The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported new causes May 13, 1874. which they had agreed to transmit.

The Synod appointed the following to examine and report on

11. Dunfermline, (20) Kilmarnock, John Kirkwood, George Copland.

20. Kilmarnock, . (11) Dunfermline,

(10) Dundee,.

(9) Dumfries,

(8) Cupar,

(7) Carlisle,.

(6) Buchan,.

(5) Berwick,.

David Russell, James Brown.

Robert Russell, David Hay.

Thomas Fullarton, W. M'Donald.
John Rankine, John Wise.

Peter Carruthers, John Tannahill.
George Blair, T. F. Whillas.

Peter Mearns, John Laing.

(16) Glasgow, Alex. Barr, David Pirret.

(3) Arbroath, .

(2) Annandale,.

(31) Stirling,

Alex. Campbell, R. W. Orr.

James Ronald, George Lambert.

Willian M'Laren, A. L. Dick.

John Young, John M'Neil.

Fourth Sede-
runt.
Examiners of
Presbytery
Minutes.

Dissent.

Dr Cairns gave in reasons of dissent from Synod's decision at Reasons of last sederunt on the question of Union in England. These reasons were read, and the Synod appointed the following as a Committee

May 13, 1874. to prepare and bring in answers to the same:-Dr William Johnston Fourth Sede- and Mr Redpath.

runt.

Communica

of English

Church.

On motion made and seconded, the Synod agreed that a small tions to Synod Committee be appointed to prepare and transmit to the English Presbyterian Presbyterian Synod, presently in Session in London-first a telegram, and secondly a letter-conveying to them in respectful and courteous terms information of the Synod's decision pronounced last night on the question of Union in England. Dr Cairns, Dr Edmond, Dr William Johnston, and Mr France, ministers; with Mr Stitt, elder-Dr Edmond, Convener, were appointed for this purpose.

Committee on
English Union
Discharged.

COMMITTEES,

On Scholarships;

On Theological
Education;

On Foreign Correspondence;

On Statistics;

On Complaints

anent Preach

The Synod now discharge the Committee on Union in England, with thanks to them, and especially to Dr Young, their Convener, for their able and valuable services.

The Synod appoint the following to serve on Committees in room of those members who retire by rotation :

COMMITTEE ON SCHOLARSHIPS:-James Buchanan, Glasgow ; Peter White, Denny; John Paterson, Airdrie; Fergus Ferguson, Dalkeith, ministers, with Mr John Hutcheson, M.A., Glasgow.

COMMITTEE ON THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION:-Thomas Dobbie, Leith; James Brown, Paisley; H. A. Paterson, Stonehouse; Dr George Jeffrey, Glasgow; Robert Muir, of Hawick, instead of Mr Connel, deceased; J. Mitchell Harvey, ministers; Dr Thomas Harvey; Dr James Taylor, instead of James Young, deceased-J. Mitchell Harvey, Convener.

COMMITTEE ON CORRESPONDENCE WITH FOREIGN CHURCHES:-Peter M'Dowall, Alloa; J. G. Scott, Glasgow, ministers; Dr David M'Kinlay, Glasgow.

COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS:-James Dunlop, Kilmarnock, minister; Robert T. Middleton, Glasgow, elder.

COMMITTEE ON COMPLAINTS ANENT PREACHERS' APPOINTMENTS:— ers' Appoint- J. C. Baxter, Dundee; Andrew Gardiner, Edinburgh; Robert Wishart, Thornhill-Rev. J. C. Baxter, Convener.

ments;

On Sabbath-
Schools;

On General
Finance;

On Appointment of Synod Treasurer.

COMMITTEE ON SABBATH SCHOOLS:-John Clark, Abernethy, David M'Rae, Gourock; Charles Inglis, Edinburgh.

COMMITTEE ON GENERAL FINANCE:-Robert M'Innes, Ayr; A. W. Donaldson, Strathaven, ministers; William Meikle, Glasgow, William Balleny, Edinburgh, elders-Mr Balleny, Convener.

