grants is making satisfactory progress, and in accordance with these rules, to which the Committee rigidly adhere, payment takes place only when the whole debt is finally extinguished. 67 have been paid during the past year, amounting to £5229, and the full amount of debt of which they have effected the extinction is £15,449, 9s. 10d. (Applause.) Besides these, eight cases have received payment of their reserved manse grants, but have yet to draw their final debt-extinction grants. The Committee have thus paid in all 168 grants-namely, 101 in 1858-9, and 67 in 1859-60; and there remain 96 grants still to be drawn. Most part of these, they hope, will be called for in the course of the ensuing year, but some will have to be allowed a year or two longer. Last year the Committee proposed an extension of the original limits of the scheme from 1854 to 1857; and they would have been glad to see their way this year to a further extension, but they could not at present venture to do so. Their liabilities are-Amount of grants remaining due, £10,589; total funds, £6513, leaving an excess of liabilities over funds of £4075, 11s. 5d. To meet this, of course, the Committee have the two instalments of the fund remaining to be realised; and they confidently expect this to be done, and a surplus left. But it would not be prudent to increase their present obligations. The Committee sought the sanction of the House to give grants to Edzell and Ashkirk in special circumstances.

Mr WILSON moved the approval of these Reports, and that thanks be recorded to Mr Meldrum.

Mr THOMSON, Paisley, seconded the motion.

Mr HANDYSIDE testified to the great amount of pains taken by Mr Meldrum in connexion with the various schemes of which he is Convener. (Hear, hear.)

Dr CLASON took the opportunity, in connexion with these schemes, to refer to the great services of the late Mr Hog of Newliston. He (Dr Clason) hoped this Church would never forget those services. (Applause.)

Mr TURNBULL referred to the great success of this scheme, and expressed a hope that the Assembly would strengthen the hands of the Committee by an expression of opinion recommending it to the further liberality of the Church.

Mr WILSON, in regard to this suggestion, observed, that as the Report made reference to the loss sustained by the fund from deaths, and from a change of circumstances in the contributors, he thought it very desirable that members of the Church should also remember this scheme when their circumstances improved. (Cheers and laughter.)

SELECT-FINANCE COMMITTEE.

(See Ap

Mr MELDRUM also gave in the Report of the Committee. pendix.) On the motion of Mr THORBURN, seconded by Dr BEITH, the Report was adopted.

CHURCH-BUILDING.

The Report of the Church-Building Committee was then submitted by Mr WILSON, the Convener. (See Appendix.) Mr Wilson shewed that £1800 to £1900 is required yearly to meet the demands upon the Committee. The members of the Church should remember that the exten

sion of the Church now is chiefly among the poor, the sunken, and degraded classes of the community; and that therefore help is urgently required.

Mr COWAN moved the adoption of the Report. He reminded the Assembly that the remarkable revival which had taken place rendered additional churches necessary. Churches had been erected in destitute districts, such as the Pleasance and the Cowgate of Edinburgh. He therefore felt that this scheme must commend itself to the friends of the Church throughout the country.

The Report was adopted.

ASSEMBLY ACCOMMODATION, ETC.

Sir H. MONCREIFF gave in the Report on this subject. (See Appendix.) Sir Henry explained that this was the last Report which the Committee would have to make.

Mr DALZIEL, in connexion with this matter, stated that in every instance the expenses incurred by the Moderator had exceeded the allowance made to him. He (Mr Dalziel) found the feeling universal among the laity that the allowance should be £200, which he now proposed accordingly. (Applause.)

Mr R. PAUL seconded, and Mr COWAN supported, the motion, which was adopted, along with the Report; it being agreed that the increased allowance for the Moderator should take effect from the present year.

MISSIONARY PUBLICATIONS.

The Committee on Missionary Publications gave in their Report. The circulation of the Church's periodicals stands at present as follows:Communication, 33,750; Record, 18,000; Children's Record, 38,750. The Committee regretted that they could not make a more encouraging report, especially in regard to the Communication and Record. The Report was approved of, with this addition,-"The General Assembly at the same time earnestly recommend to all the congregations, and to all the members of the Church, to exert themselves with a view to the greater encouragement and circulation of the Monthly Communication, the Missionary Record, and the Children's Record, which are now published by the authority of the Church."

THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROBATIONERS.

Mr GORDON gave in the Report of the Committee on this subject, which stated that the scheme for the distribution of probationers had been practically inoperative during the year-the necessary information for the working of the scheme not having been furnished to the Committee, and suggested that the Committee should be discharged.

Principal CUNNINGHAM said he could not allow this opportunity to pass without stating that the way in which this whole matter, in regard to the standing, the occupation, and the distribution of their probationers was managed, was a scandal to the Church, and had been discreditable to her and injurious to the probationers themselves. (Hear, hear.) The subject was a very important one, and one which ought to have secured a larger share of the attention of the Church than it had done. most desirable that when once their probationers were licensed, they

It was

should devote themselves to the work for which they were qualified and licensed, and this object was substantially secured in other Churches. That object was secured by the arrangement of the United Presbyterian Church. There might be difficulties in their case, but still, when it was known that an object so important and desirable was practicable, he thought that the Church ought to consider whether some such arrangement ought not be adopted. One of the most obvious and crying evils was the want of a fair and adequate opportunity of being put upon leets and being heard in vacancies. It was a gross injustice that nothing had been done about the matter of leets for vacancies, which was left to the discretion of local parties; and as every one knew there were many cases of probationers-men of excellent talents and character-who had never yet got an opportunity of preaching in a vacant pulpit. This was a scandal and injustice, and something ought to be done. The matter could not be neglected, without giving reasonable grounds for complaint, without grievously injuring the Church. It was upon their probationers that the Church depended-(hear, hear)—and he thought they were bound to attend to their welfare, and to endeavour to remedy this state of matters. The present system encouraged all the lower, meaner, grosser qualities of man, it encouraged probationers to thrust themselves upon congregations, to thrust themselves upon vacancies, to thrust themselves upon leets. The inevitable result of this was that modest and retiring men, preserving those qualities which it is desirable to encourage in a minister, had no opportunities of being heard; whilst a more impudent and forward class of men-(laughter)-deficient in those higher qualities, had their lower qualities fostered and strengthened by this injustice. The object which they ought to endeavour to secure was, that all probationers should get an opportunity of being heard without being obliged to interfere themselves. The scheme which had been sanctioned with a view of effecting this had never got a fair trial, owing to Presbytery Clerks and others not affording the necessary facilities for working it. The scheme was virtually strangled, and the want of zeal which the Church had shewn on the subject had encouraged the elements of opposition; and the consequence was, that the Presbytery Clerks withheld from the scheme all countenance, and deprived it of all assistance. Unless something was done, they would inevitably disgust a considerable number of the most important and valuable class of their probationers, and raise up a class of men of inferior description. He did sincerely trust that something

would be done.

Mr WALKER, Carnwath, moved that the Report be adopted, and the Committee discharged, which was agreed to.

Mr WILSON then moved that a Committee be appointed to consider on the best means for the employment and distribution of probationers, and to report, if they see cause, to the stated meetings of Commission. Principal CUNNINGHAM seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

ASSEMBLY-HALL COMMITTEE.

The LORD PROVOST of Edinburgh, as Convener, gave in the Report of this Committee. The Committee have not thought it advisable to encourage general applications for the use of the Hall, and they have declined to give the use of it gratuitously in any case, or for general purposes even when a rent was offered. They have entertained applications

from two congregations for the use of it on Sabbath, but in neither case has the application been persevered in, or led to any practical result. The hall has, therefore, scarcely been let, except to the Presbytery of Edinburgh for the evening services on Sabbath. The only material addition which has been made for Assembly purposes is the alteration of a class-room for the better accommodation of the Moderator and of the Business Committee. Although the number of members is considerably increased this year, the Committee do not think it necessary to set apart any additional accommodation for them. Last year the Committee reported that if the collection which was authorised by the Assembly amounted to £2000, this would probably clear the Committee of debt. They regret, however, to report that their share of the collection does not exceed £1200. There is, therefore, a debt due still by the Committee of about £900, besides a small amount to be expended for alterations only now completed. This may increase the debt to a little more than £1000, the great part of which is due to the College. The Committee suggest that this debt should be gradually paid off by applying £100 annually to the purposes of the hall, out of the amount received by the Accommodation Committee for the sale of tickets to the General Assembly, unless some generous friend of the Church should render this process of extinguishing the debt unnecessary. The Committee crave their reappointment to take charge of the hall during the next year, and to superintend any painting or other work which may be required. The Lord Provost expressed a hope that the Church would enable them to clear off the debt as soon as possible, and stated that in the course of the year he had visited the hall with numerous parties, all of whom were delighted appearance and its acoustic properties.

