From the above abstract it will be seen that Sabbath school returns have been received from seventy-one congregations. These have eighty-two Sabbath-schools, with an average attendance of 7,732 children; there are also 1,135 young men and women under Bible training; which makes a total of 8,867, taught by 963 teachers. There is still a number of schools from which no returns have been made; so that, in connexion with the Synod, we may conclude that at least nearly 10,000 young people are receiving Sabbath-school instruction. It is gratifying to find so large a number of young men and women still retained in Bible classes; but it will be observed that these are chiefly connected with congregations in the country. In nearly all large towns (especially in London) it is found next to impossible to retain the children at school beyond a few years. A most interesting exception to this, however, is to be found in Grosvenor-square, Manchester, where we have seen several large classes of young men, still assembling in the Sabbath-school, many of whom have been in regular attendance for from seven to nine years. Perhaps more might be done in this matter, in many quarters, if greater diligence were used. The following instance, related by the Committee of the Free Church on Sabbath-schools, is worthy of special attention: "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." The number of day-schools reported is thirty-nine, with an attendance (on the books) of 4,099 children; but we believe there are some schools still not included in the list, and there are several others that have been commenced during the present year that could not properly be reported. In another place it will be seen that the returns of the Parliamentary census give only twenty-eight schools connected with the Synod, and an attendance of only 2,723 children. We do not know whether this has arisen from the local parties refusing or neglecting to make the returns, or from not giving the schools their proper designation, by which they have fallen under other headings; but from whatever cause, the matter is to be regretted, as the Church and her educational efforts are both too young to be able to afford being thus misrepresented. Seaton Delaval, collection 100 6 9 £445 6 Presbyteries' Proceedings. PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 9 2 THE Quarterly Meeting of this Presbytery was held at Harbottle, July 12, 1854. Sederunt, Messrs. Anderson, Lennie, Huie, Edwards, Gillespie, Cathcart, Fergus, Bannatyne, Forsyth, and the clerk. In the absence of the Moderator, Mr. Bannatyne, the ex-Moderator, took the chair. The minutes of last Quarterly Meeting and succeeding Meeting, were read and sustained. In consequence of some informality in connexion with the Communion Rolls, the Presbytery instructed the various Sessions to bring up their Communion Rolls at next Quarterly Meeting. The members present reported that they had severally observed the day appointed for national humiliation, and that the same was devoutly kept by their respective congregations. In regard to the financial statement connected with the new church at Framlington, the Moderator and clerk, who were formerly appointed to audit the same, were instructed to give in their Report at next Meeting. The Presbytery having taken up the Motion upon the eldership, of which notice was given at last Meeting, agreed that, with a view to the object therein contemplated, a Committee be appointed to inquire into the present state of the eldership within the bounds, and to report; said Committee to consist of the Moderator (Mr. Walker), the clerk (Mr. Blyth), and Mr. Bannatyne. Mr. Bannatyne to be Convenor. Messrs. Anderson, Bannatyne, Cathcart, Edwards, Fergus, Forsyth, Gillespie, and Huie, reported that they had taken up collections for the Home Mission Fund. A collection was also reported from Birdhope Craig, for the same scheme. Mr. Fergus had made a collection for the Synod Fund. Communications from Mr. Whyte, regarding the state of his health, and requesting supply for his pulpit for three months, together with a medical certificate, and a communication from the Home Mission regarding the supply of the pulpit, were read by the clerk. The Presbytery, deeply sympathising with their brother under his present indisposition, and with his congregation, resolved, as far as possible, to meet his wishes; and with this view appointed Mr. Cathcart to preach at Birdhope Craig, next Sabbath, and after Divine service to hold a congregational Meeting, and ascertain from them what arrangements they are disposed to enter into for the regular supply of religious ordinances. A letter was given in from Mr. Gillespie, addressed to the Moderator and remanent members of the Presbytery, tendering his resignation of the charge at Long Framlington, which was ordered to lie on the table till next Meeting. The Presbytery appoint Mr. Hoy to preach at Long Framlington next Sabcite the congregation to appear for their bath, and give intimation of the same, and interests at next Meeting. that there were two students, Mr. Thomas It being intimated to the Presbytery Rutherford and Mr. John Sayburn, within their bounds, resident during the interim vacation, the Presbytery agreed to prescribe to them the following exercises :-Romans, in Greek: first part of" Butler's Analogy;" "Hill's Lectures;" first two chapters of Lamentations, in Hebrew; first book of the by Faith; and appointed them to appear at a "Odes of Horace;" Essay on Justification Meeting prior to the opening of next session of the college at London. at Wooler had been opened, and an efficient Mr. Huie intimated that the day-school