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cause he felt that, whatever might be the decision of this venerable Court on the subject, it ought to be regarded by all parties as an indication of the Divine will in the matter. The circumstances which brought the congregation of Rosemary Street into communication with the Rev. Mr Macnaughtan, he might briefly describe. When he (Professor Gibson) resigned the pastoral charge of that congregation, seven months ago,-having been appointed to another situation, he was anxiously pressed by many members of the Church to endeavour to secure for them as his successor, a minister of a Free congregation; and he would confess that this opinion on the part of men whom he valued highly, accorded with his own views. Accordingly, at an early stage of the business, he had taken the liberty of corresponding with some of the members of this Church, to whom he urged his suit, referring, at the same time, to the relation subsisting between the Free Church and that with which he was himself connected. He did this with the view that they might recommend some of the brethren that might be induced to settle amongst them. That correspondence, however, terminated without any practical result. In the first instance, also, the congregation were led to look out for a pastor among the ministers of the Irish Assembly. The Rev. Mr Macnaughtan, however, appeared amongst them, in order to fulfil a promise he had given twelve months previous to preach the annual sermon for a collection in Rosemary Street Church, although he unequivocally declined being considered, in any sense, a candidate for the vacant charge. At this time, indeed, it was supposed Mr Macnaughtan was to receive a call to the British metropolis. Nor had Mr Macnaughtan, so far as he was aware, any pre-disposition towards Ireland as his sphere of labour. The congregation of Rosemary Street were at the time, to some extent, divided as to a minister, but on his appearance a perfect harmony took place. The church united in reference to Mr Macnaughtan, and means were taking for drawing up a call; and for his own part he had never had the opportunity of contemplating in Belfast a more gratifying appearance than took place after Mr Macnaughtan's visit. Not only was a universal desire manifested on the part of the congregation itself that the Lord would direct Mr Macnaughtan to them, but on the part of all the members of that entire Presbyterian community, there was the expression of the same anxious and fervent desire. It was in reference to this feeling, as well as with regard to the signatures to the call, that he might speak of it as unanimous. As to the paucity of numbers of signatures appended to the call, he might explain that a call was usually signed with them in presence of the minister officiating. They were not in the habit of sending a call round from house to house for the signatures of the adherents as in Scotland; and under these circumstances he thought it was worthy of remark that so many names were affixed to the call. When he himself was called, although the call was quite harmonious, there were only seventy signatures appended. In Rosemary Street congregation, there were on the roll 500 communicants, of whom the number of 300 affixed their names to the call of Mr Macnaughtan. Here Mr Gibson proceeded to explain the lively interest that was taken in this call, and its result by many of the leading Presbyterians of Belfast, the happy influence which Mr Macnaughtan's translation was fitted to exercise upon the cause of religion in that town and neighbourhood, and the strong desire felt that it should be carried into effect. He then read a requisition from 1407 leading Presbyterians of other congregations urging the call on Mr Macnaughtan's acceptance, and then continued There could be no inducement to lead him to come to Ireland, but a conviction of duty-the same inducement which in a dark and stormy day first led the early fathers of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to its shores; a desire of personal ease and comfort could not be the animating motive in his case, any more than in theirs; and although he would receive a cordial welcome, he (Professor G.) could not but feel that it was no ordinary sacrifice he would make in leaving such a Church and people. The congregation of Paisley, however, had him among them during sixteen of the best years of his life, and he trusted that if he were separated from them, they would not be forsaken. Belfast was a place of great importance in the Irish Presbyterian Church, the centre in a great measure of its most important operations. It was a thing of exceeding moment that the force of mighty impulses from so influential points should reach other and more remote localities, and thus stimulate and strengthen the general zeal. He read a letter to this effect from the

