THE SHORTER CATECHISM.-An anec should under existing arrangements, and anxious | land. But with this hint we leave the to avail themselves of any aid in their matter to the consideration of wiser heads training for the ministry, I have thought and more sanguine spirits than ours. one method might, if possible, be adopted by the Presbyterian Church, that of sending down able men at different times, more particularly in the October term, when the University is first filled with fresh-men, who could meet with such young men as were diligently seeking right preparation for the ministry. I have been privileged to hear some talented and eloquent Presbyterians, and always felt every word come from them with a power which can only accompany the preaching or speaking of those who have on their side the whole truth of God, and nothing added to it. My proposal may appear visionary, as the Lord's work often does, but I wish it could be tried in a faithful and prayerful spirit. Some might be made to understand and feel more what place the Lord Jesus ought to hold in his Church and in their own hearts, and might be made more devoted to His cause and fitted for His service." We do not give more of the letter, because we fear the the proposal is hopeless. Even if our English Presbyterian College were removed to Cambridge, none of the Episcopal students would attend the lectures. The very fact of doing so would be an ecclesiastical crime and cause of disgrace. We have friends in the English Church who spent several sessions at Edinburgh College under Dr. Chalmers and Welsh. And the Free Church College is a school of theology where any English student might with incalculable benefit study. But at Cambridge no Dissenter, not Dr. Chalmers nor Dr. Cunningham, not even Calvin nor Beza, would be attended to. A man like St. Paul himself would not have a class of gownsmen, except it were known beforehand that he had apostolic authority as well as Divine doctrine. Such is the spirit of the time, and of the place, and we see no remedy at present. Had the Evangelical Alliance aimed at anything practical, this might have been an object worthy of their effort. A public school founded on liberal and Scriptural principles, "a Christian Rugby," for the preparatory training of young men, and a theological hall at one of the English Universities, on the system of the Scottish and American Colleges, these might yet be established, and prove of vast importance to the interests of religion in Eng Why dote has been handed down as to the preparation of one most important answer in this Catechism. It has been related that the Committee of Divines who were engaged in framing it came to a pause, when it had to be decided which of them prepare the answer to that solemn question,-"What is God?" All stood aback from the task, each one feeling himself to be incompetent for the duty. At length it was agreed that it should be performed by the youngest man among them, whoever he should turn out to be. the youngest should have been fixed upon for undertaking that from which the most aged and experienced had shrunk, it is not very easy to see, but so it was; and when the individual had been thus selected, it was found that he would consent to engage in the duty assigned to he was so employed, the whole of his him only upon one condition,-that while brethren should separately betake themselves to silent and earnest prayer that he might be especially guided by the Divine Spirit in the fulfilment of his work. To this they consented, and, within a brief space of time, he produced that memorable answer-"God is a Spirit, infinite, unchangeable, and eternal in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, good-a sentence this, conness, and truth," taining a definition or statement of the fulness and concentration, has never been primary truth of religion, which, for surpassed, and which, under the circumstances that have been mentioned, may be looked upon as having been almost the dictate of inspiration. PRAYERFUL MINISTERS.-The most prayerful minister is the servant whom our Master will most abundantly bless. God will peculiarly own him who comes most constantly to consult and plead with him in prayerful confidence. You may compose like a Cicero, and deliver like a Demosthenes, and if prayerless, the hearts of the hearers will be unsoftened and unchanged, but if you study, and write, and preach in the spirit and exercise of affectionate prayer for your flock, your message will be the power of God and the wisdom of God to many a soul.-Rev. Josias Wilson. Presbyterian Church in England. SCHEMES OF THE CHURCH. SCHOOL SCHEME. National Scotch Church, Regent-square, ...... South Shields, per Mr. Kennedy Newcastle-on-Tyne Groat Market, per Mr. Lowick, per Rev. John Fraser..... ham Wrexham, per Mr. J. Gordon Trinity Church, Manchester, per Mr. W. Brampton, per Rev. Dr. Brown .......... Harbottle, per Mr. Thompson........ Hide Hill, Berwick, per Mr. Wilson.... Risley, per Rev. Mr. Foster... Trinity Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, per Mr. W. Morrison Norham, per Mr. Stewart..... Scots Church, London-wall ...... £7 12 6 376 1 15 8 1 10 0 4 14 6 3 Ο 1 5 0 11 4 6 12 11 4 2 2 0 0 18 10 1 7 0 2 11 6 4 12 6 1 7 0 4 3 10 1 7 0 4 14 0 0 10 0 1 2 0 1 0 6 0 0 1 10 0 11 4 2 LETTER FROM MR. W. C. BURNS. Hong-Kong, June 23, 1848. DEAR FRIEND,-I have had again the pleasure of hearing from you; and although in the Lord's good time we would rejoice to have more favourable accounts of your progress in finding suitable agents to enter upon this great missionary field, yet it is pleasant to see that the claims of China are not altogether neglected, and to know that prayer is made in our behalf. During the last month I have been doing little abroad among the people, as the intercourse, which I have had with them, while it encourages me to advance, shows me the need I have to apply my strength at present in seeking to get a more extended and practical acquaintance with their language. The school goes on well as before, although several have left us, 2 13 6 reducing the regular attendance to eleven or twelve. Had I the view of spending my strength in tuition, of course I would use means to increase the number of scholars, but as my great desire is to be able to go among the people at large and 1100 speak the truths of the everlasting Gospel, this little school has been opened chiefly as a means of gaining acquaintance with the people and the language, and as an employment for my teacher, whose services I use but for a very brief period each day. Should any one come out here to relieve me of the charge of the English congregation, he might very usefully employ a part of his time along with an assistant in superintending a seminary for Chinese boys; and this, though a slow and o gradual means, would, I am persuaded, in the end, by the Divine blessing, lead to the most important results in raising up a class of native teachers and preachers of the Gospel. It is an undoubted fact that but few foreigners attain such a com£163 9 8 mand of the Chinese language as to be really useful and effective preachers, and this of course presses upon the Church the necessity of giving much of its attention to the educational department. I am deeply convinced of the importance £509 3 6 of this, although as an individual you know that my bias is to preach rather than to teach the young, and I fear that unless I can learn the language sufficiently to become a preacher in Chinese, I shall ....... 0 19 0 0 2 14 4 ............ 10 18 JAMES MACANDREW, Treasurer. 27, Queen-street, Cheapside, Sept. 20, 1848. be of but little use here. Our English congregation goes on favourably, and I trust that the Lord may in his good time send one to labour more permanently among them than I entertain the thought of doing. Dr. James Young, who has been from the beginning one of the warmest friends of this movement, has just met with a weighty affliction in the removal by death, after an illness of two months, of his esteemed and lately married wife; she died at Macao, to which she had been removed six weeks ago, and on Tuesday evening last I had the melancholy duty to perform of presiding at her funeral. Her remains were laid in the same plot of ground, and within a few yards of the graves of Morrison and Dyer, the missionaries, &c. Poor man, he seems to be Divinely supported, but the stroke is heavy indeed! The only other funeral that I have yet been called to attend, was that of a missionary's wife lately come from America to labour in the Gospel here. There is a good deal of sickness here at present, but I have reason to be thankful that I have as yet enjoyed perfect health, and feel the heat less than some seem to do. When going to Macao in a Chinese "fast boat as they are called, I had an opportunity of speaking a little to some of the boatmen, who were anxious to know something about the doctrine of Jesus. Such opportunities one might constantly meet with here, if they knew the language sufficiently, and as many of the people can read, tracts can be distributed with advantage when the way is prepared by a little conversation. I have been interrupted in writing these lines by a call from A-Hong and another Chinese youth. He comes occasionally to see me, and although his old impressions are a good deal smothered at present by dwelling again among his own people, I hope and pray that good may yet result from the privileges he has enjoyed. I read to him the part of your letter which referred to him, and he seemed to be very grateful for your remembrance of him. I shall now draw these lines to a close, with kindest regards to all friends, and ever am your attached friend and brother, WM. C. BURNS. To save one soul is worth a man's coming into the world, and richly worth the labour of his whole life.-Burnet. Presbyteries' Proceedings. PRESBYTERY OF LONDON. 