teacher appointed. Mr. Cathcart submitted plans of a proposed new church at Harbottle. The Presbytery generally approved of the same, and congratulated the minister and congregation at Harbottle on their determination to effect an important change for the better upon their present place of worship. The Presbytery agreed that next Quarterly Meeting be held at Alnwick, on the second Tuesday in October, at twelve o'clock, and in the meantime adjourned to meet at Long Framlington, on Thursday, the 20th inst., at twelve o'clock. Closed with prayer. Framlington, July 20, 1854. An adjourned Meeting of Presbytery was held here to day, and duly constituted. Sederunt, Messrs. Hoy, Anderson, Lennie, Gillespie, Edwards, Cathcart, Fergus, Bannatyne, Edmonds, and the clerk. In the absence of the Moderator, Mr. Bannatyne, the ex-Moderator, took the chair. The minutes of last Meeting were read and sustained. The Committee appointed to examine and audit the accounts of the receipts and disbursements connected with the building of the new church at Framlington, gave in a vidimus of the accounts, and a written Report to the effect that they had found the same correct and satisfactory; and that the excess of the expenditure over the receipts amounted to 117.12s. 3d. The Presbytery unanimously agreed to record their grateful sense of the great exertions made by Mr. Gillespie in procuring the funds necessary for the erection of a place of worship at Long Framlington, so elegant and commodious, and so much needed in the district. Mr. Cathcart gave in a Report in regard to Birdhope Craig, embodying a Resolution passed at a congregational Meeting held there on Sabbath the 16th, to the effect that the congregation agree to undertake the payment of half the expenses incurred by the supply of preaching for three months, it being understood that the Home Mission agree to discharge the other half. The Presbytery received and adopted the Report, and appointed Mr. Cathcart to exchange with the officiating probationer, as occasion may require, for the administration of sealing ordinances. In regard to Long Framlington, Mr. Hoy intimated that he had duly served the edict citing the congregation to appear here this day for their interests, whereupon the Presbytery took up the case; when Mr. Gillespie appeared for himself, and Messrs. William Gibson, William Dixon, James Hylton, and Adam Fail, members of the congrega tion, also appeared. Parties having been heard and removed, and the Rev. Mr. Edmonds, at the request of the Presbytery, having engaged in prayer; and after the members had severally stated their opinions on the case in which, while expressing their personal regard and esteem for Mr. Gillespie, and their very deep regret that he should have seen it his duty to resign his connexion with the congregation at Framlington, they, on a view of all the circumstances of the case, agree to loose him from his present charge; and the Presbytery did, "and hereby do dissolve the pastoral connexion between Mr. Gillespie and the congregation at Framlington, and appoint Mr. Hoy to preach there and declare the church vacant on the third Sabbath in August next." Parties being called in, and the deliverance intimated acquiesced in, the same took instruments and craved extracts. The Presbytery adjourned to meet at Long Framlington, on the last Tuesday in August, at twelve o'clock. Closed with prayer. PRESBYTERY OF LONDON. THIS Presbytery held its monthly Meeting Mr. Chalmers reported that he had moderated in a call at Southampton, on the 26th of June, in favour of the Rev. Mr. Wright, of Morebattle. The call was sustained, and Mr. Alexander, of Chelsea, and Mr. Duncan, of Newcastle, were appointed commissioners to prosecute the call before the Presbytery of Kelso. The minutes were read of a pro re nata Meeting of Presbytery held at Hampstead on the 29th June, for the purpose of moderating in a call. The call was produced, signed by ninety-two persons, in favour of Mr. Richard Smyth, who had intimated his acceptance of it. The call was sustained, and Mr. Smyth's trials, which had been previously prescribed, were heard and sustained unanimously. It was agreed that the Presbytery meet at Hampstead on Tuesday, July 25th, to ordain Mr. Smyth to the pastoral charge of the congregation there; Mr. Weir, of River-terrace, to preach and preside. A portion of the trials of Mr. Davison, student, were heard, and cordially sustained. Mr. Wm. Alves, a licentiate of the Free Church of Scotland, was received as a probationer within the bounds of the Presbytery. In consequence of a proposal having been made to open the Crystal Palace to the shareholders on a portion of the Lord's-day, a Committee was appointed to watch the proceedings, and, if needful, to adopt such measures as might be found practicable for the preservation of the sanctity of the Sabbath. The Presbytery also agreed to grant Mr. Gillespie a Presbyterial certificate. The Presbytery appointed Mr. Walker, the Moderator; Mr. Hoy and Mr. Fergus, as assessors, to constitute-along with Mr. Aaron Carr, the present elder-a competent session for the congregation at Framlington; and appoint them to meet at Framlington, on the Tuesday after the third Sabbath in August, at twelve o'clock. Mr. Walker to be-Moderator. Home Mission schedules, given in by Messrs. Hoy and Edwards, were read, approved, and ordered to be attested, which was done accordingly. Intelligence. THE REV. J. R. MACKENZIE.