Rev. Robert Allen, one whose name was not unknown in Scotland in connection with Ireland. In this communication, Mr Allen expressed an anxious desire that so distinguished a member of the Free Church as Mr Macnaughtan should be located among them, taking constant counsel in the seat of affairs, joining in her deliberations of the Mission Board, and stimulating continually by his example and zealous advocacy to good works. It would, he continued, be a source of additional confidence to friends in Scotland, to know that Mr Macnaughtan would always be one taking constant counsel in that important work. He (Mr Allen) was quite sure that those who were the pillars of the missionary operations in Belfast would delight in receiving among them such an accession of life and power; and where was there a field of greater destitution and magnitude, or more pregnant with results to the cause of evangelical truth on which the Free Church and that of Ireland, seeking the overthrow of Antichrist, should fix an anxious eye than that of Ireland?Were Mr Macnaughtan to make that country the land of his adoption,--to take his stand among them in fighting the battles of the Lord, and, on the principle of helping forward the missionary work in that dark and superstitious land, it might set a great and influential example, and would infuse new life into their hearts. The necessities of Ireland were since last year under the consideration of the Free Assembly, and although they had sent several influential members to witness and report on its spiritual destitution, they had not been as yet in circumstances to take action on their report, was it not remarkable that cotemporaneously with such a movement, this call had been sent forward, and would they not under these circumstances regard it as a solemn intimation of the Divine will, in regard to the mode in which they could best assist the Presbyterian Church in Íreland in the evangelization of that unhappy land? Would it not be a serious thing to interpose between him who had so unequivocally accepted the call, and the desire of which had been put into his heart to devote himself to the work of God in Ireland? The Free Church did not grudge to India and other lands her noblest sons, and would she refuse one single boon to a country which was comparatively a home field of labour, and which, in many of its districts, was at present in so interesting a condition? About two hundred years ago, in answer from an imploring cry from Ulster, the Church of Scotland had felt constrained, though at considerable sacrifice, to send over to that province some of her most devoted pastors, and as the blessed result, many refreshing seasons of revival were in a short time witnessed; and who could tell but that results, not less delightful, might again be seen were the Free Church to make some sacrifice, now in this the day of comparative enlargement and prosperity? The Irish Assembly thankfully acknowledged all the pecuniary aid received from the Free Church; but he (Professor G.) solicited on her behalf what money could not buy, even a portion of her devoted zeal and noble disinterestedness. Were not events calling on the Free Church to sow beside all waters, and to uplift her testimony in every land? If the changes which took place in Europe fifty years ago first startled from their slumber the Churches of the Reformation, and called forth the spirit of missionary enterprise among them, might not the revolutionary movements of the present day, be the precursors of a universal movement throughout Christendom, in favour of those great principles which were the glory of their common Presbyterianism? Let them therefore send the word of their testimony wherever a door was opened of the Lord,-let them not refuse to enter in where he who had the key of David, pointed the way; and as they had been honoured as a Church to strike the first blow for spiritual freedom, it might be theirs ere long to behold all the true Churches of Christ rallying under their old and honoured standard, and taking possession of the world in the name of Him whose right it was to rule, and who should bear the glory. (Professor Gibson sat down amidst loud applause.)

Mr BROUGH, on the part of the congregation, opposed the translation. Amongst other remarks he said:There were 463 congregations belonging to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Two of these were collegiate charges, and the whole vacancies in the body were only eight. He ventured to say that another church, with an equal number of ministers, could not be named having so few vacancies. He would be greatly surprised if the Assembly decided that Mr Macnaughtan should be translated. Mr Macnaughtan, no doubt, had been led to accept of the

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call because of the over-coloured statements which had been made by the learned Commissioners from Belfast before the Presbytery; but he trusted that he (Mr M.) would reconsider the matter, and give it as his decision that he declined leaving his present charge.

Mr MACALASTER spoke in the same strain against the translation.

Mr SAWYERS opposed the translation, on the ground that Mr Macnaughtan was in a position for far greater usefulness where he was, than if he were to be removed to Ireland. As an Assembly they could not, when they consented to Mr Macnaughtan's going to Ireland, remove with him the influence for good which he was exercising in his present sphere, and it might be a long course of years before he could exercise a similar influence on Belfast.