16, EXETER HALL, 12th Sept., 1848.This day the Presbytery of London held its monthly meeting, Mr. Fisher, Moderator, in the chair. Professor La Harpe, of Geneva, and Mr. Nisbet, Free Church Missionary from Bombay, being present, were associated; and Professor La Harpe addressed the Court at considerable length, upon the Motion was made by Professor Campbell, state of religion in Geneva; after which a and seconded by Mr. Weir, and unanimously agreed to, expressive of friendship for the Church of Geneva. Committee, consisting of Messrs. Weir, On the Motion of Professor Lorimer, a Nicolson, and Barry, was appointed for the examination of students entering the Hall: Mr. Weir, Convener. Mr. Huston delivered a discourse, and was examined on Divinity and Church History, and on the Greek and Latin languages, all of which was sustained as part of his trials for license. Professor Campbell was appointed to act as Moderator of the kirk session of John Knox's Church in the absence of Mr. Ferguson, who is at present laid aside by ill health. Adjourned till second Tuesday of Oct., at three, p.m. PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE. THIS Presbytery held its ordinary meetingat Manchester on the 6th of September, and was duly constituted by the Rev. Wm. M'Caw, Moderator. The Rev. Walter Smith, of St. Peter's, Liverpool, applied for a Presbyterial recommendation for the school connected with his congregation, to the Synod's School Committee; which was granted, as well as a similar application from the Rev. J. Foster, at Risley. The Presbytery called for the report of Mr. Wiseman's Committee, when Mr. Gardner, a member of Committee, reported, that Mr. Wiseman admitted having preached to certain parties at the Northend, Liverpool, knowing that such parties were acting in opposition to the Presbytery of Lancashire, that he had acted on the advice of a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, but now regrets that he did not consult the Pres Y bytery. He has preached regularly to the | irrelevant, and as the question will lead same parties since he was prohibited by the Presbytery from SO preaching, Knowing that in so doing he was acting contumaciously, but this he did on the supposition that the decision of the Presbytery would be to declare him no longer a minister of this Church, and had he been otherwise informed he would not have acted in opposition to the Presbytery, and now regrets having done so. Mr. Wiseman intimated to the Committee his desire to resign his connexion with the Presbyterian Church in England, and begged leave, through the Committee, to tender his resignation to the Presbytery should that court see fit to accept of his apology for contumacy. Which report having been heard, it was agreed to summon Mr. Wiseman to appear at next ordinary Meeting to be dealt with; and the clerk was instructed accordingly. The report of the Committee appointed to answer Mr. Cowe's reasons of resignation, being called for, Mr. Gardner was proceeding to read the same, when a written communication from the Rev. J. Cleland, of Douglas, Isle of Man, addressed to the Moderator, was given in and read, in which complaint was made, that he, as a member of the Committee, had never been summoned to attend a meeting, nor had the " reasons and 66 answers been submitted to him for consideration. The Convener of the Committee explained, that he had been in Scotland for his health, and returned only last week, so that no time was left for summoning Mr. Cleland to attend, or transmitting the "answers " to him, and receiving his opinion upon them, in time for this meeting. Whereupon the Presbytery agreed to postpone till next Meeting the reading of the answers, and their consideration, and re-appointed the Committee with instructions to report at next Meeting. Thereafter Mr. Fergusson moved, that the clerk be requested to state whether any extracts have been furnished by him, either to members of court, or to others, containing the reasons assigned by Mr. Cowe for his resignation and withdrawal from the English Presbyterian Church, or the resolution passed there anent by the Presbytery at its last meeting. Which motion was seconded. It was also moved by Mr. Munro, and seconded, that as the reasons and resolutions alluded to had long before been presented to the Church and the public, such question is to an undue occupation of the time of the court, the next matter on the roll be called. Which Motion and amendment having been put to the vote, the latter was carried by a considerable majority, only three voting for the former. From which finding Mr. Fergusson dissented, and protested for leave to complain to the Synod, promising to give in reasons in due time, took instruments in the clerk's hands, and craved extracts, which were granted. Mr. Gardner and Mr. Walter Clarke, adhered to the dissent and complaint. Collections were announced as having been made for the school scheme by the following Churches: St. Peter's, Manchester; St. Peter's, Liverpool; Chalmers's Church; St. Andrew's; Trinity; and Risley. Mr. Barbour gave notice of an overture to the Synod to declare in what position the "English Presbyterian Messenger stands in reference to the Church. Mr. Barbour also gave notice of a Petition to the Synod to divide the Presbytery of Lancashire into two Presbyteries. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Kemp appeared and completed their public trials in order to their being licensed to preach the Gospel. The Presbytery taking a conjunct view of the whole, declared their satisfaction therewith. Whereupon the questions appointed to be put to such as are to be licensed, were put to them, and they gave satisfying answers to the same; they also expressed their willingness to sign the confession of faith and the formula, when required to do so; and they declared their adherence to the Berwick resolutions. Wherefore, after prayer, the Presbytery licensed the said Mr. Jas. Mitchell and Mr. Alex. Kemp to preach the Gospel of Christ, and exercise their gifts as probationers for the holy ministry. Adjourned to meet at Liverpool on the first Wednesday of Nov. next at 11 a.m. Ecclesiastical Notices. SOUTHWARK. On the 3d Sept., the new schools connected with St. George's Presbyterian Church, Southwark, were opened. They will accommodate about 400 children; and already there are above 100 on the books. The estimated cost of the schools, as separated from the Church, would be above 8001. The congregation is in its infancy; and though it has made more than ordinary exertions, it is still considerably in debt. Any donation towards the building fund will be gratefully acknowledged by any member of the Presbytery of London. SEATON-DELAVAL. SABBATH-SCHOOL SOIREE. The children of the Sabbathschool sat down to tea in the school-house on Saturday, the 5th ult., after an examination of the school in the Church. There were about 200 present. The teachers and other friends of the young took tea with the elder children immediately thereafter. By the prudent arrangements of a Committee of ladies everything was comfortably and abundantly supplied. The enlightened zeal of the Superintendent and teachers, stimulated by the fostering care of their pastor, encourage the hope that this useful field of labour will yet prove in no small degree the pillar and strength of the Presbyterian cause at Delaval. In the evening the children again assembled in the church, when the attendance of the congregation evinced the interest they took in the proceedings. After able addresses on the aim and object of a Sabbath-school, the efficient management of Sabbath-schools, the duty and advantages of parental instruction, the influence of Sabbath-schools on Churches, Sabbath-schools the nurseries of aggressive Christianity, and the Church in earnest, the meeting separated. During the course of the evening, and between the addresses, the children sung several appropriate hymns. At the close of the day all felt that a fresh stimulus had been given to the cause of religious effort on behalf of the young. Jewish Missions, 5. 14s. Od.; for the College Scheme, 27. 1s. 6d. ; for the School Scheme, 10s.; and for the Synod Fund, 12s.; making a total for the schemes of the Church in the past year of 191. 3s. 3d., besides contributions for some other objects. The Rev. Joseph Burns, of Whitehaven, moved the first Resolution,"That it is the duty, and ought to be accounted the privilege, of professing Christians to support the great cause of missions, both at home and abroad." Which was seconded by the Rev. T. J. Walker, Wesleyan minister. The Rev. Richard Hunter, of the United Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, moved, and James Bridges, Esq., W.S., from Edinburgh, seconded, the next Resolution,-"That missions to the Jews have peculiar claims on the Christian world, and that the 'signs of the times' seem to encourage exertions in behalf of the lost sheep of the house of Israel; "after which a collection was made, amounting to 47. Os. 10d. Joseph Coulthard, Esq., of Croft House, Brampton, next moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman and the gentlemen from a distance, who had kindly taken part in the proceedings of this meeting, which was seconded by Mr. Hugh Armstrong, one of the elders of the congregation. The Chairman again addressed the meeting in suitable terms, and the proceedings of the evening were closed by singing the Doxology, and pronouncing the Apostolic Benediction. There was a good attendance, and the proceedings seemed to give much satisfaction. MONKWEARMOUTH. - On Tuesday Sept. 12, a soirée, in aid of the funds of the Church in Bridge-road, MonkBRAMPTON MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY. wearmouth, in connexion with the Eng-On Tuesday evening, the 12th Sep-lish Presbyterian Church, was held in the tember, the missionary anniversary of this congregation was held, when T. H. Graham, Esq., of Edmond Castle, kindly occupied the chair. After singing and the reading of the Scriptures, the Rev. T. J. Walker, of the Wesleyan congregation, was called on to engage in prayer. The Chairman gave an appropriate opening address, characterized by his usual catholicity of spirit and Christian earnestness. The Report of the ceedings of the Association for the preceding year was read by the Rev. Dr. Brown, from which it appeared that there had been raised for the Home Missions of our Church, 10l. 5s. 9d.; for the Foreign and pro large hall of the Athenæum, Fawcettstreet. During the time of the former minister, we understand, the chapel, heavily encumbered with debt, was sold at the instance of the mortgagee, or creditors, and actually passed out of the hands of the congregation. During the present incumbency, it has hitherto been occupied at an annual rent, but at length the congregation have been enabled to effect a purchase of the property. Anxious to realize speedily as much of the purchase-money as possible, and to guard against the evils of an unmanageable debt, they have been exerting themselves by both private contributions |