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Mr SOMERVILLE of Glasgow then addressed the Assembly as follows:-Allow me to say, that the object of deputations to the destitute districts in the Lowlands is not to supply vacant charges. The object of these deputations is to preach the gospel in places where the means of grace are peculiarly scanty. My brethren who were sent forth, were not sent forth to water the Church or visit our congregations; they were sent forth for the purpose of declaring the glad tidings of salvation in populous districts of the country where means of grace are scanty,--in districts where there is a numerous mining population, or where Moderatism has exerted its evil influence. After mentioning the names of the ministers who were engaged in the work of visiting the districts referred to last summer, and the name of the particular districts which each of them visited, he continued as follows:-It is not necessary for me to refer to the great necessity which there is for these deputations, and to the necessity for such means being used for the evangelisation of the people. Our respected Convener has brought this prominently before the attention of the Assembly. At the same time I may, just as an illustration, refer to one or two of those places which were visited by the deputations last summer: and first, to those districts in which Moderatism has exerted its sway. One of our brethren who was sent forth, thus speaks of a district to which he was sent :

"In a Presbytery consisting of ten parishes, and containing upwards of twenty thousand souls, there are only four Free Churches; or, perhaps, I should rather say, four Free Church charges, for one minister officiates in two churches. None of them are large congregations. At the time of the Disruption, this district was awfully dead; and it seems almost a wonder that there are as many congregations as I have mentioned. There were some stations, however, which for some time gave fair promise of ripening into fixed congregations, but which eventually languished and died. One cause of this, no doubt, was the paucity of labourers which the Church had at her command. But the other and chief cause was the great deadness to divine things among the mass of the people. The case of many places in the Highlands illustrates this. There, after the Disruption, many stations were formed, though no minister came out,' and no preacher was sent to them; yet these grew and gathered strength, and prospered, till He who holds the stars in His right hand sent them a pastor. How was this? Because among the people there were evangelism and life. But here, as soon as external aid failed, the stations failed also; for among the people there were Moderatism and death. It is a sun-light truth, that just in proportion as real, living religion failed in any locality, at the Disruption, there the Free Church prevailed and prospered, in spite of Moderatism and other evils."

It is really, Sir, fearful to contemplate the state of some of the districts of our country where Moderatism has prevailed, and where it is to be feared, there is still very little of the true and pure gospel of Christ declared. I find with reference to our own Church,-I speak more with respect to it, that in one Presbytery in Upper Lanarkshire, containing eleven parishes, the population of which amounts to 31,000 souls, I find that within the bounds of that Presbytery there are only five Free Church ministers, and in some of these parishes there is scarcely an adherent of the Free Church. I have a Report, given in by a beloved brother, who traversed part of that district. His account is very interesting; and he indicates the dreadful condition, the apathy, and indifference in which the people are lying. I was much struck with a statement made by another brother regarding a district in the north. He had preached with very great acceptance, as I had learned from more quarters than one; and he communicated to me that an old man in one district said to him, "Sir, we were but ill prepared for the Disruption. We were in a sad state when the Disruption occurred; but it gave us a chance of eternal life." The expression made my friend thrill, What this man referred to was the fact, that the Disruption had proved the occasion of living waters of the sanctuary flowing forth over the sandy waste, of which he seems himself to have drank, and therein to have been blessed. In regard to the mining population of our country, matters, as I had an opportunity of mentioning last year, are in a very dreadful condition indeed. A brother who visited north Ayrshire, says, that in one place, where there is a vast influx of people from all quarters far and near, there is not one-fifth of the population who attend any place of worship. I had an opportunity myself of looking a