Mr MACNAUGHTAN spoke as follows:--Moderator, Fathers, and Brethren,Unless it were necessary for the information of the House, I would prefer being silent on the present occasion. And certainly I will act in accordance with my own agitated feelings and with the convenience of the Assembly, if I limit my observations within short compass. I need not say, Moderator, that I have seen it my duty to accept of this call, following, too, I believe, the will of our great Lord and Master; and I may freely state to this Assembly some of the circumstances which gave me confidence in the decision, and some of the reasons on which it was founded. In coming to it, I desired to be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, and to be influenced solely by the desire to advance the glory of our living Head. I was perfectly conscious that it involved a mighty sacrifice to leave the Free Church of Scotland. My holier friendships and associations were entwined around it, and I could not for a time bear the idea of severing myself from its duties and services. I have no desire for a settlement in Ireland,-my predelictions were all against it; but I was made eventually to feel that, just as we are required for Christ's sake to leave father and mother, and houses and lands, so it may be demanded of us, in the advancement of His holy Gospel, to break through even Church attachments, and occupy a department in the field which otherwise he would never have chosen. I feel thankful, Moderator, that in coming to a decision, I was not under those influences which are apt insensibly to bias the judgment and mislead the understanding. I was not tempted to forsake Paisley by any breach or disagreement in the Session, or the Church, or the Presbytery; in them all there is the entirest harmony. Nor during the course of my ministry was there a more entire and unshaken unanimity of sentiment and action than reigns at this moment; and I need scarcely add, that I had not the temptation of worldly aggrandisement or selfish interest. The absence of all these contending elements gave me the more confidence in the conclusion to which I was calmly and prayerfully led. I was not disposed to treat so lightly what seemed to me the hand of Providence, in the initial steps of this case. It was not the case of a minister preaching in a vacant congregation, and that people thereafter giving him a call,-as my esteemed friend Mr Macalaster has put it; but it was the call of a people divided and discordant,—at least agreeing to the moderation of a call in favour of another minister; and when they met for that end, resolving unanimously to call me. This fact constrained me to give their call serious consideration: I cannot lightly refuse it; and when I did reflect upon it, I found it was not the case of the High Church against a church in Belfast. No, the claims were those of Ireland,-of the country that has called so long, so loudly, for our assistance, pleading now that she would be advantaged by the settlement of a Free Church minister. It was the Presbyterians of Ulster declaring that she desiderated an infusion of Free Church blood and energy; and to that plea I could not turn a deaf ear. Moderator, when I thought on the present aspect of that unhappy land, -on the position which our brethren hold there, on the loud entreaties I had from some of her ministers to come over and help them, the claim became all but overpowering. Nor shall I omit the solemn conviction that my ministry in Paisley had been of late somewhat fruitless. In that, of course, I may be wrong, but it is my conviction, humbling and solemnizing; and it added weight to the reason which induced me to close with and accept that call. I have reconsidered the matter, with all the additional elements which the appearances for the congregation have involved; I have seen no reason to alter in the least my decision; it is still my solemn conviction that it is my duty to adhere to that call, and I do so accordingly.

I have nothing further to add but this,-I leave that cause with all confidence in the hands of my fathers and brethren. I believe that the great Master of Assemblies has said to me, with reference to Paisley and Belfast,- "Cast now your net on the other side of the ship." If you shall this day decide on my translation, I shall regard that, of course, as a confirmation of my own sense of duty, and a further indication of the mind of the great Head of the Church. If you shall refuse this translation, I shall bow to that decision, as every right-minded minister would do, and endeavour to see in it an indication of the mind of our great Head, that Belfast is not at present to be the sphere of my labour in His cause.

In answer to a question by Mr Gibson of Glasgow, the Belfast Commissioners stated that the population of Belfast is 80,000, and that there are twelve Presbyterian ministers in that place; also, that the population of Paisley, including Johnstone and Elderslie, is 60,000. In Paisley there are six ministers belonging to the Free Church. It was also stated, in reply to a question by Mr Davidson, Edinburgh, that the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics in Belfast are about equal.

Parties were removed.

Dr CANDLISH said he need not detain the Presbytery for any length of time in submitting a motion. Many of the features in this case were embarrassing. They all felt very strongly the claims of the brethren in Ireland, and the great propriety of the Free Church giving a testimony of the interest they felt in their Church, and in the great work which was devolved upon them. On the other hand, they must admit that the congregation of Rosemary Street, as such, was not for a moment to be put in competition with the sphere of usefulness which Mr Macnaughtan at present occupies in Paisley. Still, they were bound to take into account Mr Macnaughtan's own opinion, that he had not given it without full consideration, as in the sight of God. He (Dr C.) was confident that the resolution was a conscientious one. Mr Macnaughtan could not be actuated by motives of self-interest, but had given, he (Dr C.) was convinced, a most conscientious and disinterested, as well as deliberate judgment. Apart from the declaration of Mr Macnaughtan, he (Dr C.) did not think he could for a moment have brought himself to consent to the loosing of Mr Macnaughtan from his present charge; but with this important element in the case, he felt they were in circumstances to consent, with all regret in one view, that the translation be acceded to. He would only just say, that while unquestionably in Scotland we stood greatly in need of the services of such men as Mr Macnaughtan, there was no branch of the Christian Church to which they would more willingly and joyfully give their countenance than to their brethren in Belfast. They would heartily follow Mr Macnaughtan with their best wishes, if it were the pleasure of the Assembly to loose him from his present charge, and also with their prayers; and thoroughly rejoice to hear if any of the prospects which their friends from Belfast held out were realized, as they could not doubt that they would be to a very large extent. Mr Macnaughtan had clearly and unequivocally, and in the sight of God, declared his mind as to the line of duty in this matter; and in these circumstances he (Dr Candlish) was disposed to move that he be loosed from his present charge, and begged to move accordingly.

