which may be made towards its moral and religious reuovation.” Mr. Ogilvie said, “he believed the Gospel was fitted for the cure of this, as well as other sins, though he meant by this, not only Gospel preaching as some would confine us to, but Gospel practise.”—The report was unanimously adopted, and the Committee re-appointed.

In the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, a report was read in which it was stated “That drunkenness prevails even among professing Christians to an alarming extent, and in a manner on account of which we ought to be deeply humbled; that ministers are solemnly called upon to give earnest warning on this subject, and to employ all their influence, both by instruction and example, to discountenance the ensnaring customs that lead to intemperance.” The report was unanimously adopted, and the Committee re-appoinied.