"5. Agents or Visitors.-Reported, 312 males, 339 females-total, 651. Besides these, in one case the reply is Office-bearers and members.'

"6. Paid Agents.-Reported, 9 probationers and 12 catechists-21.

"7. Attendance at Schools, &c.-Schools, apparently in some degree missionary, are stated for 16 congregations. Some have two or three schools, including schools of industry, of which there are 5. Also a congregation (St John's, Glasgow) is about to open a complete set of rooms, with accommodation for 500. The fees are at the rate of from 1d. to 3d. per week, paid mostly in advance, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Fourteen evening schools are reported, with attendance of 1092. Of these, two are without fees; at another, the Deacons' Court pay for those in destitute circumstances. At one of the female schools of industry, a member educates 50 at his own charge. The fees paid at schools of industry are Id. to 3d. per week. At two schools of 300 each (belonging to St George's, Glasgow) sewing is taught free. Very few have stated the numbers not attending school.

"8. Sabbath Schools.-Thirty-three congregations have given returns anent Sabbath Schools which seem to be missionary-attendance, 7818; the number of teachers not generally given-generally stated as office-bearers and members. In one of the returns, a ragged class is taught in a poor district in a private house.'

6

"9. New Territorial Churches. In the following cases, new territorial churches are said to be aimed at, or mentioned as desirable, viz. Edinburgh, St George's; do., New North; Dundee, St Andrew's; Montrose, St George's.

"10. Sums expended.-Twenty-two congregations expend £1835:6:8 on these operations, besides sums not specified for clothing the poor, tract distribution, rent of missionary rooms, &c.

"The returns which have been received are in some respects defective, and do not present a full view of what is done by congregational efforts. In future years, your Committee doubt not that much more complete and satisfactory information will be obtained. Meantime, they trust that the Report which has now been made will encourage the Church to prosecute these congregational missionary efforts with increasing zeal, and stir up office-bearers to call forth a far larger number of living agents, and to superintend and direct them in their labour of love. Would that every one of our city congregations charged itself with the care of some destitute locality, seeing to the edu cation of the young, and ministering to the physical, and moral, and spiritual welfare of its inhabitants! Before, however, such a result can be realized-before any effective effort can be made by many of our congregations, they must be relieved from the oppressive debts under which they labour, and aided by funds from without. The returns which have been received fuily justify the belief expressed by your Committee in their last Report, that they could give a powerful stimulus to congregational zeal and effort if they had it in their power to offer some pecuniary aid. Most of these returns indicate that congregational operations are grievously impeded from the want of the necessary means. A few specimens may be given :-

"In connexion with the missionary work, the agent is employed in conducting the evening service in · It is desirable that he should be relieved of this duty, and bis whole attention be directed to his missionary station; in which case, it would be almost indispensable to have a grant from the Home Mission Committee.'

"The field is most important, and I should say promising, so far as concerns the young. I have three services in winter; and the labour of visiting the adherents in summer and winter, and also the sick, prevents me from giving that time to the outcast population which is so necessary. A paid agent might do great good. To secure the services of one, I should willingly give a few pounds myself, and try to get a little more from one or two of the better class of my hearers. But the place is very poor; only one or two could give any thing at all; so that, without help ab extra, the thing seems hopeless.'

"The object of operating more extensively on the religiously destitute, has frequently engaged the attention of the office-bearers, and a scheme of procedure was drawn out; but the cost so decidedly exceeded the resources of the congregation, taking the many other claims into account, that, though, kept in view, it has not been acted Assistance from the Home Mission might be very useful, but it would need to be considerable and sure, to meet the object in view.'

on.

"I believe we could easily raise £20 per annum for a catechist, had we the prospect of a small grant. The destitution of the district is very great, and it would be of very great advantage to have one or more labourers in the field. There is a vast mass of the population sunk in ignorance and profligacy, in regard to whom the territorial plan would be the only method of bringing them under the influence of Divine truth.'

"These are only a few out of many instances, all tending to shew that a grant from the Committee would stimulate the liberality, and otherwise quicken the zeal of many congregations; and the returns in general show, that the hosts of our Israel, if only furnished with the needful funds, are, to a large extent, prepared for a great onward movement against the embattled forces of infidelity and Popery, brutal ignorance, and abominable profligacy.

