Dr Candlish said, "The facts of the case have been so long before the whole Church, and are so thoroughly known to all the brethren, that I feel confident that it is needless for me to enter at all into any explanation at present. Of course, if the Assembly desire it, I am ready to give any explanation of the apparent change in my views. Another reason prevents me from wishing to dwell on this matter-and it is this, that the apparent vacillation in my conduct, and the apparent hesitation in my views, which may be regarded by many as having been injurious, both to myself personally, and to the Church to which I belong, stand so closely connected with two of the most solemn visitations of Divine Providence over which this Church has been called to mourn during the past year, that I do not feel at liberty to dwell on it. I think it just right to say, upon the general principles on which I in August last acted in consenting to be loosed from the congregation over which I have now been for a long time pastor, and to be appointed to the chair of theology-upon these general principles, on the paramount claims of a theological chair, and the right of the Church to call upon any minister she chooses to leave any charge to serve in that chair, my mind remains unchanged. I have only further to explain the reason why, when doubts and hesitations were suggested to me from various quarters by fathers and brethren, in whose opinion I could not but have the highest confidence-when doubts and hesitations were suggested to my mind, after the lamentable events referred to in the memorial from the congregation-I took on myself the responsibility of announcing the intention which I have now carried into effect; and I did so because I felt extremely desirous that there should not be any embarrassment to the Church by any new discussion, or consideration in regard to myself personally. I was quite willing to bear all the risk and all the responsibility of an apparent change of mind. That change in my plan did not originate in any movement on the part of my congregation. I think it right to say so. They honestly discharged the duty that lay on them, after the decision of the Commission in August. They were most faithfully proceeding in the discharge of the duty that was again laid on them by the decease of the minister whom they unanimously called; but brethren and fathers in the Church having suggested to me again the consideration of the solemn question, whether my line of duty was not more towards the pulpit than towards the chair? -after entertaining the question once more, I thought it right to assume the whole responsibility of announcing my change of purpose; and I do so that the Church may not be further embarrassed in the maater. I have nothing further to add."

Dr Makellar and Sir James Forrest were then heard for the congregation. Parties being removed,

Dr R. Buchanan said he thought, in all the circumstances of the case, Dr Candlish's resignation of the professorship ought to be accepted, and that the prayer of the memorialists ought to be granted. "The memorialists," he said, "very properly advert to the importance of as far as possible observing the rules of this Church in regard to the constitution of the pastoral tie. In all ordinary cases these rules ought to be, and I have no doubt always will be, most rigidly observed and most stringently insisted on; but I cannot help thinking that, in a case like this, in which the memorialists state-and most truly state-the pastoral tie has never been practically dissevered at all, it would not be honouring the rules of the Church, but rather exposing them to serious damage, were we to go through the forms of reconstituting that pastoral tie. I believe it would not be honouring those solemn services were we to do so, and therefore I will conclude with the following motion:

"That the General Assembly accept the resignation of Dr Candlish; and further, in respect of the memorial from the Kirk-session and congregation, wherein they state that the tie between pastor and people has not, in the singular circumstances that occurred, been practically severed; and that now the congregation unanimously and earnestly desire to have restored to them the pastor to whom they are affectionately attached, and in whose faithful and fervent ministry they have been so long privileged;' and wherein, also, they express their hope that no difficulties, in point of form, will be permitted to frustrate or postpone the arrangements by which the Rev. Dr Candlish may again become, with the sanction of your venerable House, the settled minister of the congregation of Free St George's;' in respect, moreover, of the letter of Dr Candlish, wherein he intimates his 'desire to be relieved from

·

the duties of the chair, with a view, if it shall please God, to the continuance of his pastoral labours among the people who first called him to minister to them in holy things, and who have expressed their wish still to retain his services-the General Assembly, considering the very peculiar circumstances of this case, agree to comply with the prayer of the said memorial from the Kirk-session and congregation of Free St George's, and to repone, as they hereby do repone, the Rev. Dr Robert Smith Candlish, as minister of Free St George's, Edinburgh, declaring, as they hereby do declare, that the pastoral relation between the said Dr Robert Smith Candlish and the said congregation shall be held to subsist henceforth in all respects as if the deliverance of the Commission in August had not been pronounced; and the Assembly appoint an extract of this judgment to be transmitted to the Presbytery of Edinburgh, with instructions to them to cause intimation thereof to be made to the congregation of St George's." Dr P. Macfarlan seconded the motion.