In terms of Minute adopted at Second sederunt, the Synod appoint the following as the Committee on appointment of Synod Treasurer:-William Wood, Campsie; Dr Ritchie, Dunse; Dr James Taylor, Edinburgh; David Williamson, Queensferry; Dr MacGill, Dr Scott, and James Buchanan, ministers; with James Peddie, William Leckie, James Renton, Robert T. Middleton,

Samuel Stitt, David Anderson, James Morton, William Meikle, May 18, 1874. J. B. Kidston, James M'Millan, Moffat; Thomas John Dunn, Melrose; Fourth Sedeand John M'Ewen, Glasgow-Rev. W. Wood, Convener.

runt.

The Synod resumed discussion of the Report anent More Report on Theological Efficient Theological Training. After long and earnest reasoning, Training; it was unanimously agreed that the Synod receives the Report of the Decision. Committee, thanks them for their diligence, and expresses its strong sense of the importance of the scheme submitted: Sends the Report down to Presbyteries and Sessions for the consideration of all details, and instructs them to transmit suggestions to the Committee before the 1st of January next; and reappoints the Committee, after receiving the suggestions of Presbyteries and Sessions, to bring up a matured report to next meeting of Synod. And with respect to the Chair of Church History, the Synod appoint that interim arrangements be made by the Committee on Theological Education for carrying on the work of the Hall next Session. The Committee on More Efficient Theological Education stands, Committee reappointed. therefore, as follows:-Dr Joseph Brown, Dr David M'Ewan, Dr Duff, Dr Young, Dr J. B. Johnston, J. G. Scott, J. M. Harvey, R. Johnston, J. Rutherford, Dr Black, Dr A. Thomson, Dr A. MacEwen, J. Buchanan, Dr John Taylor, Dr W. Johnston, J. Brown, Paisley, Dr Davidson, D. Macrae, Jun., F. Ferguson, J. Rogers, G. Robson, Inverness, W. Hutton, Dr John Ker, Dr MacGavin, and Dr Walter Morison, ministers; with Dr Calderwood, Dr James Taylor, W. M. Begbie, D. M'Cowan, Dr Mitchell, J. Peddie, Dr A. Macdonald, G. Younger, D. Corsar, Dr J. C. Bruce, and J. Annandale, elders-Dr A. Thomson, Convener.

respond.

Rev. John Robson, Rajpootana, and Rev. George Brodie, Invited to CorTrinidad, being present, were invited to correspond.

Presbyterian

Dr Edmond, for a Committee appointed at a former stage of this Communication to Synod sederunt, to communicate with the Synod of the English Presby- of English terian Church, reported that they had sent a telegram as directed, and he read and laid on the table a draft of letter to said Synod in the following terms:

Edinburgh, 5 Queen Street, May 13, 1874.

MY DEAR BROTHER,-Allow me, in the name of the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church, to approach you with the warmest greetings of Christian brotherhood, and to request you to convey these sentiments to the members of the sister Synod, over which you have been chosen to preside. A telegraphic communication has already been sent to you by order of the Synod, informing you of the result of our discussion on the question of Union with your Church, and I have been instructed by the Synod to follow it up with this letter. Your Synod is already sufficiently acquainted with the difficulty created by the divided state of opinion in the English congregations of our Church on the question at issue, and I

Church.

Fourth Sede-
runt.

Communica-
tion to English
Presbyterian
Synod;

May 13, 1874. do not go too far in saying that this was the main ground of the decision of our Synod not to advance farther at this time in the path of the incorporating union and federation submitted to it for immediate acceptance. I am certain that the difficulty in question will receive the candid consideration of your Synod, and that, however painful and disappointing our judgment may be, you will not regard it as inferring the slightest want of brotherly esteem for your Church, or of desire to stand related to you in every bond of union we can possibly secure. It is our heartfelt wish to cherish those sympathies, and to manifest them on every field of brotherly co-operation; and it is also our earnest hope and prayer that in some way which we do not yet see the Great Head of the Church may grant us the happiness of being united with you, and of realising those expectations of good and blessing which the closeness of approach in recent negotiations has only made more welcome. That the Great Head of the Church may guide your Synod, dear Brother, in all its deliberations, and bless us both in the future as in the past with the spirit of mutual esteem and fraternal confidence, is our most earnest prayer. In name and by appointment of the Synod.

Telegram from that Synod.

Report on
Augmentation
Scheme.