-We understand that Washington College-one of the most respectable colleges under the care of the Presbyterian Synod in America—has conferred the degree of Doctor in Divinity on the Rev. J. R. Mackenzie, M.A., Presbyterian minister, in this town. The intelligence reached him while residing with Dr. Cooke, of Belfast, as a deputy from the English Synod to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church are assembled in His name on a Lord'sin Ireland.-Birmingham Paper. FALSTONE.-A So reé attended by 400 was held on the Hott Green, on the 11th July, on the occasion of the opening of the Hott Chain Bridge, by which our school in that district is made access ble to the children on the north side of the Tyne. After the formal opening, in which the scholars of the Hott School and Rev. John Young, of Bellingham, took part, several addresses were delivered by Mr. Stuart, of Falstone, the Chairman, on education its quantity and quality; Mr. Wrightson, of Wark, on means of intercourse; Mr. Young, on the Bible and modern civilization; the Rector of Greystead, on early training and future advancement; and Mr. Whinfield, of Newcastle, on the influence of individual piety. Votes of thanks were proposed to the ladies that presided at the tea-tables, Mr. Ridley, of Newcastle, the engineer, Mr. Warlton, of Hott, and Proprietors of Rushend, for site and roadway, and contractors, Messrs. Armstrong and Scott, of Newcastleton, and enthusiastically responded to. Mr. Shippley, of Bellingham, with his obliging band, added much to the enjoyment of the young. Among the subscribers not immediately connected with the district are found Sir Jno. Swinborne, of Capheaton; Messrs. Barbour, of Manchester, Henderson, of Birmingham; A. and T. Stevenson, of South Shields; Thompson, of Troughend; Twinet, of Windsor; Whingfield, of Newcastle, &c. It is no unfavourable symptom of the educational feeling of the people that not more than four families in a district at least of forty-four square miles in extent refused to subscribe for a bridge undertaken expressly for the advancement of education. Of the entire cost, which amounted to 1781, the Treasurer reports a deficiency of only 5. The happy Meeting broke up about eight p.m. day as an arena for politics, or a place at the same time for the promulgation of worldly news. "Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever." "Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?" Moreover, even an individual who thinks no higher must consider how very unbecoming it is to see, on a Sabbathday, the very door of God's house covered over, it may be, with notices about every-day matters. It is surely time to work in putting an utter end to them at any cost. WHITEHAVEN.-On the 21st of June the teachers and Sabbath-school children of the Presbyterian Church, James-street, spent a happy day. It was their festal anniversary, and about 130 sat down to tea. Refreshment being over, the teachers and children retired to the church, where, in presence of parents and friends, Mr. Burns examined them on the nature, obligation, and duty of prayer. The answering of the children was remarkably good, and showed a general acquaintance with the holy Scriptures. Mr. Richard Sands delivered a practical address on the duty of supporting the mission schemes of the Church, and suggested various ways by which funds could be raised. Mr. Robert Mackray followed in an earnest address on the motives and reasons which should influence all to give for the spread of Christ's cause. Mr. Gill and Mr. Lachlison made a few impressive observations on the uncertainty of life;-referring to the death of one of the Sabbath-school scholars, and the great necessity of having a personal interest in Christ as the only preparation for death, and the_great_object_of Sabbath-school teaching. Mr. R. Sanus then read the Report of the Juvenile Association for the year, which showed that the contributions of the children amounted to the handsome sum of 11. 17s. 94d., being a considerable increase over any previous year. Bibles and Testaments and Psalm-books were then awarded to the children, and, after praise and prayer, the proceedings of the evening terminated, parents and friends expressing them ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. At the distribution of prizes in the London University, under the presidency of the Bishop of St. David's, on the 30th June, a geological prize was awarded to Mr. M. Davison, of the above Theological College, and formerly of Belford, Northumberland.-selves highly delighted. Witness. NEW SCHOOLS.-WOOLER.-On the evenPROSECUTION OF A MINISTER FOR SAB- ing of July 4, a public Meeting was held in the BATH-KEEPING.-The Rev. William Wright-Presbyterian Church, Wooler, to celebrate the opening of the new school. The Rev. Mr. Huie occupied the chair. After the Meeting had been opened with prayer, addresses, all bearing on the subject of education, were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Blythe, of Branton, Terras, of Belford, Hunter, of Horncliffe, and Stewart, of Norham. The Rev. T. Duncan, of Newcastle, who had promised to be present, was detained by an unexpected engagement at home. The Meeting was numerously attended. The school thus inaugurated, is externally a plain building, for ornament would have been misplaced, where the adjoining church and manse are edifices of remarkable simplicity in architecture. Its dimensions are forty-two feet in length, eighteen in breadth, and fourteen in height, thus affording, according to the Privy Council regulations, accommodation for about 100 scholars. Parallel desks and other modern improvements have been introduced; and son, of Wark, has been summoned at the instance of one of the township overseers to appear before the county justices at Hexham, on the 1st of August next, "for tearing down and destroying" a