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brought their evangelistic machinery to act in the centre of the country, and over the whole area of the country,-they would feel how great a step had been accomplished. It was a step of precisely the same kind which had been accomplished in Italy.

The MODERATOR suggested that some of the elders should address the Assembly, and first called upon

Major-General ANDERSON, who said that he would only state what came under his own observation; and, first of all, he would refer to what had taken place at Newhaven. He had been called upon, some weeks since, to address from 600 to 700 fishwomen and their husbands at that village, and never did he feel more solemnised in his life. At the close of that meeting the Rev. Mr Fairbairn came forward, and, laying his hands upon his shoulders, said that if he (General Anderson) could have seen some of these young women only two months before, he could enter into his feelings at that moment regarding them; and that he questioned whether he was actually only dreaming, or whether what he now saw was a reality. The day following, he (General A) met with the minister of the Establishment for he rejoiced to know that the Free Church minister and the minister of the Establishment went hand in hand in this work-(applause) the following day he met with the Established Church minister at a numerous committee meeting upon the "social evil," and he mentioned to him that there was a woman at Newhaven of notoriously profligate character, and her three daughters; and that he had called at their house in order to induce them to attend a prayer-meeting. To his astonishment, the Established Church minister proceeded to say, he found the youngest daughter weeping bitterly; and he believed that, through God's marvellous grace, that abandoned mother and her three daughters were now converted, and living to the glory of God. (Applause.) Another place which he (General A.) had visited (North Berwick, as was understood,) was painfully associated with his earliest reminiscences, and used to be noted for the carelessness and ungodliness that prevailed. It was a fashionable village in East Lothian. He was lately there at the commencement of what had since proved to be indeed a gracious outpouring of the Divine Spirit upon both old and young, but especially upon the latter. (Applause.) He was called upon to address anxious inquirers at that place, and on the first occasion he spoke to those under concern for their souls for five hours, and on another for three or four hours. (Applause.) He had seen in another locality, children crying under a load of sin, and had heard them pleading with God for the teaching of His Divine Spirit. On asking the master of a school who at first did not attach that importance to the circumstance which he (General A.) did, he said that he observed that a marked change had come over the young, and that some of them who used to be at the foot of the class were now at the very head of it. They now, he said, felt it to be a duty to exert themselves and to learn their lessons, and punishment was unknown. The spirit of love that prevailed amongst them was perfectly marvellous. In the neighbourhood of Paisley he had also seen a change taking place in a locality that used to be neglected. He knew a person there who deeply interested himself in this movement, and as he knew that he used to be very fond of metaphysics, addressing him by name, he asked him what he said of his metaphysics now. The reply was, "Oh, we are beyond metaphysics; they won't do now-no, no; it's Christ that will do,

and not metaphysics." (Applause.) The gallant General concluded by beseeching ministers and elders to make a heart-work of this matter, and to set forth Christ continually; and sat down amid loud applause.

Mr ROBERT PAUL, who was next called upon, expressed the deep interest which he felt in that day's proceedings, and said that his attention had been recently directed to consider what the real duty of the eldership was in the present crisis; and at a meeting of the eldership last week he had fully stated his views. The remarks which he had made on that occasion he had been requested by the conference of elders to throw into the shape of a little tract-(applause)-—and he had nothing to add to the views contained in it. He would be happy to lay a few copies on the table.

Mr G. F. BARBOUR, at the request of the Moderator, next addressed the Assembly. What was going on all around them seemed to be a special call upon the office-bearers to be up and doing,-assuming such an attitude as that they might be able to guide the movement, remove obstacles, and do all in their power to give it a proper direction. (Applause.) He might be permitted to make a reference to the intelligence communicated by Dr Bonar. He felt that they were called upon as a Church to give special thanks to God that the Church of the Valleys had risen to the exigency of the occasion, and had taken a step which even a few days ago they could hardly have thought they would have ventured to take, that of removing their staff of Professors to Florence, which, as Dr Wylie had truly said, was the Athens of Italy. He was in the Valleys the year which witnessed the emancipation of that interesting Church, when they were permitted to hold a Free Synod, and when their Professors were established in the place from which it was now proposed to remove them; and well did he remember when one of their elders, who came from one of the highest and most remote points of the Alps, remarked to him that he never thought that God would have allowed him to see the day when their Church would be planted in Turin, the capital of the country. Looking back to this event, how must it now gladden the hearts of all who desired the advancement of vital godliness in that land, to see it bursting forth on every side, and to hear that it was now proposed to plant in the very centre of Italy a full and efficient staff for training up men in the pure doctrines of the gospel! A wondrous awakening was going on in many of the large towns, and in not a few of the villages, of Piedmont, within the last few months, as well as in Tuscany and other places. (Applause.)