A long discussion followed-Dr Fleming, Mr Makgill Crichton, and Mr Wilson of Carmylie, holding that a sufficient case had not been made out for the referring of Dr Candlish to St George's, and that to do so would have the effect of stultifying the Church, which had so recently appointed him.

Mr Wilson said: "I entertain the opinion very strongly that the Church is now engaged in a matter affecting, not one congregation and one locality within our borders, but that, by the decision of the Assembly this day, the interests of our Church will be deeply affected for a generation to come; and I confess that such is my opinion of Dr Candlish-that such is the power he has shown in his past intercourse with students and young men generally, that such is the impulse and vigour which his own mind is capable of communicating to the minds of others-that his being placed in that chair of theology involves very much the interests and prosperity of the Free Church of Scot land for a generation. I confess, that while many of the ministers in this Church may be very competent for the teaching of theology and all its tenets with the utmost soundness and clearness, that this is not the thing, in my opinion, that should be primarily looked for in a professor of divinity. It is those peculiar and rare qualifications which Dr Candlish happens to possess which awakens the minds of students, and not merely communicates information, but leads the mind to work out its own case, to think for itself-that impulsive power which he so fully possesses, and which few possess. In looking abroad over the Church, I confess that, although there may be others, I know no man that the Church can look to, to place in that chair, possessed of those qualifications in anything like the same degree that Dr Candlish possesses them. I did regret, from the very first, as a matter calculated to be deeply injurious to the Free Church, that Dr Candlish made the announcement which he did in the Free Presbytery of Edinburgh of his intention to resign the professorial chair. I regret it still. Had Dr Candlish made such a statement in regard to this chair as, that he could not enter upon the duties devolved upon him with comfort to himself, and that his mind could not engage itself thoroughly in the work, I would have deferred to his opinion; but I have that confidence in Dr Candlish's high conscientiousness, and in his zeal, that although his opinion may be that his proper field is the pulpit, if this Assembly shall decide that his proper field, in the exigencies of the Church, and looking to the whole circumstances, is the chair of theology, I feel satisfied that he will direct the whole energies of his mind to the duties of the situation, and that the result shall be in the highest degree satisfactory; that the congregation of St George's shall have cause to rejoice in this decision of the Assembly, and that the Church for a generation shall have occasion to rejoice in it. I do not think it necessary to enter into the views realized in the other part of Dr Buchanan's motion; and in conclusion, I have only further to say, that if I find that any one in this house is prepared to support those views, I am prepared to move that the resignation of Dr Candlish be not accepted."

In his reply, Dr Buchanan adverted as follows, to the comparative importance of the chair and the pulpit, and the reasons which had induced Dr Candlish to act as he had done :"I take leave to say, that having had occasion, in the course of last summer and autumn, to come in contact with a large portion of the office-bearers of the Church, in different parts of the country, in spite of myself, and without ever having raised the question, I was met here and there, and almost everywhere, with strong expressions of the doubtfulness, and more

than doubtfulness, as to the wisdom of the course which the Commission had adopted. I have a very high impression of the importance of the theological chair. I know how much, under God, of the character and usefulness of the ministry of this Church depends upon the course of theological instruction in which they are to be trained, and that this instruction must needs very much depend upon the fitness and qualifications of those who are in future to occupy the chairs of the Free Church College. But I am not prepared to say that the theological institution itself is the only influence that is to operate in the way of forming the minds of the students, and giving them right habits for the work to which they are to be called. Even in reference to that impulsive power to which my friend Mr Wilson alluded, and which is so vitally important in regard to the student at that particular stage of his progress, while attending the divinity hall, believe it will be found, in the history of the Church, that a very large portion of the impulsive power has emanated from the pulpit, and not so much from the theological chair, and that we are to ascribe no small portion of the impulse in that direction, that high evangelical impulse, that high devotedness to the work of their divine Master, which the best and most honoured of our ministry have been enabled to exhibit-that they have been indebted for no small portion of these qualifications to the pulpit under which they sat as the Lord's-day came round. Now, I will never cease to be of opinion that, looking at it in that light-looking at it as an adjunct merely of a theological institution-it would be a great question with me whether Dr Candlish, in the pulpit of St George's, is not serving the students more in their preparation for the work in which their lives are to be employed, than even he could do in the theological chair of the New College. As to the origin of the pressure, after which my esteemed friend Dr Fleming is so very solicitous, I am sure there is nothing connected with its origin or progress which I have to conceal. He might exercise all his well-known geological propensities in going to the depth and centre of things, in going into the history of this question, without discovering anything of which those concerned would have any cause to be ashamed; and I feel it to be due to myself, but still more to my beloved friend and brother, Dr Candlish, after what has been said, to read a letter which, in the confidence of friendship, I addressed to Dr Candlish, and from which, under God, this matter may be said to have sprung. After alluding to recent losses which had befallen the Free Church, the letter proceeded thus:Glasgow, 23d December 1847. ... It makes one very sad to think of such a succession of losses, actual and threatened, to our poor Free Church. What you said about , too, lies heavy on my heart. When I think on these things, the thought rises in my mind, ought you, after all, to leave the pulpit? I feel that I am presenting in that sentence a difficult, a most difficult question; and one which, if forced again upon you, may give you much anxiety. It has been in my thoughts for the last two or three weeksever since Stewart's death-to speak to you notwithstanding. And what you told me about has at last resolved me