"The Committee have had under their consideration the spiritual destitution of Glasgow, and the movement which has been originated there with reference to it→ a movement which they regard with the profoundest interest, and to which they are disposed to give all the encouragement in their power. The course which they have deemed it advisable to take, in connection with this subject, will appear from the following extract from their minutes:

"The Committee, after deliberate and earnest consideration of the whole subject of the alarming destitution of Glasgow, resolved, that a Sub-Committee be named to take the charge of the aggressive movement in Glasgow, viz., Mr A. Gray, Dr R. Buchanan, Dr Roxburgh, Dr Miller, and Mr John Bonar, with power to add to their numberMr Gray to be Convener; and that this appointment be submitted to the General Assembly, as part of the Report of this Committee, for their sanction and approval.'

"Your Committee would now earnestly commend the whole subject of Home Missionary operations to the favourable consideration of the General Assembly. With the slight exception of what has been attempted this year by means of the pre-Disruption probationers, they have been able, in consequence of their debt, to do scarcely anything directly towards reclaiming the outcast population. But now, when their debt has been almost entirely extinguished, they are in a position, if a collection be granted to them this year, to begin immediately the great work in which they have been for years longing to engage; and they trust that a collection will not be denied to them. They rejoice to believe that a deep and wide-spread interest in the cause which they advocate has been awakened amongst the ministers and members of our Church, and that the magnitude and urgency of the claims of the Home Mission and Church-Extension Scheme are in some degree appreciated. Thousands are dying yearly at our doors, for whose souls no man cares; while we have scores of spiritual labourers unemployed, and, in many of our congregations, the slumbering strength of a numerous and powerful agency. Many warnings, too, have been given us of the indispensable necessity of leavening the mass of our population with the truth as it is in Jesus. The events which have happened, and the prospects that are presented, in continental Europe, are fitted to read a solemn lesson to the churches of Christ in this land. The public questions, too, that have been raised within our own borders-the bills that have been introduced into Parliament-the Education Bill-the Marriage Bill-the actual legislation on the subject of the Sabbath-may teach us, that unless the churches extend their influence at home, they will themselves be overborne and put down by the world that lieth in wickedness. And, above all, the efforts and the open encroachments now made by the Church of Rome may suffice to convince us of the immeasurable importance, even for the world at large, of restoring our country, at any sacrifice, and without the loss of a single day, to a sound and healthy state, and of reviving her love for the school and her love for the Bible-at once the guarantees and the guardians of peaceful loyalty and Christian liberty. To accomplish this end, the funds of the Home Mission Committee must be greatly augmented, and the available agency in all our congregations must be called forth. It has ever been by preaching the gospel to the poor, in connection with the living exemplification of its power, that Christianity has been most extensively dif fused. It was so in primitive and apostolic times. The success of Paul as an apostle did not result from the addresses which he delivered to the Athenian philosophers, or from the defences which he made before the trembling Felix, or Agrippa, whom he almost persuaded to be a Christian. It was by his labours amidst such as the poor and profligate Corinthians, among whom 'not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble, were called;' and such as the Thessalonians, of whom we read, that 'from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad, so that we need not speak anything. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.' It was by such a process as this that the summits of society were ultimately reached, and the temples of paganism finally overthrown. In like manner, at the Reformation, it was the power of the gospel over the popular mind which gave strength to the Chris

tian cause; and more particularly in our own country, it was not the crown or nobility, but the commonality of Scotland, who, receiving and obeying the pure Evangel, brought round the kingdom to the acknowledgment of Christ. And in these days, when the desolations of former generations are to be repaired, let the Church adopt the same course, encouraged by the experience of the past, and confiding in that God who hath 'prepared of His goodness for the poor.' Amidst the poverty, and ignorance, and manifold evils which abound in the midst of us, generating a brooding discontent and an alienation of the lower from the upper classes of society, let us remember, that what no legislation can effect may be accomplished by the benign salvation of Christ. Persuaded that the gospel is adapted and addressed by God to all classes of the community alike, let it be freely and faithfully preached to all; and let those of our people who know the grace of Christ go forth in humility and cordial goodwill to the most sunken and degraded of their neighbours, and, by their sympathies and personal efforts, shew that Christianity is not a name, but a blessed reality—that Christ's disciples are animated by his spirit and walk in his steps, and that he that believeth on Him, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.' Before such a practical demonstration of the gracious power of the gospel, the demon of darkness will be compelled to flee, the most stubborn scepticism will be forced to acknowledge that God is in His church of a truth; and all the opposition that can be raised by the great adversary of souls, with the blessing of God, will fall before the testimony of the Divine Word, and the omnipotent charm of Christian charity.