little into the state of our mining population, having been called upon during last summer to preach the gospel in the Airdrie district. I cannot think that the state of this district is at all understood by the Church at large. In this district there are about seventy thousand souls. Amongst this vast population we have a few Free Church ministers, who are most excellent, energetic, and faithful men; and there are godly ministers belonging to other denominations residing in various parts of the great and populous district, but still there are masses of the people who are in a state of fearful apathy about divine things, and in great ignorance about everything that concerns their eternal welfare. It is exceedingly difficult to rouse these people. Even if an evangelist goes in among them to preach the Word, he gets, perhaps, a considerable number to come and hear him, but still there are great masses of the people who will not go a few steps to hear the Word declared. I had more abundant opportunities of preaching the gospel in that district during a month, than ever I had in the same space of time before. I preached in that district, during the month I was there last summer, forty-six times altogether, and on twenty-seven oc casions in the open air; yet I came away with the conviction that I had not reached even the ears of the people,-that multitudes of people had never heard the sound of my voice, and that probably many of them had not known that I was in the quarter. The people, as I have said, are lying in apathy and ignorance; and one thing which indicates the low condition of religion and moral feeling amongst them very strongly is the extraordinary practice they have of playing at cards. One cannot go along without seeing groups of elderly men and young boys engaged playing at cards in the open air. I think, in one case, in the town of Airdrie, I counted altogether eleven parties in one square engaged in this work. The minis ters in that district greatly helped me. I have to bear testimony, in common with the brother who laboured there the previous year, to their great kindness, and the efforts they made to bring out the people. The state of these mining districts will certainly require the earnest attention of this Church. What ought to be done is a very difficult thing to state. I have long been of opinion with respect to our large towns, and I must now add with respect to those mining districts, that we must have men-ordained ministers-having the full status of ministers-whose business it will be to evangelise, or look after the evangelisation of the masses in our cities, and in those mining districts. Probably the hint thrown out in an address on the first Friday of this Assembly ought not to be cast aside,—that of raising from among those men themselves a company of agents, who, through the blessing of God, may be useful to their neighbours. The truth is, that a minister single-handed in those quarters can do comparatively little. We must have agents to go from door to door. The people are very migratory in their disposition. They perhaps stay a few weeks in one place, and then go away to some other district. Now, if we had these districts under our agency, then, whenever these persons went from one dis trict to another, they could be immediately visited and be taken in charge, and the efforts of ordained ministers would be much more likely to prove effective amongst them. We have considerable encouragements to prosecute the scheme during the season on which we have entered. The sending of a few ministers during a month in the year certainly appears, and is, a comparatively small matter; yet it has advantages, and I am thoroughly persuaded that it is better in some instances to break up the ground by sending ministers to preach the Word, as we are doing, for three or four weeks, it is better to do this, than if we were to set down a regular ministry-for the people amongst whom these labourers come, knowing that they are to have their services only for a short time, will thus be induced to come to hear them. They are not committed because they go to hear a minister, who visits them as a stranger, and thus have an opportunity of hearing the blessed gospel. He goes away, but the seed is sown; it takes root, it ferments in their hearts, and by and by, through discussion with their neighbours, they become more and more prepared for the further agency which may afterwards be employed. I believe that this agency which has been employed, in going forth amongst these masses of the neglected population, is therefore of considerable service, as preparing the way for other agencies of a more established character. Then this has a most beneficial effect on our own people in those districts, and indeed on the minds of the people generally. They come to see that here is a Church taking charge of sending her

