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readers to our embryo congregations; and, without a patient indulgence on the other hand, on the part of these congregations, whose duty it is to make allowance for our present difficulties, and who, I feel, ever will be disposed to do so, when they see us struggling onward, honestly and with all our might, to provide for the necessities under which they labour. We are making no general demand on the elders of our Church; for would but one-tenth of their number consent to give us the benefit of the co-operation which we now seek from their hands, we believe that a patent way would be opened up to such an extension of the Church as should be commensurate to the wants of her friends and supporters in every quarter of the land; and, what is more, should enable us, in connection with the other evangelical denominations of Scotland, to take possession of its whole territory.

"In a few brief sentences, we shall endeavour to convey our own views on the important subject of the distribution of these funds.

"First, then, devoted as we are to the cause of the general fund, and bent with all earnestness on the further enlargement of it, it will not be surprising that we should recommend this fund as the entire and exclusive depositary for all the produce of all our associations.

"But generally, it might be expected that on the same principle we should like if it lay open to other contributions from all other quarters; and more especially, that over and above the produce of the associations, the produce of the ordinary collections at the church-doors should either in whole or in part be sent up to the general fund. Now, however paradoxical it may seem at the first, we not only do not desire, but we deprecate any accession to our favourite fund from this source, believing as we do, and for reasons to which we crave not the passing, but the patient and most deliberate attention of the Assembly, that the fund, instead of being enriched, would, in the event, be greatly reduced and impoverished on the appearance of such an auxiliary, which, though coming to us in the guise of a help, would prove in the end a great hindrance to the cause.

"For, thirdly, It follows not that though the Church should ordain of the Sabbath collections their being sent up to the General Fund, the will of our different congregations shall go along with it. It is well that the experiment has been made, and that in this instance it has been found impolitic to legislate for the destination of a voluntary offering. The experience is all the more instructive that the proposed appropriation reached not to the whole of this fund, but only to a fraction of it. We cannot thus lay a force on the human inclinations; and when these are once revolted, it is not this particular fund alone which might suffer by it, but whatever else, in the way of money-raising, which the Church might be pleased to enjoin or recommend.

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Fourthly, It is not good thus to share the responsibility for the support of the general fund between two distinct sources of revenue-the church-door collections on the one hand, and the associations on the other. Of these, the method by associations is the more operose, but when the requisite effort is made, is greatly the more productive. It is not good to hazard the prosperity of this more important fund, by furnishing either its agents or its contributors with a pretext of which many would readily avail themselves, for declining the more and preferring the less troublesome way of it. The weekly visitors would be all the less strenuous and punctual in the duties of their vocation, should they know that the support of the general fund and of its high and sacred objects did not rest exclusively upon them; and many are the weekly contributors who would gladly evade or dispose of their call could they allege of the Sabbath collections, that these, too, went in whole or in part to the general fund, and that they preferred this as the medium through which to give all the easier to the more troublesome, and at all events one channel, through which to rid themselves of the obligation, rather than two. It is thus that the associations would gladly merge in the collections-what might be made the greatly more, in what would certainly become the greatly less productive, for the former would lose a great deal more by these transferences than the latter would gain by them. Better that the whole burden of the general cause should be made to lie upon the associations, and that there should be no escape for the conscience

from the necessity of working them diligently and supporting them liberally. Otherwise the same mischief might be sustained that very often ensues, when the responsibility for some particular work, instead of being laid upon one man, is shared among two, and between them it is left undone. Let there be no such divided responsibility between the distinct funds of the Church; but let each have its own distinct claim and object annexed to it. And, in particular, let our associations stand pre-eminent and alone in the benefit of this high argument, that they are the great, the only feeders of that central treasury, which has been raised as a guarantee for the maintenance (it may be a frugal and homely one,) both of ministers and schoolmasters, amongst the most remote and destitute localities of the Church, and so as that in the strength of its own resources it shall become responsible for the spiritual and the educational necessities of Scotland.

