Church in England. The following are the reasons which have chiefly constrained me to adopt this resolution. 1st. I have not found this Church generally willing openly to avow and fully to carry out Free Church principles. The feeling not uncommon among the brethren is thus expressed in the last number of the question being put to him, whether he had complied with the prohibition of the Presbytery of date 26th July, ult., answered that he had not. Whereupon it was moved, seconded, and agreed to: that, seeing Mr. Wiseman, though prohibited by the Presbytery from continuing his ministrations to certain parties in the North End, Liverpool, has per-English Presbyterian Messenger,' the sisted in doing so, and such conduct being highly contumacious, he be now declared no longer a minister of the English Presbyterian Church. Therefore, the Presbytery did, after prayer, declare the Rev. J. Wiseman no longer a minister of the English Presbyterian Church. The Convener of the Committee for examining students reported that Mr. John Walker, student in Divinity, had appeared before them on the 17th of October ult., and been examined in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; the "Evidences of Christianity," and the Shorter Catechism, and his diligence approved of, which report was received and sustained, and the clerk was instructed to give Mr. Walker the usual certificate. The following Committee was appointed to examine the schools connected with the different congregations, viz., Rev. Messrs. Fergusson and M'Caw (Conveners), Messrs. Gardner, Smith, Robinson, and M'Hinch, Ministers; and Messrs. R. Barbour, and A. Neilson, elders. The Clerk read an application from the Rev. James Radcliffe for a Presbyterial certificate, as he was about to return to Ireland. Certificate granted. Collections were announced as having been made for the Synod's School scheme by the following churches, viz., St. George's, Canning-street, Salford, and Bolton. The Presbytery now called for the report of the Committee (consisting of Messrs. Fergusson, Gardner, and Walter Clark) appointed to draw up answers to Mr. Cowe's reasons, which were given in by Mr. Fergusson and read. The Reasons and the Answer we give entire, as follows: "Manchester, July 5, 1848. "To the Moderator of the Presbytery of Lancashire in connexion with the Presbyterian Church in England, "REV. AND DEAR SIR,—I beg to tender my resignation as minister of St. Andrew's Church, and to withdraw from my connexion with the Presbyterian organ of the Church, the superintendence My * Into the charge against ourselves we shall not enter further than to say, that the Church is in no sense responsible for all the statements or sentiments that may from time to time appear in the "Messenger." To believe that any Church or Society can be responsible for whatever may appear in any organ, the most professedly official, argues an idiosyncracy very peculiar indeed. To expect others to believe the charge, as made in the "Reasons," would imply a credulity but little amenable to the laws of evidence. To allege, as is here done, a palpable after-thought in justification of a conclusion manifestly foregone, evinces but little of that godly simplicity which is throughout so quietly assumed. The Committee, however, has so admirably disposed of these subterfuges, that we are saved the necessity of saying more than that we should have been better pleased had the Presbytery allowed the seceder to depart with fewer commendations, seeing they are so little satisfied with the reasons of his secession.-ED. pro tem. was confirmed by a declaration made by a member in open court, that he had received a letter from a law agent connected with some cases of Church property in Chancery, recommending that there should be no committing of the Church to Free Church principles in the case, on account of the unfavourable effect it might have on the pending lawsuits, or words to the same effect. Since such is the position occupied by this Church, I must have misunderstood her constitution when I agreed to join her, for I crossed the border in the belief that though not under the jurisdiction of the Free Church of Scotland, her principles were the same; that the bond of sympathy and alliance with the Free Church was closer than with any other Presbyterian Church, and that they were as much one as two sister Churches could possibly be. Having left the Established Church of Scotland for the sake of the principles of the Free Church, I do not see how I could vindicate such a step against the charge of schism, as taken on insufficient grounds, if I should agree to occupy a questionable position in regard to the very principles involved in that controversy. "2. The state of feeling in the Presbytery has been for some time such as to render attendance at its meetings very painful. The Synod has rendered itself a sort of party in this matter, by censuring the Presbytery without hearing it, and afterwards appointing a Committee of inquiry; which Committee never had the necessary members before it, so that no actual investigation took place, the evil was fomented, and the innocent were confounded with the guilty. After such a course as this involving such a breach of ecclesiastical order, and so subversive of the claims of justice, I could not feel towards the Supreme Court the respect which every Christian minister would wish to cherish toward a Church with which he would deem it his duty to remain in connexion, and as I cannot consent