Free Church was at present placed in a peculiar position; and on that ground he would appeal to this Assembly for its sympathy and aid In his own congregation, he had a professor as an elder, who also occupied a distinguished place in literature. Another was editor of ant almanac, which was read by 2,500,000 Frenchmen; and a verse of the Bible for each day was contained in that almanac. (Applause.) Another elder was a military man who had trained 400,000 soldiers, who had been taught the gospel o of John. (Renewed applause.) The moment was auspicious for the Christians of Scotland aiding the friends of truth on the continent for the Church of Rome had of late received one of the greatest blows she had ever received. His Free Church had many openings of usefulness in various parts of France; and the peasants who comprised their congregations were acting as missionaries. As they would naturally be desirous to know what were the prospects of religious liberty in France, he might state that these prospects were brightening a little. Their schools in the Haute Vienne had been shut; but the perseverance which they had displayed in petitioning for their re-opening had had a good effect, and, if persevered in, their efforts in this direction promised to be still more successful. It was in these circumstances that he appealed for the sympathy and aid of this Assembly. This Free Church of Scotland sent, two years

splendid deputation to their Synod, for which they were very grateful. This Church has sent over to them two moderators; and he was sure

they came back with pleasure from the splendid valley of the Covennes.

2

1.

11

This year he invited them to pay them another visit, and hoped that his excellent friend Dr Bohat would be a member of the deputation; and although he could not promise them at St Etienne, the chief town of a barren and smoky coal mining district, the splendid peaches which they gotoon the last occasion(laughter) he could assure them that they would receive that sweetest of all fruitsa brotherly welcome. (Loud applause.) MOTMI ELIJAH SALEEBY, native superintendent of the Free Church schools in Lebanon, next addressed the Assembly. He expressed the gladness which he felt on hearing of the revival in this country; and, in return for it, assured them that he could also communicate to them good news from other lands.He then stated that, on returning to Mount Lebanon in 1856, from this country, he received applications from different quarters urging him to set up schools. Nine schools had been openeds ins addition to the six which they had before; and in these fifteen schools they had between 600 and 700 children of different denominationsMahomedans, Druses, Greeks, and Roman Catholics. In these schools the Bible and the Shorter Catechism were taught, and he had great hopes that if they were continued for a few years, they would hear that many of the heathen inhabitants had cast their idols away, and turned to the living God. (Applause.) A few years ago, the people of Lebanon were noto willing to send their children to our schools even free of expense. Now, they are benot not only willing to send them, but gladly pay what they can for the privialege.He concluded by thanking the Assembly and other Christian friends For the assistance they had afforded him for the last five years. „dwoy

90

Dr GRIERSON moved the adoption of the Report, and said, that at this to late hour he would not detain the Assembly. He would merely say, that he did not know of any object in which the Assembly was engaged which demonstrated more clearly the extent of their influence and the importance of their labours than the Colonial Report. This country was not more distinguished from the other countries of the earth in any one respect than

by the number of her colonies; and the Free Church had, he was happy to think, extended her influence to almost all the colonies of Great Britain, and had done much to contribute greatly to the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom in these colonies. He then moved the adoption of the Report, and read the deliverance, which returned thanks to the Committee, and especially to the Convener, and took notice of the principal points embodied in the Report.

Dr WYLIE, in seconding the adoption of the Report, said that it reminded one of the unrolling of the map of the world, and brought successively under their eyes every country and every island on the face of all the earth; and it could not but deeply impress them with a sense of the responsibility which rested upon this country to occupy the many and glorious openings, and the vast and precious opportunities which were presented to her for spreading abroad the blessings of Christianity and civilization. (Applause.) They had much reason to rejoice that their country was the colonizer of the world. It might have been Russia or Turkey, or it might have been some Papal country, as France or Italy. It was, however, Protestant Britain that had been selected to spread her arms over the face of the whole earth, and to cover the world with her colonies. And not more surely did the revolution of the world on its own axis bring it out of the darkness of night into the beauty and freshness of day, than did colonization in the hands of a Christian country usher in the blessings of the Gospel, and of commerce, of liberty, and of everything that followed Christianity. (Applause) The first requisite for spreading Christianity in our colonies was that it should be pure; the second that it should be united. He then briefly pointed out the grand standing ground which the Westminster standards furnished as a basis for purity of doctrine and union of fellowship in spreading abroad the blessings of Christianity'; and said, that at this advanced hour of the evening, he would not dilate upon many of the interesting topics embodied in the Report, but would only make a brief reference to Italy. It was, he said, a maxim with him that the Bible only could make Italy free, and that a free Italy alone could give us a Europe free(Applause.) This observation lay at the foundation of all European politics; and from that he would urge his appeal to the Assembly to use its efforts for the purpose of introducing the Bible into Italy. There were now many openings in that interesting country. War, as they were all aware, had opened up that country; and amid the varieties of parties that occupied its there was an universal desire among them all to peruse the Word of God. He was afraid the Italians were once more to make a mistake. They had learned many lessons since 1848; and amongst others, they had learned the vast evil arising out of the temporal dominion of the Pope, and had resolved to abolish it. But they had not yet learned the greatest lesson of all, and without it, all they had already learned could not accomplish the emancipation of their country; and that was, that the existence of the spiritual authority of the Papacy, not merely the temporal authority of the Papacy, was utterly incompatible with the liberty of their country. (Applause.) It was only religious liberty, not political, that could make them free. Make them politically free to-morrow, and leave them spiritually enslaved, and they would again be laid manacled at the feet of their tyrants; and the lesson he would draw from this was, that we must be abounding in our efforts to give them the Bible through our ministers and colporteurs in Italy, in order to ensure their complete emancipation and by emancipating Italy, we should be ensuring the