Augmentation
Scheme;

The Synod adopted this letter, and directed that it be subscribed by the Moderator and forwarded immediately to the English Presbyterian Synod.

In the course of discussion which ensued, the following telegram was received from the English Presbyterian Synod:

From the Moderator of the English Presbyterian Synod to the Rev. Moderator of the United Presbyterian Synod, Queen Street Hall, Edinburgh.

I have received your telegram to the Synod, which has heard it with regret. We shall take up the subject to-morrow, and communicate our finding. We reciprocate your kind expression of regard.

Called for Report on Augmentation Scheme, which was presented by the Home Secretary, and, being printed among Synod Papers, was held as read. The Home Secretary, with Mr James Morton, Greenock, Mr David M'Cowan, and Mr Robert T. Middleton, were heard in explanation of the Report, and in support of its recommendations. The Synod took up, at the same time, an Overture from the Presbytery of Hamilton, anent a different management of Augmentation Scheme. Mr H. A. Paterson, Stonehouse, and Mr Donaldson, Strathaven, were heard in support of the Overture. The Home Secretary was heard again for the Home Committee.

In reference to a suggestion communicated through the AugmenMode of Sta- tation of Stipend Committee, that the Treasurer should print in two ting Accounts; additional columns in the April "Record" of each year the amounts paid to each congregation from the Synod Funds, for Augmentation and Evangelistic purposes, the Synod agreed that this suggestion be not adopted.

Different management;

In reference to the Overture from Hamilton Presbytery, anent different Management of the Augmentation Scheme, it was moved and seconded-That said Overture be not adopted. It was also moved and seconded-That the Overture lie on the Synod's table.

A vote being taken, the first motion was preferred, and the Synod May 13, 1874. decided accordingly that the Overture be not adopted.

Fourth Sederunt.

Committee;

On recommendation of the Home Committee, the Synod agree Members adthat the members added to the Home Committee for last year, be ded to Home again added to the Home Committee for the year 1874-5, the name of Mr John M'Ewen being substituted for that of the Rev. David Williamson, who has been nominated by the Presbytery of Edinburgh as an Ordinary Member of that Committee.

The addition to the Home Committee, with special reference to the Augmentation Scheme, is this year as follows:-Dr A. MacEwen; Rev. Wm. Wood; Professor Calderwood; Sir Peter Coats, Paisley; and Messrs Thomas Mitchell, Greenfield, Blairgowrie; David Paton, Alloa; David M'Cowan, Peter Hamilton, and Wm. Foote, Glasgow; John Gilmour, Helensburgh; Samuel Stitt, Birkenhead; John Young, Berwick-upon-Tweed; James Tait, Moffat; and John M.Ewen, Glasgow.

of £200.

The Synod again recommend this important and vital Scheme Aim at Stipend to the attention and liberality of Congregations, and instruct Fresbyteries to co-operate heartily with the Committee in their endeavours to carry into effect the resolutions proposed by the Committee, and embodied in their Report, with the view of attaining to a minimum stipend of £200 per annum.

Scott, Mr

The Synod unanimously agreed to record their thanks to the Thanks to Dr Committee, specially to Dr Scott, Mr Morton, Mr M'Cowan, and Mr Morton, Mr Middleton, for their faithful labours in this cause. Thanks were Mr Middleton. conveyed to these brethren by the Moderator.

The Synod direct that the Report on Augmentation Scheme be inserted in Appendix to Minutes.*

M'Cowan, and

ship.

Dr Young, for the Committee instructed at yesterday forenoon's Synod Clerksederunt to define the duties of the Synod Clerks respectively, and the amount of their salaries, gave in a Report which was read, and, being printed, was in the hands of members of Synod. The Synod agreed to enter on consideration of this Report before proceeding to the election of an additional Clerk.

Motion.

Mr France gave notice that he would propose Mr William Wood, Notice of of Campsie, as a candidate for the additional Synod Clerkship; and Dr Peddie, that he would propose Mr Thomas Kennedy, Edinburgh. The Synod agreed that the question of Disestablishment and Disendowment be taken up on Thursday evening, at six o'clock. The Synod adjourned, to meet in the Music Hall this evening at six o'clock. Concluded with prayer.

ANDREW THOMSON, Moderator.

See Appendix, No. IV., p. 136.