to run the risk of being implicated in the scenes which unhappily occurred in this Presbytery, and as continued absence would be incompatible with my ordination Vows, I feel that consistency demands that I should absolve myself from their obligation by retiring altogether from my present connexion with this Church. "3. By standing in my present position I feel that it places my congregation out of harmony with the Church, so that my removal may be for their advantage, by giving them an opportunity to secure the services of a minister who may be more useful to them and more able to co-operate with his brethren. "Of the kind and Christian feeling of the members of the congregation toward each other, and also toward myself, I rejoice that I can speak in terms of highest praise. Several of them devote themselves with great zeal and self-denial to the cause of Christ. The utmost harmony prevails among them. With the office-bearers also I have had the most friendly intercourse, which has been unbroken to the last, and their deportment since I communicated my resolution to them, has been distinguished by remarkable delicacy and affection. It is not without a severe pang that I take upon myself the responsibility of separating from them; and wherever Providence may order my lot, I shall ever retain a lively sense of their kindness, and feel a warm interest in their welfare. "For the happiness and prosperity of the members of Presbytery, I beg to express my cordial wishes. It is my earnest desire that they may win many souls to Christ; though constrained by a sense of duty to separate from them my wish is to excite no unkind feeling, but to part in peace. I am, Rev. and dear Sir, "Your most obedient servant, (Signed) "ROBERT COWE." The Committee appointed to answer the Reasons of Resignation, given in by the. Rev. Robert Cowe, to the Presbytery of Lancashire, would submit to the Presbytery the following Answers. 1. Mr. Cowe assigns as his first reason that "he has not found this Church generally willing openly to avow and fully to carry out Free Church principles." In reply, the Committee would urge that such reason is without force, inasmuch as the principles of a Church can only be determined by the standards, formularies, and decisions of that Church, pronounced in its superior courts. The principles avowed by the Presbyterian Church in England are identical with those avowed by the Free Church of Scotland-and there has been no decision given, in our Supreme Court, at variance with these principles. The statement in the "Messenger" may not have been designed to bear the interpretation which most readers would naturally put upon it, and which Mr. Cowe has actually put upon it; but if it was, still it is only an individual view of the case, and one with which but few ministers or members of the Presbyterian Church in England would sympathize. Such a statement must receive the authority of the Supreme Court before it can be allowed to constitute the mind of the Church. The Committee are of opinion with Mr. Cowe that the case of Mr. M'Gill, of Bolton, was one not to be lightly dealt with, but they differ with him in thinking that the Synod sacrificed any principle in casting out the reference, on a ground merely technical. The Committee would rejoice in a strict adherence on the part of all our Church Courts, to forms, technicalities, and laws. As to the letter from a solicitor, to which Mr. Cowe refers, that, in the view of the Committee, was a matter of little moment, and did not affect the principles or the constitution of the Church. The solicitor acted on his own responsibility, and not under the guidance of any court of this Church. The position occupied by Mr. Cowe, as a minister of the Presbyterian Church in England, was thus in no way questionable,- -nor can the Committee find anything in this reason, or in the illustrative cases, to justify the extreme step which Mr. Cowe has taken. 2. Mr. Cowe alleges "that the state of feeling in the Presbytery has been for some time such as to render attendance at its meetings very painful.' The Committee, in reply, have to admit that there have been differences and dissensions in the Presbytery, as there will sometimes be in all free, deliberative bodies; but they do not believe that these have been of such a nature, or of such continuance, as to warrant a voluntary absence from the meetings, or a withdrawal from the Church. Differences and dissensions during a free, open discussion do not necessarily imply strife, division, want of brotherly love, or the presence of all that is unseemly, and that may tend to injure the spirit. But even if the differences and dissensions which have arisen in the Presbytery did imply all these; such a fact, so far from being a reason for voluntary absence from its meetings or withdrawal from the Church, would be the strongest of all reasons for regular attendance on such meetings, and for continuance with such a Church. Never does the Christian appear in a more amiable light than when, in the path of duty, he is seeking to subdue his own spirit, and to promote among brethren the reign of peace and of love. Mr. Cowe confounds the censure of the Synod for permitting the Presbytery to become twice defunct, and for doing | certain acts while defunct, with the differences and dissensions in the Presbytery, whereas the two are quite distinct and separate; and the Committee of Synod were to deal with the dissensions and grounds of dissension simply and not with the matter of becoming defunct. The Committee conceive it was quite possible for Mr. Cowe to mingle with others in scenes of dissension without being implicated, to use his own language; or if such could not be, then it is in vain, on his part, to charge the Committee of Synod with confounding the innocent with the guilty. Consistency with his ordination vows required of Mr. Cowe constant attendance upon Church Courts and forbade most emphatically the "following of all divisive courses.' 