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Mr ANDERSON said his health gave way there, and he left it solely on the ground of ill health.

In answer to a question from another member of Assembly, as to whether he had enjoyed good health before going there.

Mr ANDERSON said, it had all along been up-hill work with him. He was not ashamed to say it, that, without any assistance from any one, he had educated himself at the expense of between £300 and £400; and that, in order to accomplish this, he had entered a printing office in this city, and wrought both early and late at the printing business, and carried on his studies at the same time, in the prosecution of which his health became impaired. (Applause.)

Parties were removed.

Mr MAKGILL CRICHTON said, he thought there was abundance of materials before the house for the full decision of this case in favour of the appellant; and as it would only be to confirm an opinion already formed, if Dr Smyttan was to read the certificates alluded to by Mr Anderson, he (Mr Crichton) was of opinion that the case should be decided as now before the Assembly, and without reference whatever to these certificates. (Hear, hear.) He was glad that the case was so simple, and that it appeared to be one of such exceedingly easy settlement. He held it to be a mistake that it should have ever come before the General Assembly at all. He knew the zeal of Dr M'Kay, and of many of the other Highland ministers, to supply the destitute islanders with the Word of life, and he would to God that they had more to afford towards the supply of that destitution; but he deprecated the means that had been taken in this case, being convinced, that they would have an effect the reverse of that which these ministers had in view. It was unnecessary to listen to the medical certificates which Mr Anderson proposed to lay before them, as he had only to ask them to look in the reverend appellant's face, and there they would see a confirmation of his statement as to being in delicate health. He had always known that their reverend friend Dr M'Kay held the reins of ecclesiastical government very hard in the Highlands; but since this case had come up, he was glad that he (Mr Crichton) was not under the reverend doctor's arch-episcopate.

The Rev. Mr MACNAUGHTAN of Paisley rose to order.

Mr CRICHTON said, he would continue to characterise this case as a cruel one, and as one which, in justice and good feeling, ought not to have been brought to this Assembly, although he knew that, perhaps, in saying so, he had transgressed the boundary of free Presbyterianism, and might be again interrupted by his fastidions friend, Mr Macnaughtan. (A laugh.) But what he further intended to say was this, that the reverend gentleman was now settled in an important charge; and that he believed it was solely owing to the salubrious climate of the Madeira of Scotland, that he was enabled to do the duty of the important station in which he was placed. Dr M'Kay endeavoured to prove, however, that Barvas was more desirable in every way to Rothesay,-that it was, in fact, a new Madeira-(hear, and a laugh)-but they had heard a very different story from the reverend gentleman who succeeded him, and who declared that the climate of Barvas was not so bad, and that there was a great deal doing to improve it. (Hear.) And then Dr M'Kay held out the benefits of a manse, and a means of conveyance from one part of the parish to another, if Mr Anderson accepted the call; but he (Mr Crichton) took the liberty of saying that this was all a dream,—a prospect not yet fulfilled. It was on such grounds as these that Mr Anderson, while in a delicate state of health, was asked to give up his present charge in the salubrious Island of Rothesay, with the whole of his people uniting in the earnest desire to retain him. Could anything be more harsh? His friend, the representative of the congregation at Rothesay, appeared to draw a comparison between this case and that of Dr Candlish, which had just been decided; and he had stated that Mr Anderson had nearly five hundred people in Rothesay who were as deeply attached to him, and reverenced him as much, as the people of St George's did Dr Candlish. But he might have carried the parallel a little further. In Dr Candlish's case, that day, it was the declaration of his own mind that weighed with the Assembly-(a voice, " No, no")—although, notwithstanding all that Dr Buchanan had stated, it was unquestionably the general mind of the Church that Dr Candlish was not only the best candidate that could be selected, but that probably they would not find his equal to fill the chair in the whole Church. It was the ex

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pression, he maintained, of Dr Candlish's own will that swayed the Assembly; and if this was allowed in the one case, why should it not be permitted in the other? He knew, however, that this would be the result. He knew that equal justice would be done to the minister of the humble Gaelic congregation of Rothesay as to the minister of the great congregation of St George's. (Hear.) Dr M'Kay had said that there was no properly-expressed opinion against the translation; but he (Mr Crichton) knew no opinion that could be more strongly advanced than that of weak health. He believed, were the Assembly to sustain the finding of the Presbytery in this case, that they would be guilty of a piece of tyranny. But he could not believe that the Assembly would do so. He had no fear that they would do so in the face of the statement of the reverend gentleman, that he was working amongst an attached congregation in a state of such delicate health. He held, in fact, that they would be guilty of an act approaching to culpable homicide if they pronounced such a decision. Much as he loved the Free Church of Scotland, and much as he loved the Highlanders for their noble and pious contendings, he must say that he would be ashamed of their national Church if he saw her representative body guilty of the deliberate act of cruelty that would be involved in affirming this sentence of the Presbytery. He would therefore move that the appeal be sustained, that the sentence of the Presbytery of Dunoon and Inverary be reversed, and that Mr Anderson be continued in his present charge. (Cries of "Agreed, agreed.")