notice respecting the election of knights of the shire from the walls of the Presbyterian Church, on the 18th of June last, being the Lord's-day. At the time of doing so he was not aware of any Act of Parliament legalizing such notices on non-established places of worship; and as a minister of the Gospel, considers the promulgation of such intelligence as it contained improper at a place of Divine worship on the Lord's-day, and as much, in principle, a violation of the fourth commandment as an election of magistrates; and in taking down the notice in question reflected with himself that He who drove the oxen from the temple, and said, "Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise," never intended the place where two or three every attention given to ventilation. An experienced and effective teacher from the Free Church Normal School, Edinburgh, has been obtained, and in the few weeks which have elapsed since the opening of the school, even the most timid friends of the undertaking have seen cause to believe that its success is every way likely to be permanent. One of the speakers, while congratulating the Meeting on the erection of the school, hamorously adverted to certain other improvements which had been carried out since he first knew Wooler; and suggested one or two others. Short as is the time which has elapsed since the Meeting, one suggestion, relating to the benefit of the young men of the vicinity, has already borne fruit. ST. PETER'S SCHOOLS, LIVERPOOL.-The annual examination of these schools took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 20th and 21st of June. About 250 children were in attendance. The examinations were presided over by the Rev. Walter Smith, the minister of the congregation, assisted by Messrs. Gray, Ritchie, M'Connachie, Loxham, members of the Committee. Tuesday evening, was entirely devoted to vocal music-a department under the direction of Mr. Nisbet, and comprehending about 100 of the children of both sexes, who, for a moderate monthly fee, are enabled to avail themselves of this useful, though somewhat unusual, branch of instruction. During the course of the evening, Mr. Nisbet showed, by the anthems, duets, solos, &c., which were sung, accompanied by the piano, that his tuition extended to melodies which, while they refine and cultivate the taste, prepare and fit the learners for taking a becoming part in the accomplishments of society. Some of the more advanced pupils executed solos and duets, aided by the piano, which would have been appreciated by almost any musical assembly, and drew forth such rapturous applause from the younger boys that nothing short of repetition would satisfy them. On re-assembling on Wednesday evening, a heart-cheering sight presented itself to the spectator on entering the spacious apartment, lined round its outer extent by specimens of writing, book-keeping, manuscript maps, pencil sketches, embroidery, and crochet-work, inviting the attention and challenging the criticism of the visitors, and itself increased to nearly double its usual size by the removal of the partition between the boys' and girls' schools. In this great room, by judicious management, the children, tidily dressed, with smiling, cheerful faces, were grouped in distinct clusters, but these so placed as unitedly to form three sides of a hollow square, the other being dedicated to the chairman, members of Committee, the parents of pupils, and other friends of the Institution, the central space being left for the successive classes which were to be brought up for examination. The examination was conducted in an excellent manner, and gave great satisfaction to all present. TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DUDLEY. The usual anniversary services were held here on Sabbath, the 18th of June. The Rev. L. H. Irving, of Falkirk, preached in the morning and evening, and the Rev. W. Cuthbertson, of West Bromwich, in the afternoon. The attendance on each service was larger than on any former similar occasion, and the collection liberal, amounting to about 407. A soirée of the congregation and their friends was held in the commodious schoolroom connected with the church, on the following Tuesday evening. The attendance here, also, was very gratifying, every available spot being occupied. There was a goodly array of speakers, comprising ministers of different denominations: and the addresses, pleasingly varied from time to time by the singing of the choir, were received with frequent marks of approbation, and contributed much to the gratification of those present. STAFFORD.-A Deputation lately waited upon the Rev. J. Speers, to present him with a handsome silver tea-pot, ornamented in the style of Louis Quatorze, and bearing the inscription" Presented by the contractors and workmen employed at Sandon Hall to the Rev. James Speers, as an humble testimonial of the regard and esteem in which he is held by them as their minister, May 31st, 1854." Mr. Speers, in acknowledging the gift, referred to his having been requested by the Earl of Harrowby to hold a service at Sandon, for the benefit of those employed at Sandon Hall who were attached to the same religious communion, to which he had acceded with great pleasure, without the expectation of any such token of their regard as they had presented him with. He trusted his labours at Sandon had not been wholly in vain, and he begged to thank them most cordially for the handsome present they had made him, which was greatly enhanced in value by the spontaneous and kindly feeling from which it had originated. Obituaries. THE REV. WILLIAM REIVE, OF WE have, this month, the painful duty of |