with its

Mr MILROY alluded to an incident which occurred during the past year, which was regarded by some of his co-presbyters as an invasion of the episcopal rights of the Edinburgh Presbytery. A distinguished minister preached in the hall according to public advertisement; and as he was not known to the Presbytery, the matter was reckoned anomalous and requiring notice. He thought the occurrence might have been passed over; but that was not the opinion of some of his brethren, who were not disposed to concede their episcopal rights. A Committee was appointed to consider the relation between the Assembly Hall Committee the Presbytery resolutions as follow:-Firstly, That it pertains to our and the Presbytery of Edinburgh; and that Committee recommended to Presbyterian Church government that all dispensation of the Word and sacraments in connexion with the Free Church of Scotland be conducted under the superintendence of the Presbytery of the bounds; secondly, That the Assembly Hall Committee have received charge of that building Assembly Hall, and not as a place of worship; thirdly, That

simply as an

while aware of the very general terms of the Assembly's remit, the Presbytery must claim that no meeting for public worship, save of course those of the Assembly itself, be held in the hall, save at their instance, or under their control; and they have no doubt that the Assembly, in remitting the management of the building to the Hall Committee, did so

with this reservation implied, though not expressed.

sembly formally to adopt these resolutions. He thought the matter Principal CUNNINGHAM hoped Mr Milroy would not call upon the Asmight be left entirely to the discretion of the Committee.

He had

thorough confidence in the good sense and prudence of the Committee and its Convener, and he proposed that they should approve of the Report, and record thanks to the Convener and Committee. (Applause.)

The LORD PROVOST said that nothing could be further from the wish of the Committee than to interfere with the rights of the Presbytery, and he could assure the Assembly that the Committee would be careful as to the use that might be made of the hall. There were many members of the Edinburgh Presbytery members of the Assembly Hall Committee, and they had the opportunity of considering the purposes for which it was to be used. The incident Mr Milroy had referred to was a matter of haste; and he had only time to consult one member of the Edinburgh Presbytery, who agreed with him that the hall might be given for that service, and members of Assembly would have been delighted had they been present.

It was agreed to reappoint the Committee, with power to give the use of the hall for any purpose, and in any terms that might be satisfactory to them.

The Assembly then adjourned.

MONDAY, MAY 28.

WYND CHURCH, GLASGOW.

The Assembly, with reference to the deliverence of the 23d inst., regarding the Chalmers Endowments, with consent of the trustees, in whom the sum of £300 of additional Bank Stock is vested, empowered the Commission, at any of its stated diets held before next Assembly, to sanction if they see fit, any arrangement that may be made with the said trustees and the Glasgow Free Church Building Society, for the dividends arising from the said stock or the interest of the price thereof, if sold, being paid to the minister of the Wynd Church, or of the church erected, or to be erected, in any other destitute locality in Glasgow, conform to the regulations in Act IX. Assembly 1853.

THE MARBLE FOUNTAIN.

The LORD PROVOST intimated that this morning he had received a letter from a friend, enclosing £10, which the donor hoped the Assembly would accept, in order to defray the expense of the beautiful marble fountain in the east end of the corridor; and the donor hoped that the cool water of the fountain would long refresh the members and the various parties who attend the meetings of the General Assembly. If any person wished to know particulars, Mr James Crawford would give any information regarding the donation.* (Cheers and laughter.)

CHURCH SITES.

The LORD PROVOST submitted the Report of the Special Committee on Sites. The two cases submitted to the Committee were those of Coll and Culsalmond. (See the Report in Appendix.)

The LORD PROVOST entered into a detail of the circumstances relating to the congregations of Culsalmond and Coll, referred to in the Report.

*The donor is Mr James Crawford.