804; South Church, Paisley, teaches 850; Rutherglen, Glasgow, teaches 865; St George's, Paisley, teaches 892; while that of St John's, Glasgow, teaches a larger num. ber than any by upwards of 500, having 1393 Sabbath scholars.

"While a good deal has been doing by ministers and others individually for Sabbath schools, your Committee are not aware that many have during the last year directed their attention to the subject in their collective character as Presbyteries. A suggestion has been made by the Synod of Aberdeen, that the statistical information collected by your Committee should be obtained by Presbyteries and Synods of the Church, so that the inferior Church Courts might have the subject brought prominently under their notice, and that thereafter the same should be passed up to the Assembly or its Committee. The Committee think this would be most desirable, and should the Assembly see fit to authorise it, they will be happy in future to act upon this suggestion. It would also be of advantage if Elders and Kirk-sessions took more oversight of Sabbath schools.

"A very common complaint is, that, throughout the land, there is a great want of qualified teachers; and another is, that there are comparatively few senior scholars in attendance at our schools. But your Committee cannot help noticing, that where much pains is bestowed on the training of the senior scholars, there are no complaints as to the want of qualified teachers. Were more attention devoted to the senior scholars, there would be a greater abundance of teachers. By curing one of these evils both would be cured. In some schools the senior scholars are regularly drafted off into a minister's or elder's class,—for instance, the minister on Newton-on-Ayr teaches a class attended by 41 young men and 105 young women; the minister of Abbotshall teaches 80 senior scholars; the minister of St John's, Montrose, teaches 40 young men and 80 young women; the minister of St George's, Montrose, teaches 64 young men and 125 young women. To those who complain of want of teachers, the Committee would venture to suggest, that the best way of remedying the evil is to copy what others are doing and to train them for themselves.

"While on the subject of senior scholars, your Committee would press on teachers the advantage of interesting themselves in their scholars during the week as well as on Sabbath; and, as an instance, they may notice what has been done by a respected teacher in Glasgow, with the view of retaining and improving the lads attending a Sabbath Bible class. He first opened a small reading and news'-room, where they had an opportunity of spending part of the evening round a comfortable fire. Then every Friday evening a series of lectures were delivered on a variety of interesting subjects. Then a library was added, open once a week, managed by a Committee of their own number; and, on the same evening, a savings'-bank was then opened, to receive contributions of a penny and upwards. The benefits of life insurance are explained to them; and during the fair week the class is taken on an annual excursion for a few days to the country, visiting different places of interest. Your Committee are of opinion that a teacher who does not rest satisfied with meeting his class merely on Sabbath, but who at the same time devotes himself so much to them during the week, must possess an amount of influence for good which an ordinary teacher could never attain.

"During the last year, the Committee have, owing to the kindness of the Edinburgh Bible Society, been able to supply 3957 Bibles to your scholars, of which 1220 were sold at 10d., and 2737 at 6d. Within the last three years 7592 Bibles have been sold in this way.

'Owing to the liberality of the London Tract Society, your Committee have, during the last year, been able to assist 88 Sabbath-schools in procuring libraries. Through this channel 215 libraries have been distributed within the last three years. For payment of £1 and £2 respectively, the London Society grants books, to be selected by the receivers, worth £2: 13; 4, and £5: 6: 8.

"It may be mentioned, that an elder of the Church, desirous of increasing the efficiency of Sabbath schools, and improving the capacity of teachers, especially in country districts, made arrangements for supplying the teachers of the Free Church with copies, at 1s. 6d. each, of Mr Inglis's most useful work, The Sabbath-School and Bible Teaching,' recently published, at 2s. 6d., provided at least 1000 copies were taken. As yet only about 650 are applied for; but it is hoped that others may still take advantage of the offer, so as to permit the plan to be carried out.

"The Committee would again take the opportunity of recommending the Children's Missionary Record to the notice of parents and Sabbath school teachers, as a periodical peculiarly well suited to draw the young to the Saviour and to interest them in His cause. The circulation continues to increase, and has now reached the number of 41,000 copies monthly.