complete and final emancipation of Europe. (Applause.) It was thus he would have this Church to act upon the noble idea thrown out by Mr Fisch for this was the right war to wage with France.

OVERTURE FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF THE NORTH OF ITALY.

An overture was next taken up from the Presbytery of the North of Italy, bringing under the attention of the House the favourable state of Italy for increased evangelical exertions, and asking that a collection should be appointed for promoting the spread of the gospel on the Continent. tab. Sheriff CLEGHORN supported the adoption of the overture, which he said vas very well entitled to receive the attention of the House. Our brethren there had been labouring as they had had opportunity, and they were now entitled to come to the Assembly to ask aid. A great change, as all knew, had now taken place in the aspect of Italy. Our brethren there have seen a state of things exceeding, perhaps, their highest expectations; for there is now throughout a great part of Italy freedom for the discussion of the truth, and a great willingness in the minds of the Italians to read and hear the Word of God. There is an additional circumstance which induces them to come and ask that there should be a special collection this year for the object named. The Waldensian Church, whose history is so interesting, is now prosecuting the work of spreading the truth, in conjunction with our ministers. One minister has been sent to Florence, and another to Pisa, where churches have been established, and alongside of them male and female: schools, Our brethren in Italy look to the Church at home to furnish the means. It is exceedingly important that this year should not be allowed: pass over without putting into the hands of the Committee funds to assist the struggling Churches on the Continent. And if we do not assist them, it will be in effect saying, Depart ye, be ye warmed and fed," but not giving them the means. He would not prolong his remarks at that late hour, but would suggest that the overture be remitted to the Committee inter charge of drawing up the scheme of collections, with a recommendation from the House to assign in the scheme this year a collection for the Continent.

to

י.

1.

"

Mr BARBOUR said, a more interesting or important overture of its kind never came before this House, nor could it come at a more critical time; and he trusted the Assembly would not turn a deaf ear to a call coming from a country which has been opened up for the spread of the gospel in soron remarkable a way as Italy now is, and from a Presbytery recently formed in connection with the Free Church. He could not now enter upon the many striking and important aspects which the gospel now presents in that is land. He trusted that the House would turn its attention to the state of 69 matters, not only in Italy, but on the Continent generally. This Church was never more loudly called upon to waken up for the spread of the gospel than in the present day; and he trusted that the proposal now made would meet with the attention it deserved. No collection was made for the Continent last year, and assuredly this year the call should meet with a heartyros response. (Applause.)

It was then agreed to remit the overture to the Committee on Collec tions, the names of Sheriff Cleghorn and Mr Barbour being added

The MODERATOR then thanked the deputies who had spoken during the evening He said-Dear friends and brethren, I deeply regret that this duty should have devolved upon me at so late an hour, in circumstances in?

