Established Church.

The General Assembly of the Established Church was held as usual in Edinburgh, and met on May 24th. The Rev. Dr. Simpson, of Kirknewton, was elected Moderator; Lord Belhaven was the Royal Commissioner, Among other business a deputation from the Central Protestant Association of Paris was received by the Assemby. Two members of the deputation addressed the Assembly in behalf of the French Protestant Church. After which the Rev. N. M'Leod, of Dalkeith, delivered a most eloquent and effective speech on the importance of evangelizing the Continent, especially France.

Colonial Missions.—

Dr. Clark read the report on Colonial Missions. It stated that, during no year since the commencement of their labours had they been enabled to appoint so great a number of Ministers and Missionaries as during the one that had past. Since their last report the Committee had been enabled to send ont to different parts of the colonies six Ministers, two Missionaries, and two Schoolmasters. Former applications were urged with increasing anxiety, and new ones made from time to time; but the Committee could not find Ministers or Missionaries to answer them. There were vacancies to be supplied at Halifax, Newfoundland, Jamaica, British Guiana, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, and in various places in Canada, page 210 Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island, in many of which a competent provision was offered for the support of Ministers, and the Committee were pledged to supplement some of them for a time, But the Committee felt the want of Ministers and Missionaries to supply them, to be the greatest evil with which they have to contend. A very favourable report had been received from Queen's College, Canada. There had been a considerable increase of students during the last session; twenty-eight had matriculated, fifteen of whom, including Divinity Students, were studying for the Ministry. The number attending the preparatory School was fifty two, making in all eighty who were receiving instruction in connection with the College. From Grenada, Buenos Ayres, Vancouver's Island, Ceylon, and the Cape of Good Hope, the accounts generally were of a satisfactory character. The income of the Committee during the past year had amounted to £3,090 Os. 4d., which, as compared with the preceeding year, exhibited a diminution of £1,203 15s. 5d.; but as there were two collections for the Colonial scheme in that year, it was most proper to compare the income of last year with that of 1847, in which there was only one collection, and as compared with that year there was a decrease of only £298 8s. 5d.

Free Church of Scotland.

The General Assembly of the Free Church, met in Edinburgh on the 24th May. The Rev. Dr. Mackay of Dunoon was elected Moderator. Owing to the very depressed state of the country, the sustentation fund had slightly fallen off; it amounted only to £87,000; last year it was £89,000; but the other funds of the church seemed all to be prosperous; and encouraging reports were read of their Missions, Heathen, Colonial, and Jewish; reports were also read of the prosperity of Collegiate instruction, popular education, and other objects. The Rev. Mr. Bannerman of Ormiston was elected page 211 professor of Theology, in room of Dr. Candlish who had resigned. Mr. Bannerman is thus successor to the chair of Dr. Chalmers.

Free Church Missionary Society.—

On Monday evening last week, the annual meeting of the friends of this society was held in Exeter Hall,—the Hon. F. Maule, M.P., in the chair. The annual Report of the Committee, after adverting to the flourishing state of the home establishment of the society, its 500 schools, besides Normal schools and Colleges, proceeded to detail the operations of the missionaries in North America, New South Wales, and New Zealand. The efforts of the Society had been, during the past year, extended to many of the Mediterranean stations, and to the Continent of Europe, where it was aided by the already existing Missionary Society; and, since the last meeting, upwards of £2000 had been forwarded for the relief of the persecuted brethren in the Canton de Vaud. A report of one of their missionaries also stated, the first non-conforming church ever established in Italy, was opened in April last. France, too, was begining to occupy their attention, and a Church separate from the State already existed there. Towards the six Missionary Schemes of the Free Church there was raised during the past year the sum of £56,000, whilst the sum raised for the missions and other Christion objects connected with them, was £63,000. This Report was received and adopted, and Mr. F. Maule then left the meeting in consequence of pressing engagements, leaving the Hon. A Kinnaird to occupy the chair. Several clergymen and gentlemen then addressed the meeting in behalf of resolutions in support of the principles of the Society. The meeting, which was a numerous one, separated after thanking the chairman.

United Presbyterian Church.

The Synod of the United Presbyterian Church met in Edinburgh on the 7th of May. The Rev. Mr. Meikle of Beith was elected Moderator. Inter-page 212esting reports were given in of the Synod's missions in the West Indies, Canada, Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, Old Calabar on the Western coast of Africa, and in Persia.

Among other matters a long discussion ensued on the reading of sermons in the pulpit; it appeared that this practise was creeping in among the preachers and younger ministers. It was decided by a large majority that it be interdicted in all ordinary cases; those ministers only who have accustomed themselves to the practise to be left to their own discretion. The Rev. Dr. A. Fletcher of London, who retired from the Secession Synod in 1824 was by his own request admitted again into the Synod.

Reformed Presbyterian Church.

The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church met in Glasgow on the 7th May. The Rev. Dr. Symington of Paisley was elected Moderator. Dr. W. Symington, of Glasgow, presented the report of the committee on Jewish Missions. It referred to the favourable state in which the missions generally were, especially on the continent of Europe. Dr. Cumingham the Synod's Missionary to the Jews in London, addressed the Synod on the state of the Jews in the Metropolis, and detailed some of his labours among them. Dr. Bates read a report of their missions in New Zealand and Canada. The Synod was addressed by the Rev. Professor La Harpe of Geneva. As it had been in Scotland their society had received most sympathy, he delivered his message, he said, with confidence. It was unanamously agreed that a collection should be made in all the congregations of the Synod to assist in diffusing the gospel on the Continent. The Rev. Mr. Sims, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland also addressed the Synod; he stated the difficulties to be encountered in maintaining the pure gospel in Ireland, and urged the duty of supporting a mission to the native Irish, which was favourably responded to.