The motion was carried unanimously to reverse the sentence of the Presbytery of Dunoon and Inverary, and continue Mr Anderson in his present charge. The Assembly next took up the

SALTCOATS CASE.

This was an appeal by Mr John Currie, commissioner for the Gaelic congregation at Saltcoats, against a judgment of the Free Synod of Aberdeen, in the case of a call to the Rev. Mr M'Rae of Braemar. Mr Currie appeared as appellant; Dr Brown and Mr Murray for the Synod of Aberdeen; Mr Donald Stewart for the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil; and Mr M'Rae of Braemar for himself.

Mr CURRIE, for the Gaelic congregation at Saltcoats, stated that it had been without a minister for three years and a half, and many of his poor countrymen were residing there in a state of ignorance and neglect. When the census was taken some years ago, there were in Saltcoats 700 Highlanders, speaking and preferring the Gaelic language, and he believed that this number had increased. Mr M'Rae of Braemar having laboured for a short time among them, the people found his talents and his Gaelic so acceptable,—they being a mixed people from the Highlands and Islands,-that it was proposed to give him a call. A call was accordingly moderated in, which turned out so unanimous, that there was not one dissenting voice. It was signed by upwards of 500 individuals. He (Mr Currie) appeared himself at the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil to prosecute the call, in the month of November last; but the weather was so coarse that only three members were present. He stated to them the destitution of the congregation of Gaelic people in Ayrshire, but he was not heard, and it appeared to him that they did not look into the merits of the case at all. There was no alternative but to appeal the case to the Synod of Aberdeen; which cast it off in the same manner, without looking into its merits. He was therefore obliged to bring it before the General Assembly. There is no Gaelic congregation in Ayrshire but the one in Saltcoats, and many of the people are living in a state of ignorance; while in Braemar, Mr M'Rae's congregation consists of only 200, and his ministrations are generally conducted, not in Gaelic, but in English. He (Mr Currie) felt that he could not do justice to the case, but there were several ministers in the Assembly who knew its claims, and would, he trusted, be inclined to enforce them.

Mr MURRAY, for the Synod, stated that they considered themselves shut up on various grounds to the course they had pursued, in affirming the sentence of the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, refusing to translate Mr M'Rae from Braemar to Saltcoats. Braemar is properly a Highland district,-the Gaelic being the native language of the people, who therefore require the services of a minister acquainted with the Gaelic language. This, the Synod considered, gave Braemar a decided preference over Saltcoats, the latter not being in any sense a Highland district, and

the Gaelic population fluctuating, besides many of them being sufficiently acquainted with English. While the Free church at Braemar stands in the middle of a district containing a population of about 2000 souls, there is no other Free church nearer to it than about seventeen miles; whereas, there is one Free church in Saltcoats, and another in Ardrossan, not a mile remote from each other; and there are two other Free Church congregations not more than four miles from Saltcoats. The congregation of Braemar have been contributing as liberally, perhaps, in proportion to their abilities, as any congregation within the bounds of the Free Church, for the support and extension of the gospel, while the Highlanders in Saltcoats have done scarcely any thing,-at any rate as a separate congregation. In the first year after the Disruption, the congregation at Braemar contributed for all Church purposes £108; the congregation at Saltcoats, £5, 16s. (A laugh.) In the second year, the Braemar congregation contributed £133: 13:6; that at Saltcoats, £26 13: 6. In the third year, the Braemar congregation £187: 10:8; the Saltcoats congregation £12, 10s. The fourth year, the Braemar congregation £78: 11:8; the Saltcoats congregation £13: 6:5;-that is to say, the congregation at Braemar has contributed more than eight times the amount contributed by the Saltcoats congregation. At the Synod of Aberdeen, it did seem ominous against the claims of the congregation at Saltcoats, that no member of the Presbytery of Irvine appeared to advocate these claims, either at the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil or at the Synod,-an indication, it was considered, that the Presbytery really were in doubt about the propriety of urging this translation. What weighed very much with the Synod of Aberdeen, in the decision to which they came, was the decidedly expressed conviction of Mr M'Rae, that he ought not to be removed from Braemar to Saltcoats. If it had been found necessary to remove him from his present charge, the Synod was of opinion that it should not be to such a place as Saltcoats, but to supply some portion of the very fearful destitution obtaining in the Highlands. Another reason was, that Braemar is a great resort of strangers during the summer months and in autumn, and also it being in the vicinity of a Roman Catholic population; but it was not necessary to detain the Assembly with any further remarks.