Major DAVIDSON, who was next appealed to by the Moderator, said he rose with the utmost reluctance to address them, as he felt he was one of those elders who were not doing their duty at the present moment. He, however, trusted that he, as well as others, might be stirred up to take a livelier interest in this revival movement. He had seen some of the Lord's doings, and had addressed some remarkable meetings; but he felt that there was a striking contrast between the spirit in which he addressed the meeting and the spirit in which he was heard. If they were indeed members of the body of Christ, they must prove themselves to be living members-(applause)-and must set themselves to discharge that work which devolved upon them as elders; and the conviction strongly pressed upon his mind that not a single elder ought to be idle in these our days,

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but that they should all be going from house to house, in order to bring souls to Jesus Christ. (Applause.)

Mr WILSON PATERSON, of Loudoun, Ayrshire, a most intelligent-looking artisan, next addressed the House. He set out by referring to the deep interest which he began to take in the work of revival in his locality about the beginning of January last. Although the same publicity had not been given to the work in Loudoun as in other places, still they had had a good deal of revival work. They had meetings every night in the week; and for about three months he had attended a meeting of some kind or another five nights every week. (Applause.) He was the means of setting up four meetings in the country; and they were all going on very well, and he thought he might say with safety that much good had been done amongst them. He could bear testimony to the greatly be altered state of feeling which was now manifest in regard to the preaching of the gospel; and there was one proof of this with which he had been greatly struck, viz., the prayers which were now continually offered up that the Divine blessing might rest upon the labours of their pastors. (Applause.) Mr Paterson then gave two striking instances of reformation. In one of these cases a person who was formerly addicted to intemperance was now a regular attender on prayer-meetings, and addressed them with an unction that was really remarkable. In the other case, a young woman who was noted for her thoughtlessness had now a class every Monday night, which was attended by about twenty little girls, whom she taught to read; and every morning she had a prayer-meeting for females, the half-hour which she devoted to it being taken from her breakfast hour. (Mr Paterson's statement was listened to with the deepest interest, and he was loudly applauded at its close.)

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Mr M. PATTESON, who was the next lay speaker, said that the quickening influence of the Spirit had been seen, not only upon the careless and indifferent, but also upon those who were serious Christians. When in Ireland, he met with an aged patriarch, eighty years old, one who had walked with God for half a century, and on asking him how he felt after he had been revived, he expressively said, "My heart is a gae deal hotter, and my heart is a gae deal bigger, than what it used to be before; thus indicating increased warmth and expansion; and to this he added, "If I were not an old man, Ireland would not hold me; I would be to the end of the world, to tell sinuers of the love of Christ." (Applause.) Another person, a most devoted minister, said that "he did not think it was possible for any person in the body to have experienced such intense spiritual joy, he felt as if he had been in heaven for a fortnight ;" and added "that there was great danger of the new wine bursting the old bottle." (Renewed applause.) Mr Patteson then stated that he had visited many revival districts during two months in Ireland, and also in different parts of this country, since autumn last, and that there was not,

He then described

the counterpart could not be found in the other.
some cases of awakening which had occurred amongst children in a fish-
ing village, and also briefly referred to the movement as he had seen it in
North Berwick; and sat down amid applause.

could only repeat, in a general form, what had been already so well ex-
The LORD PROVOST, who was called upon to say a few words, said he

pressed by preceding speakers, and he would not therefore detain the Assembly.

Mr WILSON, of Dundee, said that there were some overtures from Presbyteries and Synods, proposing some practical measures with a view to the prosecution of home mission and evangelistic work; and he would propose that another conference should be held on Friday morning, from ten to twelve, to consider these overtures.

The proposal was agreed to, and the Assembly adjourned.

EVENING SEDERUNT.

THE HOME MISSION.

Dr ROXBURGH laid on the table the Report of the Home Mission Committee. (See the Report in the Appendix.)

Dr ROXBURGH then proceeded to say-The agencies in operation in connexion with the Home Mission Committee continue to be six in number. These are as formerly :—

(1.) Missions not yet erected into Stations; (2.) Home Mission Stations proper, under the charge of Presbyteries, and supplied by Probationers; (3.) Territorial Mission Stations and Charges in large towns; (4.) Evangelistic Deputations; (5.) Church Extension charges, deriving grants from the Committee under authority of the General Assembly; and (6.) The plan for the employment of Students in Missionary work during their third and fourth years at the Hall.

After the full exposition given to last General Assembly of the nature of these agencies, and the wants they are designed to supply, also after the somewhat lengthened address recently circulated throughout the Church in prospect of the late collection, it would only be a needless consumption of the valuable time of this House, were I again to go into details under the six distinct heads into which our several agencies branch out. These details will be found stated with sufficient fulness in the printed Report drawn up by the Secretary, a perusal of which will give a clear and accurate view of the extent of the Committee's labours and engagements.