"But fifthly and finally-To make the produce of our associations at all commensurate with so magnificent a design, not only must their number be multiplied in the way that we have already pointed out, but those already formed should, as they well might, be made greatly more productive than before; and this they never will be save in the strength of those religious considerations which are best fitted to enlist the religious affections of our people upon their side. For this purpose it should be made palpable to every understanding what the uses, the sacred uses we might well say, of the general fund are—that in truth it is the great instrument for accomplishing the objects of our great Home Mission-that it is far the likeliest engine in our hands, with the blessing of God, for achieving the moral and spiritual regeneration of Scotland-that it possesses the same high and holy claims on the liberality of the Christian public in our land as any of the great schemes which have been instituted in modern times for the evangelization of the earth, or in pursuance of our Saviour's parting charge when he left the world, and which is of standing obligation in the Church to the end of time-Go and teach all men the way of salvation; go and preach the gospel to every creature. The most effectual means should be adopted for making this patent to all; nor can we think of aught more conducive to it than a regular monthly meeting in every one of our churches, open to all, but which the office-bearers and members of the local association are especially expected to attend. It should be a devotional meeting, under the charge of the minister, or rather of the minister and his elders, certain of whom might conduct the services, and read whatever is of greatest value in the information of the month relative to the progress, and the prospects, and the schemes, and withal the difficulties or necessities of our Free Church. Under such a union, the people would soon become thoroughly intelligent in the uses and designs of an institute supported by their own hand; and in order to approve, we believe that all which is required is that they should be made fully to comprehend the whole system of its operations. Let us hope that collectors would be stimulated, and contributors increased, both in numbers and in the rate of their liberality, by the periodical appliance thus brought home at stated intervals, to their sense of religious obligation; and that both their monthly prayers and weekly alms would come up for a memorial before God. In short, to make our financial system more efficient and productive than heretofore, we should associate it far more closely with the religious business of the eldership. It is well that the proceedings of an association, whose funds go to the support of so high and holy a design, should come under the cognisance and enjoy the prayerful attention of the elders of the Church, who might be greatly instrumental in the promotion of the cause by Christian influence, and the effect of their Christian persuasions over the families of the district which belongs to them. Let them go forth in the spirit of devoted missionaries on their respective charges, and by awakening a kindred spirit among the people, they might both create the principle and establish a growing habit of missionary liberality in the midst of them."

The Rev. Doctor then continued,—I have submitted this report to what might be termed a Committee of the whole House, which took it into consideration, and framed certain regulations with regard to it, for the full understanding of which it is necessary that I should enter into explanations of certain matters contained in them. I trust that you understand now, and I hope you will recollect distinctly

what I have explained respecting the two sources of revenue. I should like the collectors of associations to understand that on them hinge the great and momentous interests of the religious good of all Scotland; because the produce of these associations are to come into the general fund, and this again is made applicable to the sustentation not only of the existing ministers of the Free Church, but it is also to be applicable to the plantation of new churches, and the sustentation of their future ministers. You will at once see that the produce of these associations goes to the support of the ministers of the Church, and forms a fund which we trust will be so far extended as to enable us, in conjunction with other evangelical denominations, to overtake the whole moral and spiritual necessities of the land. This interest hinges singly and exclusively on the produce of these associations; and I trust that the collectors will feel the whole weight and burden of the religious obligation and responsibility that lies upon them, and that they will feel how sacred a task it is which they have taken in hand, and that they will conscientiously and assiduously ply the task which has been allotted to them. I shall not at present go into the best method of forming an association-I shall refer to that at another stage; but at present I want to possess the minds of the collectors with the importance of the positions which they occupy-that, in fact, upon them hinges the importance of finding those supplies which not only enable us to support the existing ministers of the Free Church, but which will enable us, in conjunction with all those religious bodies that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth, to come nearer and nearer to the fulfilment of that great truth at which we aim, and that we will never let down our efforts till we have fully overtaken it-the aim of supplying the remotest districts of Scotland with the blessing of a gospel ministry. (Cheers.) With regard to the other part of the Church revenues-the collections at the church-doors-I believe that on this subject I had better give you at once the actual regulations which have been adopted by the General Assembly, Nothing is more necessary to give a right impulse to the friends of the Free Church than to give them a clear understanding with respect to the destination of the respective funds which they are called upon to supply. I trust that you will all feel the weight of the religious obligation which lies upon you to support the associations, seeing that their produce goes into the Central Committee of Edinburgh, which is the great organ of supply, and which charges itself with the plantation of new churches all over the land; and we do not mean to let down our efforts till Scotland is covered with the competent number of churches for the religious instruction of the people. That is clear enough. With regard to the productions of the churchdoor collections, I have already (in the report) shown how impolitic it would be to merge both in one general fund. With regard to this, the regulations are—