which, manifestly, it would be altogether unseasonable that I should go at length into the subject which your presence naturally raises, and upon which I should personally have had so great pleasure to expatiate. I need not, I hope, assure you how great gratification it has afforded to this Assembly to see you here in the midst of us. Those who now stand before me constitute two sections, so to speak, of friends from afar; some of them from the Continent, and some from the colonies of the British Crown. In regard to those who last presented themselves to the Assembly, and who represent the interests of the Gospel on the Continent of Europe and in Western Asia, I have all the greater satisfaction in seeing these honoured and esteemed friends and brethren here, because it has happened to myself, in the providence of God, not long ago, to have had the opportunity of witnessing the scene of their labours, and of having personal evidence and assurance of the importance of the work in which they are engaged. It has happened to me to see, not indeed the precise schools under Mr Saleeby's superintendence, but to pass through that great Lebanon where these schools are situated, and to hear very minutely from the American mis sionaries there of the great progress making in the cause of Christian edu cation among the young, and of the interesting people by whom those mountains are inhabited. I had the privilege of hearing one of the most enlightened and accomplished American missionaries make a statement, that it is now almost a received doctrine among the leading Mussulmans in that part of Syria, that the country of Lebanon is in course of passing into the hands of Protestant Christians, simply in this way, that the youth of various classes are in process of being gathered into Protestant schools, and coming thereby under an influence which will ultimately alienate them from Mahomedanism, and from the various sections of the Latin and Greek Churches. I have no doubt, therefore, that the work in which Mr Saleeby is engaged is a most important work, and that this Church does well to promote it in every way within its means and opportunities. In regard to the various stations on the shores of the Mediterranean whose claims have been presented to us this evening, I have also had the privilege of coming in contact with those who labour in those most important and interesting fields at Leghorn, Florence, Malta, and Gibraltar. My friend Mr Suther land I especially delight to meet here in this General Assembly. I had the happiness of occupying his pulpit on the rock, and I can testify from personal knowledge to the importance of the sphere which he there occupies. Had my friend Mr Wisely, mentioned in the Report, been also present, I should have borne the same testimony to the importance of the place he fills at Malta. I look upon these two posts as among the most important occupied by any minister of the Free Church of Scotland; and I am sure it has been a great gratification to this Assembly to receive the visit of Mr Sutherland, and that they will cordially sanction me in expressing on their behalf the earnest desire and prayer of all here that the important work in which he is engaged, both among our countrymen, and particularly among the soldiery in that great fortress, as well as in spreading the gospel in the adjacent country of Spain, may go on and abundantly prosper. (Applause.) With regard to our dear friends and brethren from the other side of the At lantic, we stand in a very close relationship to the Churches they represent They are all, like Mr Sutherland, ministers of our own Church, and not very many years ago occupied important stations within our own beloved land. One of these brethren, my dear friend and former co-Presbyter, Professor King, I had the happiness and the privilege of being long and

intimately associated with in the city of Glasgow; and certainly it is a great gratification to me to be here in the chair when he appears once more in his own country, and on the floor of this General Assembly. (Applause.) I am sure this Assembly especially rejoices in the good news which our es teemed brethren have brought to us of the progress of the Gospel and of the Church in the various interesting and important colonies with which they are connected. There is one circumstance which I could not fail to notice, that while it is specified in the Report that no fewer than thirty-one ministers and missionaries have gone forth from this Church, and under the auspices of the Colonial Committee, during the past year, to the various colonies of the British Crown, only six of that large number have been sent to the North American colonies. Now, what is the explanation of this? I believe we have one important part of the explanation of it in the posi tion of Professor King and of Dr Burns. I believe that in the existence of the important collegiate institutions with which Professor King and Dr Burns are connected, we have the reason of this remarkable fact. In these institutions the means are in course of being provided of raising up a native ministry to provide for the spiritual wants of these important colonies. (Applause.) And that fact is one of the best proofs that could be given of the wisdom of the course pursued by this Church, in nursing as we did these collegiate institutions in the earlier stages of their history, institutions which now stand upon their own independent foundation, and are doing a blessed and ever-increasing work in the colonies among which they are planted. In regard to the progress of the union among the Presbyte rians, which has been made known to you by our esteemed brethren this evening, I am sure we all heartily rejoice, assured as we are from the representations they have made, that it is proceeding upon foundations and principles that we can most heartily and cordially approve of. (Cheers.) And where such a foundation for union can be arrived at, assuredly it is a great gain to have the various forces of evangelical Presbyterians so com+ bined as to present a united front, and acting as one band in carrying on the great work which the Lord has committed to our hands in these impor tant colonies. I must not detain you longer, my esteemed brethren; but I cannot conclude without referring to one individual of your number who is not personally connected with our Church, but who is a "brother beloved" in a section of the Church which we hold in high esteem. I allude, of course, to the Rev. Mr Fisch, who has often delighted us with his presence on former occasions, and whom we are always glad to welcome. in the midst of us. (Applause.) I agree in the sentiments which have been more than once expressed by members of the House this evening, as to the great and increasing importance of the state of religion on the conti nent of Europe. I believe its condition is such as to deserve and demand the increased attention and interest of all friends of the Gospel in Great Britain; and I trust that the visit of Mr Fisch will be a means of keeping alive and deepening the interest which this Church already feels in that great and important cause. The Moderator concluded by again tendering to the deputies the cordial thanks of the House for their visit the great interest with which the House had listened to their statements, and an earnest prayer for the success of the work in which they were engaged. (Applause.) The Assembly then adjourned. Ide of IT