Dr P. M FARLAN seconded the motion. There were circumstances which ought to determine the Assembly to agree to the translation. It was very desirable that there should be an infusion of Free Church spirit in Ireland; and that there should be an individual who can maintain and uphold the great principles of the Free Church sent there. It was of great importance that in Belfast,-the Edinburgh of the north of Ireland, there should be a Free Church minister, distinguished by his talents and his influence, and who would form a connecting link, as it were, between the Free Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Irish Presbyterian Church had been engaged in the most energetic efforts for the purpose of diffusing the gospel, not only in the north, but throughout the whole of Ireland. The Free Church had been giving them what assistance they could; but he conceived that if they gave them a minister fully acquainted with the views and principles of the Free Church, he would be able to co-operate with still greater energy and success for the advancement of the object they all had at heart. Mr Macnaughtan deserved credit for having spoken out his mind in re

ference to what he conceived to be his duty in this matter. This was also a great matter in the determining of this question. While he stated these things, he, at the same time, felt deeply for the High Church congregation of Paisley. He had long admired their energy, and delighted in their union and harmony; they would sustain a great loss, undoubtedly, in being deprived of their pastor; but they knew where supply came from, and he trusted that the hand of God would be manifested in their case.

Mr ROBERT PAUL entertained different views from those which had been expressed, and could not refrain from bringing these before the House. He cordially agreed with all that had been said in regard to the sister Church; but, at the same time, he did feel that, in the present circumstances of the Church, it was not right to allow our distinguished men to be taken away from us. He had an overpowering sense of the spiritual destitution in our manufacturing towns; so great was it that they could not spare these men. He regretted exceedingly that already so many distinguished ministers had been translated from the Church of their fathers, and from spheres far more important than those they at present occupy. He did not say that Belfast was not of great importance, but Paisley was surely of at least equally great importance, and no such strong case had been made out as in his mind to lead either Mr Macnaughtan or the Assembly to say that he should leave his present sphere of duty. What seemed to have made a strong impression on the mind of Dr Candlish, was Mr Macnaughtan's having closed with the call; and Mr Macnaughtan had said that one of the chief reasons for his accepting it was the apparent want of success which had attended his labours in his present sphere. Now, a minister was a most incompetent judge of his own success in these matters; many excellent men had gone down to their graves who, in the latter years of their life, lamented the small success which had attended their labours; but even after they were removed, the fruits of their labour have appeared, and might be traced in the rising piety, and holiness and devotedness of men of whom in their lifetime they did not know much. (Hear, hear.) These were his views, but he did not feel disposed to make a motion.

Mr GIBSON of Glasgow said,-There was one point in Mr Macnaughtan's statement which weighed very much with him, and that was, that he would consider and submit to the judgment of the Assembly as the will of the Head of the Church; that in his (Mr Gibson's) view removed any obstacle which might be supposed to lie in the way in relation to the acceptance of the call. As to the relative importance of Paisley and Belfast, he could not help thinking that this question had not been put upon a right and clear footing. There was no difference of opinion as to the Paisley congregation being vastly more important than that of Rosemary Street; but there seemed to be some confusion in the minds of parties who had spoken from the bar, in regard to the importance of the west of Scotland and the sister country. If the question was to be decided as for the general good of the Church, to say the least of it, the Free Church of Scotland's demand for the labours of Mr Macnaughtan were fully as great as those of the Church in Ireland. He trusted that the General Assembly would bear in mind the condition of the large manufacturing towns. Any one residing in these towns must be aware that the misery which exists in them is not less than in many of the districts in Ireland, and far greater than in the province of Ulster, or in the town of Belfast. Take into consideration another element, not less important, namely, the infidelity which prevails in this country at the present moment. It was a solemn and a serious thing to contemplate such a state of matters as now exist. In the city of Glasgow, which was almost joined, he might say, to the town of Paisley, he was sure he was within the mark when he stated that there were not less than 150,000 capable of attending the house of God, who attended no place of worship whatever. He believed there were not ministrations for them if they did not take into account Popery, and other forms of error. But let it be borne in mind that the west of Scotland is constantly liable to a large influx of the very worst portion of the Irish population. He believed that if Popery was to prevail in the British isles to the extent anticipated, it would be, if he might use the expression, by colonizing Great Britain from Ireland. They knew quite well the means which were taken to send Irish paupers out of Ireland. They were furnished with the means of supporting themselves for a certain time,

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