to do so.

When I was at Granton with poor Speirs [Dr Buchanan here remarked that this letter was written two days before bis death], about the time of the Commission, we were talking over Stewart's death as the consequent change or suspension of your plans. I confess,' said Speirs, I think there is an if now about Dr Candlish's going to the College. It is the second time Providence has, by a remarkable interposition, arrested him when on the point of leaving the pulpit for a professor's chair.' He is a cautious man, slow to speak, and he said no more. The former instance had escaped from my own mind; but when thus recalled to my recollection, it struck me. Every one, of course, must be alive to the danger of rashly interpreting such providences; but, at the same time, it may be even more rash to disregard them. I have thought of it often since, with more than half a mind to ask if it had occurred to yourself. The state of -'s health, as I said, has at length decided me.

There were some of the brethren here last night; and I were talking aside about these matters, and he expressed strongly his feelings that you should remain in St George's. That, I said, is a difficult thing now. Candlish could hardly do it, even if he would, without some strong indication coming from the Church itself, or at least from his brethren, that he ought to renounce the chair. To do it suo motu alone

might expose him to the charge of fickleness, and so damage his reputation and influence. 'Well,' replied ⚫ that indication would be very eagerly and promptly given; for there are many who, like myself, are simply bearing with his translation, under the feeling that it approves itself to his own mind, but who shrink from the idea of his leaving the pulpit." And now I have laid this whole matter bare. You know too well both my affection and esteem for you to imagine that I would either needlessly perplex you, or propose anything fitted to place you in a false position with the Church. I may, at such a moment, venture to say it, there is no man so sensitively jealous of anything that could touch your honour or impair your influence than myself. I need hardly say this is entirely and strictly between ourselves. I could not be at ease without asking you to consider what I have said.--Ever, dear Candlish, yours,' &c.

6

"If there was anything wrong in this step, or in the mode of taking it, I of course take upon myself the entire blame and responsibility. But I have also to read a few sentences from Dr Candlish's reply :— Edinburgh, December 24, 1847. 'My dear Buchanan-You give a real proof of your friendship in writing as you have done, and I am heartily thankful to you for thus raising the question as to my path of duty, which I am not only willing but anxious to meet. The truth is, I hear on every side, and from nearly all the brethren, with only one or two exceptions, muttered and whispered doubts as to the propriety of my quitting my charge; and the laity seem even more uncertain what to think of it. Even at the time of my appointment, I saw enough of hesitation to make me feel that I was acting to a considerable extent beyond what I altogether liked on my own personal responsibility; and now, after what has occurred, this feeling, as you may believe, is not diminished. Do not imagine that I say this in the way of complaint; the very reverse is the case. I thoroughly appreciate the motive, most kind and complimentary to myself, which makes men hesitate; and, putting myself in their place, I dare say I would hesitate too. At the time, I confess I was afraid the Church was going to fall into two errors-1. That of exaggerating the importance, and thereby damaging the spiritual prosperity of a particular congregation and its pastor; and 2. That of deciding upon the theological chair, not solely and singly from regard to the College, but with too much of an eye to other collateral considerations. Believing, or imagining, that such might be the tendency of the brethren then, I was ready all the rather to acquiesce in the appointment, even allowing it to be put a good deal on the footing of its approving itself to my own mind. I was conscious of no personal motive in desiring or accepting the charge. I acted on public grounds, with perhaps a little remnant of an old sort of academical or professorial leaning proper to early years. the same time, I could not but feel that the call of the Church was by no means so clear and unequivocal as I could have wished it to be in undertaking so onerous an office; and, for my own part, being as much as ever attached to my people, and interested in my pastoral ministerial work, I would have been not only contented, but glad, if the judgment of those whose opinion I value had been such as to leave me at my former post.