"The Committee have ascertained, by the returns this year, that in many districts, especially in the Highlands, there is so much poverty, that even at the reduced rates, Bibles, and libraries, and the Children's Record, are supplied, there are hundreds of Sabbath scholars who cannot procure them. If the Committee are provided with funds, they propose to supply these to the most necessitous cases at a mere nominal price.

"During this last winter, your Committee made arrangements with Mr Fulton of the Normal School, that any of the Divinity Students might have liberty to attend gratuitously between 9 and 10 o'clock on the mornings of Tuesdays and Thursdays during the session, and see him teach a Bible class; and this privilege was to some extent taken advantage of by the students. It is intended that the same privilege should be open to them again next winter. Your Committee were anxious to obtain information as to the extent the Divinity Students were engaged in Sabbath-school teaching, and applied for that purpose to the President of the New College Missionary Association. In this way partial information only has been received, viz.—regarding the fourth year students; but such as it is, it is highly satisfactory. Of these, one had been a Sabbath-school teacher for fourteen years- two for twelve years-one for eleven years-five for ten years and all the others for periods varying from two to nine years, while only one had never taught in a Sabbath school.

"While this is hopeful for the future, it appears by the returns received, that there is not yet so much direct preaching to children as it appears to the Committee there might be, or as would be beneficial for the young. Many satisfy themselves with an annual sermon to the young, and others with one half-yearly. The Committee on this subject would satisfy themselves with quoting a few sentences from Mr Nixon's admirable address to the Assembly last year On our duty to the Young': There ought to be more preaching to the young. Some ministers preach periodically to the young, once, twice, or thrice a year. Some preach monthly to them, or examine them publicly once a month. Some meet the young of their flocks, and examine them on what they have heard every Sabbath. Some ministers feel, we believe, that it might be good for old as well as young if, for each sermon preached to the former on each Sabbath, there was one addressed to the latter. Other ministers, though few perhaps, keep up the practice of our forefathers of making special applications in each discourse of the subject to the young as one of the classes immediately concerned. Without pronouncing on the comparative merits of these and similar ways of performing the duty in question, all, it is presumed, will admit that frequently addressing the young is one of the ways by which we ought to discharge our obligations to them.'

"Your Committee believe much good resulted two years ago from the preaching to the young by such ministers as were kind enough at that time to undertake the duty at the request of the Committee. It is believed that some similar plan might this year again be adopted with advantage to all, and that it might be carried out on a larger scale. It has occurred to your Committee, that were each Presbytery to select one or more of their number, whom they thought best fitted for the duty, to visit each congregation and preach to the young, the Sabbath scholars in all your schools might be addressed; while such a party might, at the same time, advise with the minister and teachers as to the interests of Sabbath schools in each locality.

"Your Committee would further suggest, that a short address might with advantage be issued in name of the Assembly to parents, another to Sabbath-school teachers, and another to scholars, on their several duties. Were such prepared by different ministers of eminence, and issued to these different parties in name of the Supreme Court of the Church, they would have a beneficial effect in stimulating and encouraging them.

"Your Committee have noticed with pleasure a movement of the most beneficial kind, that has mainly been conducted by the Sabbath-school teachers of Glasgow and Edinburgh-viz., the closing of the drinking-shops on Sabbath. None were more fully aware of the evils of Sabbath drunkenness than they; and had they not come boldly forward in a body as they did, and petitioned the Magistrates on the subject, there is every reason to believe that the evil might have existed to this day. Now that Glasgow and Edinburgh have set the example, there is little doubt, that were Sabbathschool teachers in other districts to do likewise, their efforts would be attended with a like successful result. While Sabbath-school teachers, however, endeavour to get drinking-shops closed on Sabbath, they have a further duty to perform-to guard the young against the temptations to drink that every where prevail. Drunkenness is a sin to which our elder scholars are peculiarly exposed, and which ruins many of them. Teachers might with advantage warn their scholars against being frequenters of dram

shops, to avoid the place of temptation altogether, and to practise that temperance against which there is no law.