"In conclusion, it is the earnest prayer of the Committee, that God may dispose the members of the Assembly to take up and treat this subject as it deserves; and that He would grant that there be among us many "of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel had to do.'”

Dr CUNNINGHAM said, that, in connection with this Report of the Home Mission, there was an overture from the Synod of Dumfries regarding probationers which might at present be disposed of. At a meeting of the probationers, on the 28th instant, a series of resolutions were adopted. The reverend Doctor read them. They were to the effect that the present practice of permitting students and unlicensed persons to preach, materially affects the position of probationers, by depriving them of the opportunity of exercising their gifts before the congregations of the Church. They also beg to call attention to the fact, that at present students are, in certain cases permitted to officiate permanently in stations, to the exclusion of the regularly accredited preachers. They also feel that their privileges are affected by the admission to charges at home, without the sanction of the Assembly, of ministers from the colonies, whose curriculum of study had been shortened to enable them to proceed thither, and who have not undergone the usual year of probation. They regret the necessity which often compels them to render accounts for services performed to ministers and congregations, as preachers of the gospel must feel extreme delicacy in sending in bills as pecuniary creditors. They find that there is an expectation in many quarters that preachers who officiate in vacant charges on days for which supply is provided by members of Presbytery, should pay their expenses in travelling thither, and receive no remuneration for their services. They regard it as desirable that a list, containing the names and addresses of the probationers, should be periodically made up, and be accessible to the office-bearers and members of the Church. It is their desire that some scheme of distribution should be adopted, for the purpose of bringing them systematically and impartially in contact with vacant charges. The want of a proper scheme of distribution seems to place probationers under the necessity of soliciting congregations to receive them as candidates; and they fear that the existence of such a necessity is calculated to affect injuriously the spirituality and status of probationers. Dr Cunningham, after reading the resolutions, referred to the hardships under which probationers were placed, and the necessity that existed for remedying the present evils.

He concluded by saying, that the House could have no difficulty in approv ing of the overture, and resolve to transmit it, and the general subject of the occupation, remuneration, and distribution of the probationers, to the Home Mission Committee, authorising them to prepare a list of probationers, and report to the November Commission such suggestions as might seem to them expedient, with the view of remedying the existing evils.

After some remarks from Mr CRAWFORD of Penpont, who thought the time was come when the whole question of the relation of probationers to the Church should be considered, with a view to its satisfactory adjustment, the motion of Dr Cunningham was agreed to.