At

'I need scarcely say, that the course of events since that time has, to say the least, not tended to increase the clearness of my prospective path. On the one hand, I can plainly perceive, that the Church at large is more doubtful about it than I had supposed; and, on the other, I cannot pretend to be unaffected by what has occurred, and is occurring, among us. A brother minister said to me the other day, Is it not remarkable that you have three times been about to leave the congregation of St George's-once by accepting a presentation to Greenside, and twice by going to the College; and all the three times you have been hindered-first by the Church, secondly, by the State, and now, thirdly, by the Head of the Church? I don't know what to make of this; but it struck me when he said it not a little.

"My present state of mind is briefly this: I have less heart for the charge than I once had, and more apprehension about it. I have great hopes of -'s recovery, but not for such pulpit work as he has hitherto done; and when I see so many falling, I often think that if I, too, am to fall soon, I would like, if it pleased God, to fall at the post at which I testified. Somehow, God seems to be bidding us stand still-us, I mean, who were the actors in the recent struggle-he is warning us our time is to be short. We have no leisure for changes of occu

can,

pation that might demand years of preparation-we must be at such work as he has already laid to our hand. My people, too, have won my regard, if possible, more than ever, by all that has passed. Still, with all these scruples, I would not take upon myself personally the responsibility of drawing back. I would dread almost some visitation on the congregation, to humble them and me, if I were ultroneously to assume the necessity of my remaining; and I feel that I with a clear conscience, and an humble reliance on God, go forward, as in the path of duty. At the same time, I shall rejoice if the Church relieve me from all embarrassment, in some such way as your letter suggests. A representation from my fathers and brethren, such as you speak of, will be a positive relief to me. And I cannot but think that they ought to speak out. I am entitled to the most frank expression of their views. It cannot possibly offend me; for I know their love to me, and the very reason of their movement would be only too flattering to myself.'

"Such were the circumstances in which this matter took the shape, or began at least to take the shape, which it ultimately assumed. It is well known that, after this correspondence, communications flowed in from various quarters expressive of the same sentiments. I think, now that, in deference to the pressure of several members of this house, I have felt it to be my duty to lay this correspondence before it, the house will feel that I was fully justified in saying, as I did at the commencement of my observations, that the conduct of Dr Candlish was in entire harmony with the unselfish character, and that devotedness to the interests of the Free Church of Scotland, for which he is so eminently distinguished."

Opposition being withdrawn, Dr Buchanan's motion was carried without a vote.

THE BARVAS CASE.

The Assembly then took up the protest and appeal of the Rev. Mr Anderson, minister of the Gaelic congregation, Rothesay, against the decision of the Presbytery of Dunoon and Inverary, agreeing to his translation from Rothesay to Barvas, in the island of Lewis. The record of this case stated, that the call to the Rev. Mr Anderson to Barvas was signed by four hundred and eighteen males, and concurred in by about four hundred females above sixteen years of age. On parties being called, Mr Alexander Brown appeared for the congregation of Rothesay, the Rev. Mr Anderson for himself, the Rev. Dr M'Kay for the Presbytery of Dunoon and Inverary, and the Rev. Mr M'Rae of Cross for the Presbytery of Lewis.

The ground on which Mr Anderson refused the call was delicate health. Otherwise, knowing the people of Barvas well, having formerly laboured among them as schoolmaster, he would have rejoiced to accept of it. Dr M'Kay, however, held that Mr Anderson's health would be as good in Barvas as in Rothesay.

The Rev. Mr Thomson of Paisley, before parties were removed, begged to ask Mr Anderson how long he had previously resided in Barvas?

Mr Anderson said, Four years.

Mr Thomson then asked if his health had suffered when there?

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 an 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.

Parties being 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. 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 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.

The motion was carried unanimously to reverse the sentence of the Presbytery of Dunoon and Inverary.

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, refusing to translate the Rev. Mr M'Rae from Braemar to that charge. 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 M'Rae expressed himself as decidedly against leaving BraeThe Assembly unanimously agreed to dismiss the appeal, and affirm the judgment of the Synod of Aberdeen. The Assembly then adjourned.

mar.

MONDAY-MAY 22.

The Assembly met at one o'clock.

GREENOCK CASE.