"Your Committee have never required to make any public appeal for funds, as £30 or £40 have heretofore supplied all its wants. This money is required wholly. for printing and postages, and has been raised privately by a few friends impressed with the value of collecting and publishing so much useful information. The Committee do not yet propose to make any public appeal in the matter; but should any individuals interested in the subject, or in the distribution of Bibles, libraries, or Children's Records, feel disposed to assist by donations, the amount would be well spent on their part, and thankfully received by the Committee.”

Mr ARNOT, Glasgow, in moving the adoption of the report, said, that the Sabbath schools had become a great power in the Church; and it was a pity that they should stand, as it were, almost altogether without the Church. It was a fact, that the statistics of the Sabbath school were collected too much by Unions and Committees; and he thought if that information came through Sessions and Presbyteries, it would be brought more under the control of the Church. He would venture to propose that, besides approv ing of the report, the suggestions it contained should be recommended to Presbyteries for their adoption, as far as possible.

Mr SOMERVILLE, Glasgow, in seconding the motion, made some remarks on the duty of parents in regard to the religious instruction of their children at home.

The Assembly approve of the report, and authorise it to be printed,―recommend to the attention of Presbyteries the practical suggestions which the report contains, and encourage the Committee to prosecute their important labours.

NEWPORT AND RHYNIE.

The Assembly next called for the report of the Committee appointed to consider the cases of Newport and Rhynie, when the same was given in by Sir H. W. Moncreiff, recommending to the Assembly to give their sanction to what is proposed, and to grant what is applied for.

In regard to the case of Newport, the Assembly, on the report of the Committee, sustain the reference, and find in terms of the report. With regard to the application from the Presbytery of Alford, respecting the erection of a church at Rhynie, on ground acquired for a manse, the Presbytery was called, but did not appear. The Assembly approve of the report in this case, and find in terms thereof.

MISSIONARY RECORD.

The Assembly took up the overture from Synod of Fife as to the price of the Missionary Record, which having been read and considered, was remitted to the Committee on Missionary Publications.

The Assembly having called for the report of the Committee on Missionary Publications, the same was made by Mr Tweedie, the Convener.

The Assembly approve of the report, and re-appoint the Committee, Mr Tweedie, Convener, with instructions to the Committee to proceed with the periodicals as they have been doing during the past year, introducing such alterations in regard to the "Home and Foreign Record," and generally adopting such measures, as shall seem likely to increase the circulation and extend the usefulness of the Church's periodicals.

COLLEGE.

DR CANDLISH then gave in the report of the Committee appointed in reference to the College Acts.

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The Assembly approve of that part of the report which relates to the embodying of the two College Acts passed by last Assembly, and the ten relative Acts passed by the present Assembly, into two Acts; and they authorise the Clerks to embody them accordingly into two Acts in the printed Acts of this year, the one entitled, "Act anent the Curriculum and the course of Study," and the other entitled, "Act anent the Constitution and Government of the College."

On the report of the same Committee, the Assembly appoint a Board of Examinators.

The Assembly farther, on the recommendation of the Committee, appoint a Select Committee for the ordinary management and superintendence of the College.

The business formerly entrusted to the College Committee now falling to be discharged by the Select Committee now appointed, the Assembly did and hereby do discharge the College Committee, with the exception of the Building and Bursary Sub-Committees, who are hereby re-appointed, with the former powers, and under the supervision of the Select Committee-Mr Monteith and Mr Hog, Conveners of these Committees respectively. The Assembly record their thanks to the Committee and their Convener, Dr Cunningham, for the services which they have rendered.

Dr BUCHANAN then read the report of the College Finance and Endowment Committee. It appeared the gross income this year was £4426; last year it was £5062; but last year there was a large casual income, amounting to about £300 or £400, arising from an accumulation of six or seven years' feu-duties from St Andrew's Free Church. The expenditure this year was £4643, exceeding by something more than £200 the income. While the income stood as it did, about £200 had been added to the floating debt, and besides this, there was a debt of £1200 due to the Bursary Committee. The debt arose from the circumstance of the Church having for one year made no collection at all. It was proper at the same time to set off against this debt the feu in George Street belonging to the College, which was likely to be sold soon.