Regulations as to the Funds for Supplying Ordinances, and as to Seat Rents. "The proceeds of the termly payments obtained through Associations, or by the visitation of deacons and collectors, shall be wholly remitted to the general sustentation fund.

"This fund, including all direct contributions to it by individuals, shall be paid as follows:

"1. To defray the expense of administration and agency.

"2. To pay whatever fixed salaries may be charged on it, and the allowances to preachers and ordained missionaries employed by the Church ; and,

"3. To appropriate the residue to provide an equal dividend to each ordained and officiating pastor of a congregation, and to such ministers as, having been pastors of congregations, shall have been otherwise employed under authority of the Church, or declared emeriti.

"This general dividend shall not exceed L. per annum, any surplus beyond that being applicable to the extension of the Church, or the maintenance of schools." This explains the application of the produce of the Associations. The following are the regulations with regard to the collections at the church-doors :

"The ordinary collections at church-doors shall be administered by the deacons of the congregation (after deducting feu-duties, insurance, and the ordinary expenses of the place of worship, were not otherwise provided for,) increasing the stipend of

the minister-defraying the expenses of Sabbath schools-aiding in the support of elementary local schools or contributing to any of the general funds in connection with the Free Church, at the choice of, and in the proportions fixed by the congregations, or by the deacons, with their consent; the sums required for making more comfortable the poor of the congregation, to be raised by extra collections for that specific object.

"A discretionary power shall be possessed by the Committee intrusted with the distribution of the fund, to withhold a portion of the dividend in all cases in which it may clearly appear to them that the congregations are improperly diverting their whole means to their own local objects, and wilfully withholding their due contributions from the general fund of which they share the benefit.

"The deacons of each congregation shall transmit to the Convener of the Committee on public accounts, on or before the in each year,

a full certified and audited account of the whole sum received in the course of the year, and the application of the same, the year to run from

"The Committee on public accounts shall each year prepare, print, and present to the General Assembly, at its annual meeting in May, a tabular view of the collections of all the congregations throughout the Church, and the appropriation of these respectively; and they shall in like manner, prepare, print, and present an audited account of the receipts and expenditure of the general fund.

"It is most earnestly recommended that, except for such limited and temporary purpose as liquidating the debt reasonably contracted in the erection of the place of worship—or defraying feu-duties, and such like ordinary current expenses-no seatrents be levied, but that a right to particular sittings be given equally, free of charge, as if let for a rent to the party to whom it is allotted; but it is left for the congregations to act for themselves in this matter; provided always that if seat-rents shall be levied, except for such specific and limited purpose as above referred to, the proceeds shall be remitted to the general sustentation fund."

He continued, I shall confine myself only to that part of the regulation which relates to the application of the fund raised by these collections to the increase of the stipends of the respective ministers. It is proposed that the general fund shall be allocated in an equal division to all the ministers of the Church-(applause)—but this, though a nominal and apparent equality, would involve a substantial inequality: and in this way the same stipend might be adequate in one situation and not in another; and, therefore, this inequality should be repaired out of the fund raised by collections at the church-doors, at the pleasure of the respective congregations. (Cheers.) There would be smaller collections in the poorer parts of the country, where the expense of living is on the whole lower; and there would be larger collections in the richer parts of the country, where the expense of living is greater; and we cannot imagine a more suitable method to equalize the circumstances and condition of the clergy, than to leave these inequalities to be repaired by the church collections, at the pleasure of the respective congregations. In this way two distinct impulsestwo distinct motives-are connected with the support of each of the funds; and in this method every man will know precisely what the object is which every shilling that he gives goes to. In proportion as a man is conscientiously impressed with the obligation of providing for the religious necessities of the country, in proportion will he give to the local association; but a man who is conscientiously impressed with this will, in like manner, be impressed with a sense of all the duties and all the virtues of the Christian character, and therefore with this duty among others, of supplying the wants and adding to the comforts of his own minister. I will give you two texts for the two funds. The first is, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Under the impulse of that text a man will give to the associations. But there is another text-"Let him that is taught communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." Under the impulse of that text, a man will give liberally to the church-door collections. (Cheers.) I have no fear of a conflict between the two funds, for just in proportion as a man gives liberally to associations, so he will give with corresponding liberality to the plate at the church door, as is seen and guaranteed by the experience of our public charities, where the man who