ministers to the dying population. I find, in various parts of the country, people have expressed themselves delighted at this small scheme of our Assembly. In one case, one of the brethren who went forward told me a document was forwarded to him, in which the members of a Deacons' Court drew up a memorial, thanking the Assembly for having undertaken this matter, and for having sent forth ministers to preach the Word as the scheme contemplates. It is difficult to mention any of the results of this work. This is a sowing time; now the brethren go forth to sow, and it will remain to be seen in future years what the result of these operations may be. I may just here mention something connected with the labours of our brother who visited the Airdrie district during the previous year. A station at Shotts was opened, which was sanctioned as a charge last year, and our Convener, Dr Begg, is going next Sabbath-day to open a church in that parish. I had also the great happiness the other evening of being called up to preach at the opening of a station in the parish of Cambusnethan, which is one of the high places of the field in connection with the Free Church. The Presbytery of Hamilton are very energetic. It is a vast field they occupy, but they are exceedingly anxious to do everything in their power for the evangelisation of the masses around them, and it is under their energetic efforts that this station has been opened, and has a fair prospect of success. I rejoice to think that this station has been opened. I had the opportunity of preaching in that parish several times, while evangelising in the quarter last season, and had occasion to see the destitute state of the poor people. I find that a station has been opened in Upper Lanarkshire since the visit of the minister to that quarter last year. I find another station has been opened in Kirkmichael, in the south of Scotland. Now, these are some of the results, as I may call them, of this evangelistic movement. And I do not doubt but there has been interest excited, and that farther movements will take place in districts in connection with these visitations. I may mention the manner in which the pulpits of the brethren who went forth were supplied. They were supplied by means of exchanges with the ministers regularly stationed in the quarters visited. This plan is requisite in consequence of the difficulty of getting probationers. The whole expenses of the visiting brethren last year, and of the travelling expenses of the brethren who supplied their places, amounted to about £102. It is necessary, allow me to say, in order to the success of these deputations, that the brethren in the districts should kindly lend their aid in the matter of arrangements. I trust the Assembly will prosecute the work during the ensuing season, and that in this way we may be taking a small step in the aggressive with respect to the mass of our countrymen. In concluding this imperfect notice, I have to refer to the fact that one of the thirteen brethren who went forth to evangelise last season is no more in the midst of us, and still it is a very solemnising circumstance that at the very time I am called upon to give in the report of the labours of this brother to this Assembly, God should be making silence in his dwelling, and that his lifeless remains wait the coming of those who are to deposit them in their last resting-place. He has been called to give his account to the Judge of all. During the very sittings of this Assembly, God, who spoke so solemnly to us last year while the Assembly sat, has spoken to us solemnly now. Last year he took away our father from our head, and now he has taken away one of the most godly and one of the most faithful young brethren of our Church. Surely in this we ought to hear the voice of admonition and of rebuke. The Assembly will understand that I refer to the death of Mr Daniel Cormick of Kirriemuir, who was my beloved friend, and who has been cut off by fever in the midst of his labours and of his usefulness. I have a very peculiar delight, I can assure you, in having thus an opportunity of referring to this dear and respected friend. He was possessed of a most gentle and unassuming disposition, which endeared him very much to all the brethren who knew him. He was a truly godly minister, much exercised in his own soul, remarkably fervent in his preaching, while his preaching was distinguished for its simplicity; and I have been given to understand, by those who are personally acquainted with the flock of which he was minister, that he has been eminently successful, and that God has blessed his labours in a peculiar degree since the time he was set over that flock, now called to mourn the loss of their pastor. It is not only his bereaved wife and people who will feel the stroke, but a numerous circle of friends in the ministry with whom he was ulti

mately acquainted, cannot but be greatly affected. I believe that his loss will be keenly felt throughout the wide district around the scene of his labours. The Church cannot easily afford the loss, at this time, of such a man as has been taken away in his case. The district which Mr Cormick visited last summer was in the east of Fife. He entered into it with great earnestness and delight, and expectation of being of service; and, from inquiries made, I find that his labours there were peculiarly appreciated; and if any of the brethren from that quarter who are present refer to his visit, they will be able to corroborate what I say. I think I may be allowed to close my statement by reading a part of a brief report of his visit which Mr Cormick transmitted to me. It will be as it were the voice of one speaking to us after he has gone, and reminding us of him we are to see no more. says

He

"I commenced my evangelistic labours on Friday the 16th of July, and returned home on Monday the 9th of August. It was my great object to endeavour to awaken sinners from the sleep of death, and to bring them to embrace Jesus Christ the Lord. I made choice of subjects chiefly of an awakening nature, and so far as God gave me grace, I endeavoured, with all the earnestness and tenderness in my power, to deal with the souls of men, in order that all who heard the Word at my mouth might be led to serious consideration of the things that pertain to their peace.

“I preached during my stay within the bounds of the St Andrew's Presbytery twenty-eight times. What the result may be, the day will declare. But if there has been but one soul awakened from the security of nature, and brought to flee to Christ as the only hiding-place from the storm, and the only covert from the tempest, I will rejoice. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. The whole district, so far as I could discover, is very barren. I often thought of Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones, and cried to the Lord that He would cause truth to enter them that they might live.

"I preached thirteen times in the open air. After the sermon was over I distributed some tracts, and spoke to the people as often as I could about their souls. This gave me an opportunity to know something of the spiritual state of the persons who had been hearing. O! that the Lord may water abundantly his own precious seed, which has been scattered over this land! O! that it may be found, when the records of eternity are opened, that this man and that man have been born there!

"I met with several of God's children. From them I got an account of the spiritual state of this district. I was told that it was very barren. O! what a call is there for us who are ministers to preach for eternity! I fear, dear Sir, that we have yet much to learn, ere we can say as did Richard Baxter, I'd preach as though I ne'er should preach again-a dying man to dying men.'

"I had very good audiences at the various places where I preached. I met with a most cordial reception from the ministers. My coming was well intimated. When I had time I went about before preaching, and visited the people in their houses, and invited them to attend. I could not complain for want of people to hear. In every place, with one exception, I had a large audience for the district. In general there was deep attention paid to the preaching of the Word. Many never looked away from the time I began to the close.

"I think that I may say that I have received benefit myself. I have been brought to see more, and to feel more, the value of eternal things."