Dr CANDLISH said, that he could not avoid taking the opportunity at present of expressing the very deep interest with which he had listened to the admirable report given by Mr Sym. He (Dr Candlish) could for once bear testimony to the patience, perseverance, and indefatigable zeal with which, amid the many difficulties to which the report made reference, Mr Sym conducted the affairs of the Home Mission. He had not had that justice done him and his Committee by the Assembly and by the Church to which both of them were well entitled. The Home Mission Committee had had to struggle with difficulties which had all but paralyzed their efforts towards really making an invasion on the heathenism of our own country. The report had told them that, up to this moment, the Committee had not been in circumstances to undertake any work whatever among the masses of the population that most of all required missionary exertions to be brought to bear on them. Their efforts had been chiefly limited to aiding those who could aid themselves, namely, by giving grants to preaching-stations, or in making addition to these stations. In this way they had expended a larger sum by far than the collection placed in their hands; but, at the same time, there was this drawback, that these preaching stations were for the most part weak congregations struggling towards a stronger and firmer posi tion. They were congregations of their own, consisting of members who came out with them at the Disruption. These preaching stations, therefore, were, in point of fact, infant congregations, whom the Home Mission Committee were nursing up into mature strength. They consisted, for the most part, of those who were already in the habit of church-going, and already adherents to their communion; but however important it might be to help all these congregations as preaching stations in their transition state, yet this was not the highest and most proper state of home missionary work. (Hear, hear.) This was not what the exigency of the times demanded. The Church must go forth to the multitudes who were already in the ueglect of ordinances, and of whom it might be truly said, that in most instances there was no one caring for their souls. Now, Mr Sym had made direct reference to this, and the subject was also brought before them in various overtures, more particularly in the overture from the Presbytery of Glasgow on the spiritual destitution of the masses there; but without entering on the subject at present, he thought it would be a deplorable thing to allow a distinguished prominence to be given to Glasgow to interfere with a rigid consideration and right discharge of their duty as regarded the country at large. (Hear.) He hoped, however, the very discussing of the necessities of Glasgow would have the effect of awakening a larger measure of attention to the spiritual destitution that prevailed everywhere in the country, by which the general subjects of Home Missions would be advanced, and a new step taken in the special direction of Glasgow. Meanwhile he ventured to hope, that what had been done by the Assembly, and what might yet be done, would stir up their congregations to a far livelier sense of this most important work.

Every young man and woman in their congregations had opportunities of being a personal missionary among the heathen around them; and he trusted what had been said and done by the Assembly would bring home to the consciences of their members the special duty that lay on them to use their efforts, as well as their prayers, for the saving of souls. It was not enough that they should from Sabbath to Sabbath content themselves with the mere enjoyment of ordinances; he trusted they would go forth and do something personally for the purpose of bringing the gospel of the grace of God to bear with whom they could exercise any influence. (Hear.) Already had Mr Sym brought out in the report the power of sound Christian charity. Charity consisted not in giving alms merely, but in breaking down the wall of demarcation between man and man; and becoming missionaries of the Lord Jesus to those who were truly, in mute but impressive accents, using the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us." He hoped, too, that what they should steadily keep in view from the first, in whatever districts they should enter, would be nothing short of what Dr Chalmers uniformily contemplated the establishment of the fully equipped parochial institution of the country. He would greatly fear that any desultory effort, with however good an intention, would, to a large extent, be thrown away, unless it was with the avowed understanding of carrying on a school, manse, and church in that particular district. If they proceeded in this way, they might, he believed, call forth a vast array of Christian agents in the Church. land must be reclaimed district by district, and divided into such small portions as would be manageable by the ordinary economy of the parochial establishment. In other words, they might in the end see Scotland again parochialized in the fullest sense. Scotland again, with her schools, manses, and churches in sufficient abundance. (Hear.)

The

Mr ELDER of Walls, Shetland, bore testimony to the beneficial effects which had resulted from the settlement of a missionary in the island of Fetlar, where, as well as in the neighbouring island of Yell, there was a wide field for such labours.

The further consideration of the subject was deferred till the evening.

REPORT OF PSALMODY COMMITTEE.

Mr JAFFRAY read a report from this Committee, prepared by Mr Bridges, the Convener. The report bore the strongest testimony to the valuable and gratuitous services of Mr Hately to the General Assembly, as its precentor since the Disruption, and to the Church at large by his efforts for the improvement of her psalmody. The Committee recommended that advantage should be taken of his musical talents, and especially of his skill in training large numbers, to carry on the improvement of congregational psalmody. The cultivation of part-singing was one of the Committee's recommendations with a view to this improvement. The Committee having discharged the duties assigned to it, suggested that it should not be reappointed.

Dr CANDLISH remarked, that the reform in our psalmody would be promoted chiefly by the musical education of the young, and referred to singing as part of the instruction received in both the Normal Seminaries of the Free Church as an effective method of furthering the object.

Mr NIXON warmly recommended Mr Hately's mode of instruction to the attention of country congregations.

The Assembly having heard the report, record their thanks to the Committee, discharge the Committee, and remit the business hitherto entrusted to them to the Education Committee.

The Assembly adjourned till the evening.