3. Mr. Cowe says "that by attending in his present position he would feel that he is placing his congregation out of harmony with the Church at large, and that his removal may be for their advantage, by giving them an opportunity of securing the services of a minister who may be more useful to them and more able to co-operate with his brethren." So far as the Committee can understand this reason they look upon it as a mere matter of theory. They cannot see how the discharge of a plain duty, such as that of a minister attending Church Courts, should place his congregation out of harmony with the Church at large, unless it could be shown that the ministers and elders of a majority of the congregations of the Church were not in the habit of attending Church Courts at all. In such a case to be placed out of harmony with the Church at large would be an honour rather than the reverse. In the eyes of the Committee it is unnecessary to enter upon the point whether the removal of Mr. Cowe would be advantageous in the way of securing the service of a minister who might be more useful to the congregation and more able to co-operate with his brethren. The Committee are quite aware that Mr. Cowe was highly esteemed by his congregation, and that, as is testified, his labours were blessed to not a few; and this is going not a little way in favour of Mr. Cowe. The Committee have not seen anything in Mr. Cowe disqualifying him for intercourse with his brethren, | put to the clerk were given in in due nor do they know of anything in the time. brethren disqualifying them from acting with him. Mr. Munro gave notice that he would at next meeting move the transmission of an overture to the Synod "To ask for the advice of the Synod as to what course should be followed with elders who renounce their office or its functions in the sessions and congregations to which they belong, deserting their places seasons of difficulty." The Committee fully believe that Mr. Cowe has been acting conscientiously in the matter of his resignation, but still they are of opinion that more continued reflection would have led him to act in a way more consistent with Presbyterian | order and discipline. They would, how-in ever, express their continued respect for him as a man and their best wishes for his prosperity in all things. By order of the Committee, (Signed) D. FERGUSSON, Convener. Which Report having been read, it was moved, seconded and agreed to: that it be received and sustained, and engrossed in the records. The Report of the Committee on Wharton Chapel being called for, was read by Mr. Barbour, the Convener. Thereafter it was moved by Mr. Gardner and seconded by Mr. White, "that the application of Mr. Stewart and his congregation for admission into this Church be rejected." It was also moved by Mr. Neilson, and seconded by Mr. Munro, that the Report be received, and the recommendation of the Committee adopted, and that application be made to the Synod for permission to receive Mr. Stewart and his congregation into this Church. It was then moved by Mr. Fergusson, and seconded by Mr. Smith, to "Receive and adopt the Report, but reappoint Committee for the purpose of procuring further information regarding the state and prospects of the congregation." There being three motions before the Court, the third motion was first put to the vote as an amendment against the second, and the third having been carried, was then put against the first, when the third motion being again carried, wherefore the Presbytery resolved accordingly. The Presbytery received the Report of the Committee on the state of religion, and reappointed the Committee with former instructions. Mr. Barbour's Overture to the Synod to declare in what position the "English Presbyterian Messenger" stands in reference to the Church, was agreed to be transmitted. The Clerk reported, that Mr. Fergusson's reasons of dissent and complaint from the decision of the Presbytery in reference to the question he wished to be Mr. Fergusson reported, in regard to the state and prospects of the station at Chester, that he had visited Chester frequently within the last few months, and that Mr. Barbour and he had visited the station very recently, at the instance of the Home Mission Committee, to inquire into all the circumstances of the congregation. That they had found upon the whole the station in a more healthy condition than at any previous period, that a small local Committee had been nominated to take the direction of matters on the spot. That there was an ordinary attendance of between fifty and sixty at worship, exclusive of any soldiers who might attend the congregation. That there was a Sabbath-school, with an average attendance of some seventy or eighty children, almost as many as the place of worship could conveniently contain, but which, with more teachers and more room, might be increased almost indefinitely, and that, at the last dispensation of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, there was an