O! may the Lord bless the words which this dear servant of God has been enabled to proclaim in that district. May his death rivet the impression which, under God's blessing, may have been made. What a voice is there in the loss we have sustained, calling on us, not only to go out to the hedges and highways, as well as the lanes of the cities, but to go out quickly. How soon will all this General Assembly be gone! We have but one life,-let us consecrate it to the service of our heavenly Master. We have but one hour to labour in this vineyard. Let us see that we know the day of our visitation, and the day of our opportunity. The Church of Christ must be evangelical. She proves that she is evangelical, when, in her Church courts or otherwise, she maintains unflinchingly the whole truth, and for every principle of her blessed testimony. But if she is to thrive, she must be evangelistic as well as evangelical. She must, in her Church courts, not only stand up for the

truth, and for every principle of God's Word, but she must devise measures for the spreading of the gospel abroad, and for the spreading of the gospel at home. I trust the pious views of our friend who has gone may be blessed to us all, and that we may take this dispensation of God in His providence among ourselves, in connection with those wonderful works of His mighty hand which he is at present accomplishing on the Continent of Europe, and be humbled and solemnised.

The Moderator then suggested that, after hearing such an address, and in the present solemnised state of the feelings of the members of the house, the Assembly should now concur in joining in prayer to God.

The suggestion was agreed to, and the Rev. Mr Tweedie offered up an impressive and appropriate prayer:

Mr FERRIE of Anstruther also bore testimony to the amiable character of the Rev. Mr Cormick, who spent three or four days in his residence, and from whose labours much good had accrued in his (Mr Ferrie's) district, where a part of the Christian efforts of the deceased had been applied in connection with the Home Mission.

Dr MACKAY of Dunoon said,-Moderator, I consider the subject before us this evening as practically one of the deepest and liveliest importance that this Assembly can be engaged in, and I feel, in connection with it, that our minds may with advantage be brought from out of the lower elements which occupied the former part of this day, to look at the higher and nobler objects which this question presents to us. My friend the Convener of the Home Mission Committee had a very heavy task to perform, or, to use his own phraseology, a very heavy lift when he undertook, as he was bound to do, to represent to this Assembly the very extensive scene of labour presented to the Free Church in its Home Mission Committee. Having such a mass of facts, interesting facts, touching facts to communicate, if he had gone into detail, he must have landed the minds of the fathers and brethren of this house perhaps too much in something allied to confusion, from the very multiplicity and necessity of the objects, and from feeling, as we must all do, I think, how very far short the labours and efforts of the Free Church hitherto have come in supplying the clamant necessities of the land. But I think that, in this sort of labyrinth into which our minds must enter, if we have sympathy at all with perishing souls, we can find a very palpable thread of principle to carry us through, and to guide and direct our labours in endeavouring in some measure to meet those clamant necessities. There are masses of the population of Scotland perishing for lack of knowledge, and I trust you will bear with me when I would desire to appeal to you on behalf of a portion of this land as having by right a preference to your regard,—I mean the Highlands of Scotland. There are masses perishing for lack of knowledge in this country, and over the world; but if I find, on the word of authority from the Head of the Church, that a man must provide for his own house in the first instance,-if I find our Lord commanding our apostles to begin at Jerusalem,—I consider that we are bound in point of duty to attend, in the first instance, to the wants of the masses of the adherents of the Free Church, and if there be masses, both in the Highlands and Lowlands, we must remember that in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland it is not by dozens, or twenties, or hundreds, that we find adherents to the Free Church of Scotland, but positively in thousands we find them. I contend, if contending be necessary, though I trust it be not, that these masses of our adherents demand our first and most vigorous efforts, should it be even at the cost of deferring efforts in favour of masses who are yet not adherents to the Free Church of Scotland, I cannot agree to the general statement in the Report, when it speaks of 120,000 adherents to the Free Church in the Highlands, for I know that without exaggeration that number might be doubled or trebled.

Dr BEGG.-I only spoke of our portion of the Highlands.

Dr MACKAY proceeded-Very well; but this is necessary to be understood; and what I want is the admission of the point of duty and necessity as connected with the duty of our taking into view, and our keeping in view, that there are positively masses of the adherents of the Free Church to whom it has hitherto been unable to minister any supplies of spiritual ordinances. I say it with all solemnity,-God forbid that I should be the individual to stand between this Church and the duties of evangelizing the masses,-I bid them God speed in this labour; I would share

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