Mr STEWART, for the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, stated that, after mature deliberation, the Presbytery had decided unanimously, as the Synod had afterwards done, that the translation should not take place. He might venture also to state, that the Presbytery of Irvine, which was most deeply interested in the question, was unanimous also. They must have known the circumstances and state of the congregation of Saltcoats better than any other body; and had they seen it to be their duty to prosecute this call, they should unquestionably have made an appearance either before the Presbytery or before the Synod. But this not being done, was an evident proof that they did not approve of the call for a translation. Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil was decidedly of opinion, that the congregation of Braemar was more important to the Free Church in every way than the Gaelic congregation at Saltcoats.

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Mr CURRIE replied, stating, that the Gaelic congregation being without minister or deacons, could not be expected to make larger contributions, although within a few months back they had collected £60. He entreated the Assembly to take the circumstances of the congregation into serious consideration, and not to cast off a people whose inclinations were all on the side of the Free Church. He believed that, when a minister was settled amongst them, they would prove a self-supporting congregation.

Dr CANDLISH, before parties were withdrawn, requested information, in the first place, in regard to the state of Braemar. He remembered that this congregation, as opposed to a call from Inverary, was before the Assembly at Inverness, but he could not remember the particulars. He should like to know the size of the congregation at Braemar; and, secondly, the extent to which the services there were conducted in Gaelic.

Mr M'RAE replied, that the number of communicants was 70; that the attendance in winter was about 100, and in summer it might be increased by strangers to about 150. In winter, when the days were short, there is Gaelic service only on weekdays, the Gaelic population being principally confined to the distant glens. In summer. there is Gaelic service on Sabbath once a fortnight.

Dr CANDLISH wished to ask, on the other side, what number signed the call at Saltcoats, and what was the proportion of communicants?

Mr CURRIE stated, that the number of signatures to the call was 500. How many of them were communicants he did not know; but the number four years ago was about 120 or 130.

It was also stated from the bar, that, at the Synod of Aberdeen, the number of communicants was said to be 103.

Dr CANDLISH suggested, that they had as yet no direct expression of feeling on the part of Mr M'Rae himself; and he submitted to him whether he was prepared to allow the Assembly now to proceed without having any statement from him before them.

Mr M'RAE said,-It may be necessary for me to enter a little more fully into the case than it has yet been done. And perhaps there may be few in this House who can sympathise with me when I assure them, that the question of translation has cost me far more mental trouble than the Disruption and the circumstances attending it. In the one case the path of duty was perfectly clear, and there was only one course which could be pursued. In the other case there is frequently much darkness and uncertainty, and we feel that whatever course may be pursued, may be a contravening of the will of God. Now, taking this case into consideration, there were two points that particularly weighed with me. The first was, whether in any circumstances whatever I could feel justified in leaving Braemar? and the second was, whether I should leave Braemar for such a place as Saltcoats? In regard to the first, the circumstance which weighed with me may render it necessary to make some statements as to Braemar which were not fully brought out before. The population of Braemar is about one thousand, one-half of whom are Roman Catholics; and there is another district contiguous to Braemar, in which the fallow-ground, as regards the Free Church, has scarcely yet been broken. This is the district of Crathie, ten miles distant from Braemar, and in the summer season I usually preach there; but I consider Braemar my proper field of duty. With regard to the Gaelic in Braemar, it is the language universally spoken by the Roman Catholic population; and among the older of the Protestant population it is also spoken and understood, and in some of the families is used in family worship. To show the great partiality of the older people for the Gaelic language, I may observe, that unlike what occurred in other parts of the Highlands, many of the older of the population remained in connection with the Establishment; but among those who did not join the Free Church, there are some who still attend my ministrations in Gaelic, which they do not hear in their own church. At the same time, I acknowledge that Braemar is not the place where one would look for a field for his Gaelic, were he seeking a situation for the first time; but in the providence of God, I was planted there at the Disruption; and taking the question now raised into consideration, when I am not looking for a situation for the first time, I could not find myself at liberty to break the tie which subsists between me and the people of Braemar. And with regard to the other question, as to whether I should remove to such a place as Saltcoats, if I were to leave Braemar, what I mentioned at the Synod was, that if, in the providence of God, I should leave my present charge, there are situations in the Highlands which would have far higher claims upon me than Saltcoats.

Parties were then removed.