increase of five communicants, on the number which communicated in 1847. It was further reported that the congregation would at present undertake to raise 60l. annually, that the incidental expenses, with rent, &c., amounted to somewhat under 40l., leaving 201. for the support of a missionary; which, with 10l. which may be had from the War-office, for attending the military hospital, amounts in all to 30%. Mr. Fergusson reported, further, that Mr. Maxwell, who had supplied the station for a term of six months, had left for Scotland, and that the congregation was very urgent on the following points, which they regarded as indispensable to success. "That the station should be supplied by a labourer, to continue with the congregation, for not a shorter term than six months; and not by itinerants. "That the quarterly collection sermons be preached regularly, and that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should be regularly dispensed not less frequently than once in the half-year, and that these ministerial duties be performed by members of the Presbytery in their turn. "Mr. Fergusson further explained that owing to circumstances he had felt it necessary, in the difficulty of procuring supply, without consulting the temporary Kirk Session, to give authority to Rev. George Shaw, of Belfast, to dispense the communion in Chester, which had been done to the great comfort of the congregation; that he was aware that he had acted informally in this matter, owing to the pressure of circumstances, and that he threw himself, in the matter, upon the indulgence of the brethren. "Mr. Barbour having corroborated Mr. Fergusson's statement, the Presbytery receive and sustain the Report, resolve to continue to Chester their countenance and assistance, and recommend the station most cordially to the Home Mission Committee for support. The Presbytery further agree to do all in their power to meet the wishes of the congregation as communicated in the Report, and appoint the Moderator to preach the first quarterly sermon required in Chester. The Presbytery further disapprove of the dispensation of the Lord's Supper in Chester without calling together and consulting the Kirk Session, and caution all the members to be careful, in the observance of the rules of the Church, in the administration of discipline in all the stations and vacant congregations of the Church." There was then laid on the table a petition from Mr. Gardner, in which he complained that a series of anonyinous letters had appeared from time to time in the "Scottish Guardian" newspaper, bearing the name "Presbyterian," which, by their wilful misrepresentations, uncharitable and groundless insinuations, were calculated to injure his character, and impair his usefulness, and prayed the Court to take Mr. Kemp, a licentiate of this Church, whom he alleged to be the author of these letters, under discipline, and deal with him according to the laws of the Church. Which petition having been read, it was moved by Mr. Fergusson, and seconded: "That the petition lie on the table; that the clerk be instructed to send Mr. Kemp a copy thereof, to summon him to appear at the bar of the Presbytery at its next meeting to answer Mr. Gardner's charge." It was also moved by Mr. Munro, and seconded: "That the petition now laid on the table ought not at the present time, to have its tenour or purport granted, inasmuch as it contains not a specific, but a mere general accusation, stating no actual offence, so as to justify the Presbytery in peremptorily calling to their bar any person merely assumed to be guilty, and all this on a statement so vague and indeterminate." The roll being called and votes marked, Mr. Munro's motion carried. The Presbytery resolved accordingly. From which resolution of the Presbytery Mr. Gardner dissented and protested for leave to complain to the Synod, on the ground that the rejection of his petition was in violation of the laws and usages of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Fergusson also dissented, and protested for leave to complain to the Synod against the resolution of the Presbytery, promising to give in reasons in due time, took instruments in the clerk's hands, and craved extracts, which were granted. Thereafter, it was agreed that the Presbytery hold its next meeting at Manchester especially for the purpose of receiving Mr. Gardner's petition, if presented in a specific form, as well as for the despatch of business. Adjourned to meet at Manchester on the first Wednesday of December. MANCHESTER, Nov. 6.-The Presbytery met and was duly constituted by the Rev. W. M'Caw, Moderator, pro tempore. The Rev. J. Mackenzie, of Birmingham,. being present, was associated. The Commission of Mr. Samuel Robertson to represent the Kirk Session of Salford Presbyterian Church for the next six months was given in, read, and sustained. Mention having been made of the sudden death of the Rev. James Radcliffe, in Belfast on the 17th ult., a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Munro and Foster, was appointed to draw up and transmit a letter of sympathy and condolence on the part of the Presbytery to the bereaved widow; Mr. Munro, Convener. The Presbytery then called for Mr. Gardner's petition, which was given in and read; after which there was laid on the table a letter from a solicitor in Liverpool, intimating to Mr. Gardner, that he had, agreeably to his instructions, demanded and obtained from the editor of the "Scottish Guardian," that the |