This case has for some time been before the Church. It arose from differences in the Greenock Gaelic congregation as to the calling of a successor to their late pastor, Mr M'Bean. There were various parties on behalf of as many individuals, and a large amount of unpleasant feeling had thereby been occasioned. The Presbytery, under the direction of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, had ultimately refused to moderate in a call to any of the parties who had been named, and the Synod had issued a strong recommendation to the congregation to cultivate a spirit of brotherly love and harmony. This, however, had not succeeded, and a portion of the congregation had, notwithstanding, resolved on another attempt to obtain the settlement of the minister whom they had formerly called. The Presbytery referred the whole matter to the General Assembly. Parties were heard at great length; after which the following deliverance was, on the motion of Dr Candlish, unanimously agreed to :

"Sustain the reference, dismiss the appeal, regret deeply that painful and injurious divisions still prevail in the Gaelic Church of Greenock; and whereas the renewing of the call to any of the ministers hitherto brought forward appears to be fitted only to aggravate and perpetuate existing differences, the Assembly find that it is not for edification that any such call should be prosecuted in the General Assembly. Resolve to make provision for a period of three months for supplying divine ordinances to the Gaelic congregation; and so soon thereafter as the congregation shall find itself in a position with sufficient unanimity to give a call to any other minister or probationer of this Church, authorize the presbytery to proceed to moderate in the same, according to the laws of the Church."

The Assembly then adjourned about five o'clock in the afternoon.

Evening Sederunt.

Dr Cunningham gave in the College Report, the greater part of which we subjoin :

66

The Committee, in accordance with the instructions of last Assembly, examined the reports transmitted to them by the presbyteries of university seats, on the subject of theological education, and prepared observations upon them, which they transmitted along with the reports themselves to all the presbyteries of the Church. The opinion which the Committee formed upon this question, and the grounds of which are stated in their observations, was adverse to the extension of theological education; . e., to the establishment of any other full Divinity Hall than that which at present exists. They gave no opinion in their observations, as indeed they were not called upon to do, upon the necessity or permanence of any provision at present existing for theolo gical education; and while the opinion they expressed, and the grounds on which they rested, implied that they did not at present see any reason why the Church should have per

manently any provision for theological education except at Edinburgh, they did not suggest any change upon existing arrangements, except some provision for the pastoral superintendence of students, and their instruction in Hebrew before they enter the Hall.

"The number of students who matriculated at the New College during the last session was 300; but this does not indicate the whole number of students attending the classes, as it has not been thought expedient to enforce matriculation upon the students attending the classes of logic, moral philosophy, and natural science. The number of enrolled students of divinity was 160, a number smaller by 16 than last year; while the number of students that entered the Hall for the first time rather exceeded that of the preceding session.

"The whole number of young men engaged in the prosecution of theological study, with a view to the holy ministry, including those at Aberdeen, and a few under the charge of the Presbytery of Glasgow, amounts to 204.

"In the month of August last, a communication was received from the Education Committee, suggesting the importance of establishing an academy at Oban, for the purpose chiefly of affording the benefit of a classical and mathematical education to young men in the Highlands, who might give indications of being possessed of suitable qualifications and capacities for becoming ultimately ministers and teachers, and proposing that the expense of this institution should be borne by the two Committees jointly. The Committee entertained this proposal favourably, and they have received a minute of the Free Synod of Argyle, warmly approving of the general object, and promising assistance and co-operation. The Committee

understood that the object was to be prosecuted by the Education Committee, but they are not aware that any further steps have been taken in the matter. The Committee still consider it a most desirable and important object, to afford opportunities of enjoying a classical and mathematical education to young men from the Highlands, who might ultimately study theology, and regard this object as one entitled to a very early and prominent place in any efforts which the Church may find herself in a condition to make, for the purpose of improving and extending the training of candidates for the ministry."

[Having stated that there was a deficiency in the funds to the extent of upwards of £2000.]

"In these circumstances, it becomes indispensable that the Church shall distinctly understand what is the amount of ordinary annual expenditure connected with the education of candidates for the ministry, which has already, with her sanction, been undertaken. The annual expenditure of the existing collegiate arrangements which the Church has already sanctioned, including those at Aberdeen and St Andrews, as well as Edinburgh, cannot be safely estimated at less than £5000 a-year, more than £4000 of this being spent in salaries to professors and tutors, and these salaries being, so far as the Committee have any means of knowing, not regarded by the Church as extravagant. The Committee do not see how, consistently with keeping up the existing arrangements, the expenditure can be materially diminished. The sum arising

from the fees of students cannot be estimated at more than £1200; so that the sum which the Church is called upon to raise by collections and subscriptions for defraying the ordidinary annual expenditure of existing collegiate arrangements, without making a provision for the liquidation of the debt, is £3800-a considerably larger sum than has ever yet been raised by annual contributions.