Mr CARMENT, reserving himself for any remarks on the case, should he see fit, moved that the appeal be dismissed, the judgment of the Synod of Aberdeen affirmed, and Mr M'Rae retained in his present charge.

Mr FERRIE seconded the motion. He remembered the case that was before the Assembly at Inverness, and that he was exceedingly struck with the claim which was then put forward for Braemar in preference to Inverary. That the latter was a Gaelic-speaking place, there could be no doubt; but it was improper at that time to give the preference to Inverary over Braemar, how much more must the claim of Braemar be now preferred to that of Saltcoats.

Dr CANDLISH said the difficulty he felt arose from his reverting to the very case Mr Ferrie had quoted. In the case of Inverary, he (Dr C.) was one of a very large majority of the Assembly at Inverness, who were clearly in favour of a translation to Inverary, and who simply declined to translate on the plea of health. Indeed,

so very clearly were they in favour of the translation, that they appointed a committee to converse with Mr M'Rae on the state of his health, and simply on the ground of the plea of health did they acquiesce in the decision against the translation. He (Dr C.) did not mean to say that the call from Inverary was as important as that from Saltcoats. What did they see? Here was a congregation of 500 people, speaking and preferring Gaelic, and living in an important town,-this they had on one side; and, on the other, they had a population of 1000, but 500 of them were not connected with the Protestant Church, and of the other 500 many were not connected with Mr M'Rae's congregation. Braemar did not appear to be an adequate field for the use of the Gaelic tongue. This he (Dr C.) stated as a difficulty he felt in the case, without wishing to press it; but viewing Mr M'Rae as a Gaelic minister, the preponderance lies certainly in favour of Saltcoats; and if his health permitted, we were entitled to have his services in a place where his Gaelic would be of greater use than in Braemar.

Mr M'LEOD of Skye said-He had been for some time a missionary among the Gaelic-speaking population of Saltcoats, and could speak in the strongest terms of their character and propriety of conduct. He cordially sympathised with them, not only because he was well acquainted with them, but because he himself had received a call from them. He knew no place where a Highland minister might labour more satisfactorily. There were great numbers of Highlanders scattered throughout the county of Ayr, to whom access could now be had by railway on week-days, when they could not be reached on Sabbath. For himself, he had left the call in the hands of the Assembly, he being then the only minister to ten congregations in the Western Islands. Mr M'Leod then referred to the unanimity of the Saltcoats congregation in favour of Mr M'Rae, and expressed his hope that the Assembly would, by giving effect to this call, mark its approval of that unanimity, as an example to other Highland congregations.

Mr THOMSON of Paisley agreed with the last two speakers, but desiderated some explanation of the conduct of the Presbytery of Irvine in not appearing to prosecute the translation.

Mr Dow made a few remarks on the importance of the Saltcoats congregation. Mr M'NEILL of Campbelton also spoke in high terms of commendation of the Saltcoats Highlanders, amongst whom he had once laboured as a missionary.

Mr CARMENT spoke of Braemar as being one of the most important stations in the Highlands, both on account of its Roman Catholic population, and the visits of strangers in summer. He adverted to the contributions from Braemar to the Church, not merely for the money, but as indicating their Christian spirit, and the earnestness of their attachment to the Church of their fathers. It was to be understood likewise, that Mr M'Rae's labours were not limited to Braemar, but extend over an extensive and wild district of country. Then as to his health, it was much more likely to be promoted in his present charge than by removing to Saltcoats, where the climate is rainy. With regard to the number of names attached to the call, he knew how these things were managed in the Highlands; no doubt the number was swelled by canvassing, and none need tell him, who had seen the arcana of such things, that all these people would attend the instructions of Mr M'Rae.

Mr D. M'Rae of Kilmory said, that Mr M'Rae had been sent to Saltcoats by the Home Mission Committee for the benefit of his health, and he left it after six weeks residence there in perfect health. The Gaelic population there was not fluctuating but fixed. He had himself preached there. A large proportion of the Highlanders were from Arran, where he (Mr D. M‘Rae) is a minister, and where one half of his people leave him when he preaches in English, because they do not understand it. He would propose a motion in favour of the translation, were it not for his friend's preference for remaining in Braemar. After referring to the numerous Highlanders scattered throughout Ayrshire, he observed that the amount of money contributed by the Saltcoats congregation was no criterion, as they had been without a minister for four or five years. Braemar, they had been told, was a Highland district. So far as the hills were concerned, this was true; but Gaelic was at its last gasp there, and leaving it as fast as it could; whereas Saltcoats had become a Highland district. He did not believe that the Presbytery of Irvine could have a good reason for not appearing in the case, else they should not have sustained the call.

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