The College in Edinburgh was endowed to the amount of £2100; for general College endowment, without any specific distinction, there was £500; for the endowment of a chair at Aberdeen, £2000,-making a total of £4610. The Committee were not prepared to report on the Building Fund, as circumstances over which they had no control prevented them from ascertaining the exact amount of the liability, beyond stating, that of the larger subscriptions there still remained unpaid about £3700. In the expectation of this sum being paid, and upon the best estimates they could form of all the charges that could be expected to come against the fund, there would remain a deficiency of £2387. Their prospects were, on the whole, encouraging. The report pointed out the desirableness of the Church contributing more for College purposes.

Professor MILLER called attention to the disfigurement of the College building itself, owing to the state of the ground in front of it. He believed that, in order to get this defect remedied, they would require to get the consent of the people in Ramsay Gardens and in Mound Place, and of the Crown, and that there were other difficulties to be overcome. He was, however, told by professional men, that in an artistic point of view there was no impossibility of making the improvement-of having the ground made even and brought to a lower level. Professor Miller submitted a sketch of the ground

as it ought to be. The plan in question represented the College placed on a platform, the declivity in front considerably lowered, and a flight of stairs leading from the road below. As for the funds which would be necessary, he was sure that they would be easily got, as the matter concerned not only the Church, but the community at large.

Dr BEGG corroborated all that Professor Miller had said.

Dr BUCHANAN said that the feeling of dissatisfaction was not confined to Edinburgh.

Mr BRIDGES thought that even legally they could compel some change in this matter, and he would therefore humbly suggest that the Com mittee examine all the documents concerning this matter from the beginning.

Dr CUNNINGHAM was persuaded that the practical difficulties would be found much greater than what had been brought out in the discussion; but still it would be well that the subject brought before them by Professor Miller should be considered.

The subject was remitted to the Select College Committee, to consider, and to adopt such measures thereon as to them might seem expedient.

The Assembly approve of the report, and in respect of the appointment of the Select Committee for the management of College Affairs, the Assembly now discharge the College Finance and Endowment Committee, and record their thanks to Dr Buchanan, and through him to the Committee.

GENERAL TRUSTEES.

The Assembly having called for the report of the Board of Trustees of the Church, the same was read by Mr Dunlop, as follows:

"While an articulate statement of the funds from time to time vested in the General Trustees, with the appropriation of these, has been annually laid before the Assembly and printed in the Public Accounts of the Church, accompanied by such oral explanations as circumstances required, it has not been thought necessary to give in written report, the whole matters hitherto to be reported having been simply the state of accounts so presented and published.

any formal

"On the present occasion, however, the Trustees require the instructions of the Assembly on two or three points, and with a view to obtain such instructions they beg to submit a short statement of these in addition to the usual account of funds, and they also subjoin a combined state of the whole moneys and property standing in their names, exhibiting at one view how these have been invested, and the objects to which specific portions of them have been devoted by the donors.

"1. The first point on which the Trustees request the direction of the Assembly has reference to a bequest of the late Mrs Dinwiddie of Glasgow, to which the Free Church has been found entitled by a recent decision of the Court. The testatrix died in her 95th year, leaving a settlement by a codicil, to which, executed in her 89th year, but in the perfect possession of all her faculties, she left the residue of her estate, after the payment of certain legacies, to the Free Church. This residue, which has not yet been realized, is expected to amount to about £2000. Mrs Dinwiddie's heir-at-law and only blood relation was a niece, to whom she bequeathed a legacy of £500. This lady, whose own means are very limited, is in advanced life, and the Trustees venture to suggest and recommend as right in itself, and becoming on the part of the Church, that she be allowed an annuity out of her aunt's estate, equal to the interest at 4 per cent. on one half of the free residue which may be realised.

"2. The Trustees have next to request the instructions of the House in regard to two bequests not yet realised, as to which they feel in doubt whether they should be held specially appropriated or left in whole or in part at the disposal of the Church.

"The one is that of Mrs Dinwiddie above mentioned, who, by a codicil dated a few days before the Disruption, appointed the residue of her estate to be given in to the funds for support of the said new Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.'

"The other is that of Miss Sutton, who bequeathed a sum of £1200' to the said Free Protesting Church for the support thereof and the preaching of Evangelical Doctrine

in Scotland.'