"The Committee would remind the Assembly, that in the report given in to the Assembly of 1846, by their late lamented Convener, proposals were made of material changes upon the theological curriculum-changes which, if carried out, would have introduced some provisions which he had long regarded as indispensable to an efficient theological education. The Assembly expressed generally their approbation of the recommendation of the report on the curriculum, and transmitted it to presbyteries that they might consider it more deliberately, and make suggestions about any of the points involved in it. Accordingly, twenty presbyteries sent up returns upon the curriculum to the Assembly of 1847-fifteen of which wholly approved of it, one disapproved of it, and the remaining four approved of it generally, though with some modifications. In these circumstances, and from the impossibility of discussing the subject at the time, last Assembly again transmitted the report upon the curriculum to presbyteries for their suggestions. There have been this year sent

up from presbyteries thirty-two returns upon this subject, a number not equal to one-half of the presbyteries of the Church. Of these thirty-two returns, ten approve of the whole curriculum as recommended in the report, and eleven more, making twenty-one in all, approve of the theological curriculum, while the others suggest changes in some one or more of the recommendations of the report. The Committee think it important again to bring under the consideration of the Church what appears to be necessary for providing a full and complete theological curriculum, and securing to candidates for the ministry an efficient and adequate theological education, suited to the necessities and demands of the age. For this purpose, it may be proper to give a brief review of the whole provision now proposed to be made, substantially accordant with the recommendations of the report, which has already obtained the general approbation of two successive Assemblies, and the sanction of a decided majority of the presbyteries which have sent in returns, but with such modifications as have been suggested by further reflection and experience. "1st, The Committee would take the liberty of pressing upon the consideration of the Assembly, the propriety of adopting some more efficient and systematic provision than at preseut exists for testing the character and qualifications of students before they are allowed to enter the Hall, or to commence the study of theology. Presbyteries should certainly retain all their present powers and functions in this matter, and exercise them with increasing regularity and strictness; but experience seems to show that a presbyterial examination is not sufficient to secure that all students shall be sufficiently qualified in literature and philosophy to prepare them for entering with advantage upon the study of theology. That this be done in a regular, consistent, and systematic way, and in accordance with something like a uniform standard, it seems indispensable that all students, before they are allowed to begin the study of theology, with a view to the holy ministry, should be examined upon literature and philosophy, and passed by a general board of [examiners, appointed by the Church for that purpose. This would tend to secure the possession of a respectable measure of attainments by all students who were allowed to enter the Hall-an object never likely to be effected in any other way. The Committee would press this subject upon the consideration of the Assembly, and would farther suggest it as desirable that all students should be again examined by this board at the conclusion of their theological studies, before they are allowed to begin their trials for license.

"There is another suggestion upon this point which the Committee would take the liberty of making, and that is, the necessity of students acquiring a knowledge of the elements of Hebrew before they enter the Hall, and of this forming a part of the preliminary examination before the commencement of their theological studies. The reason of this suggestion must be so obvious to every one who has gone through the theological curriculum that has hitherto obtained in Scottish universities, with intelligence, that the Committee will not dwell upon it. They do not anticipate any difference of opinion as to the propriety of the Church making provision for securing this.

"The two leading objects which it seems necessary to provide for, in a course of theological study directed to the object of preparing a body of young men for entering, fairly accomplished, upon the work of the ministry in a particular Church, are these: first, That they should be initiated into the critical study, upon sound principles, of the Sacred Scriptures in the original language, and should be conducted over a considerable portion at least of the Inspired Volume; and, second,That they should be instructed in the general scheme of scriptural doctrine and revealed truth, as it is set forth in the symbolical books of the particular Church with which the theological seminary is connected. No theological curriculum can be regarded as complete which does not provide for both these objects; and it does not seem possible to provide for them adequately and efficiently in a shorter space of time than four sessions, or by the labours of fewer than four professors.

"In regard to the provision for the securing the second of these objects, viz., instructing the students systematically in the whole scheme of scriptural doctrine, as developed in the standards of the Church, the Committee have no modifications to suggest on the proposals contained in the Report as prepared by Dr Chalmers. These proposals were, that this department of work should be divided between two professors, each of whom should have charge of the students of two years, and should have two classes a-day- -one for each