In connexion with the second of our agencies, namely, Home Mission Stations proper, I have the sincere gratification of reporting to the Assembly a case within the Presbytery of Paisley, which at once illustrates the great need that there is for Home Mission work, especially in our mining districts, the faithful fulfilment of Presbyterial duty to a destitute population, and how a Christian employer realises, and ought to realise, his responsibility in regard to the educational and religious wants of his work-people. This case, at my request, has been stated in a letter addressed to me by Mr Thomson of Paisley, and stated so well, that I cannot do better than read his letter to the Assembly.

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"PAISLEY, 7th May 1860.

"MY DEAR SIR,-Referring to our conversation a few weeks ago as to the mission station now set up in the mining villages of Inkermann and Balaklava, and to your desire to be informed as to the facts of the case, I beg to trouble you with a few remarks on the subject.

"The number of men employed at Inkermann alone is understood to be upwards of 1200; and I should think that the whole number is not much less than 2000. Ever since the erection of the villages, about three years ago, the Presbytery has had its attention directed to the supply of their religious and educational wants. Besides open-air preaching by the deputies of the Home Mission Committee, during the summer, several members of Presbytery have from time to time taken part in this work; and a Sabbath school has been conducted at Inkermann. In order, however, to secure a permanent and efficient agency, four of our Deacons' Courts agreed about the beginning of the year to

contribute one-half of a probationer's salary, and the Home Mission Committee agreed to contribute the other half. On being appointed Convener of the Presbytery Committee, it appeared to me that the first step requisite was to secure, if possible, the erection of a school, both for the education of the children, and for holding prayer-meetings in unfavourable weather. I accordingly took it upon me to write to Alexander Cunningham, Esq., one of the proprietors of the works, to inform him of our intentions, and of the appointment of Mr Robert Howie, and to represent to him the importance and desirableness of establishing an efficient school for the education of the children. I received a most gratifying reply, to the effect that he would be happy to take the whole support of the Mission upon himself; that he had given instructions for the immediate erection of a school and master's house, and that the management of the Mission should be left, as before, in the hands of the Presbytery's Committee. (Applause.) An empty house had been fitted up as a temporary school. There I had the pleasure last Tuesday evening of introducing Mr Howie to his charge. The room was filled with a deeply attentive audience, and Mr Howie's admirable address was listened to with the deepest interest. I feel thankful that we were guided to the selection of one so eminently suitable for the work; and I confidently hope that, with the Divine blessing, the happiest results will be realised.

"At the request of the proprietor, we are at present looking out for a first-class teacher. The arrangements for this department are of the most liberal character. The teacher's income will be not less than £90, exclusive of a free house and the Government allowance ; and an able teacher will not realise less than £140 in all. When the children exceed 100 in number, a male assistant will be provided, and when they exceed 200, another will be added, and probably also a female teacher, when the new school is fiuished. In forming these very satisfactory arrangements with Mr Cunningham and his manager, I have been deeply impressed with a feeling of gratitude, not only to them, but to Him in whose hands are the hearts of all men, and who has disposed them to do such great and generous things. It is another evidence, among many which we have had in our own Presbytery, of the deep and growing interest of the higher classes in the moral and spiritual elevation of the masses. May this feeling be widened in extent, and deepened in intensity; and may we soon see our whole land pervaded with the lessons and privileges of pure Christianity.

I have no doubt that the above details, though I might have added more, will be interesting and encouraging to you and your Committee in the important and hopeful work which has been committed to you.-With kind regards, I remain, yours very truly,

"J. THOMSON."

I trust Mr Cunningham will pardon me this public notice of his Christian and patriotic conduct. I have ventured to refer to it for the sake of the influence which his admirable example is fitted to exercise. Would that other employers would go and do likewise,—would emulate his Christian concern for the highest interests of his servants and families. I understand that when told that the Home Mission Committee would bear one-half of the expense of the probationer's salary, his reply was, "We have more need to help the fund of the Committee than take help from it"-(applause)-a generous sentiment, which I am sure the Assembly will duly appreciate, as well as the fact announced by Mr Thomson, of a deep and growing interest on the part of the higher classes in his neighbourhood in the religious and social improvement of the long-neglected classes beneath them. The Assembly will observe from the printed Report that there never was such abundant evidence of a rich and effectual blessing on our evangelistic deputations as during For the encouragement of those brethren who have agreed to take part in this important work this year, I may mention, that during my recent tour I scarcely ever visited a Presbytery, containing in its membership any of our former deputies, in which they did not bear testimony to the good which they had got to their own souls, and the good their own flocks had experienced from the increased life and power of their ministry, as well as the good of which they had been made directly instrumental to others, by engaging in this blessed work. In some localities the knowledge and influence of vital religion have been preserved from utterly dying out through the blighting effect of

last summer.

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