gives liberally to home missionary objects, contributes also most largely to foreign missions. The two funds will grow with each other's growth, and strengthen with their strength. (Hear, hear.) People are often jealous of the authority of churchmen. Now, I should like you to know the extent to which our authority goes; it is merely to point out in what channels we wish to lead your charities. We tell you that the channel of associations is laid down to provide for the general and patriotic object of supplying the religious necessities of all the country; and that the channel of church-door collections leads to providing for local objects, and to make provision for your minister over and above the dividend of the general fund. This is all that we do this is the amount of our authority-this is the whole length to which we stretch our authority-we do not legislate as to the proportions in which you are to give to either; we leave that to your own consciences and your own wills; we do no more than set before you two missionary boxes-the one being for the Local, the other for the Home Mission fund; but we leave entirely to your own consciences and your own wills in what proportion you will give to either of them. Unless we did that, you would have the discomfort of not knowing what objects your money went for; but here are two indices by which you are told at once the particular objects both of the one and the other. Our earnest hope is, that the more distinctly our cause is understood, we shall find ourselves adequate to both; but in order to that, it requires to be urged and impressed upon the minds of our collectors, that the produce of the donations is for the general good of all Scotland-a full and general consideration, which tells no doubt upon the conscience, but not so powerfully upon the natural feelings. The natural preference is for home, and special and local objects—and it is particularly natural, though not exclusively natural it is a Christian affection—it is the desire of every hearer whose heart is in its right place the desire he feels to see his minister adequately and respectably provided for. (Cheers.) Well, then, how is it that the two objects have sped during the few months that have elapsed since the formation of the Free Church? So far as their productiveness is concerned, (I will not say that they have altogether reached my anticipations) so far as their productiveness is concerned, I give you to understand that we take no cognisance of the church-door collections, with a view to legislate upon them; but we like to know what the produce of these collections is; but it is not for us to look after their application. So far as the produce of the associations is concerned, had all the money which had been raised for the general fund come our way, and been applied in a dividend to the ministers of the Free Church, it would have warranted us in recommending an allowance for the Martinmas term, of L.75 to each minister; or, in other words, a dividend of L.150 a-year. But this could only have been recommended, on the supposition that the produce of the associations, and other revenues subscribed for the general sustentation fund had been received by us. It so happens, unfortunately, that in the present difficulties of our mighty undertaking, the application of this fund has been a good deal disturbed; its application has not been fully understood-so that, though a sum sufficient to realise L.75 each ought to have reached us, so far as the productiveness of the fund is concerned, it has been diverted to other objects, and in such a way as to call for its being more loudly and distinctly than ever proclaimed before this Assembly, that the produce of the associations is to go to the general sustentation fund, and to that only. How then have they been diverted? They have been diverted in two ways. They have been diverted in a way which, I am sure, the ministers who suffer most by the diversion, will be the last to grudge. They have been diverted from the object of sustaining the existing ministers of the Free Church to the object of extending the Free Church. A considerable proportion of it has been diverted to the object of supporting the probationers, whose business it is to provide a supply of preaching to the additional congregations, over and above the 470 that came out of the old Establishment, and joined the Free Church of Scotland. Then, it has been diverted in another way. My friend on my right hand (Mr Hamilton,) has sheered off with -fully one-fourth of it, and applied to the building of churches what was intended to go to the sustentation fund. The present difficulty is the demand-the urgent and irrepressible demand for getting up churches; a great amount has, therefore, gone to

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