pages, the duty of moderation in language. In these days, Church men feel strongly, and express their feelings strongly, often in a manner which undesignedly offends the consciences of weaker brethren. We are not for strife, but (in the real and scriptural meaning of the words) for conciliation and peace. In concluding these remarks, we may observe, that the price of this Magazine was designedly fixed at a rate so low, that excepting under very extensive circulation, the returns cannot cover the expenses of publication, in order that it might be within the reach of the less wealthy members of the Church; and if we incur the censures of criticism for want of a display of deep erudition, we hope it will be remembered, that we have in view, not as the least object of our labour, the spiritual interests of a very valuable portion of our community.

DIOCESE OF DUNKELD.

PROPOSED CATHEDRAL AT PERTH.

ELSEWHERE will be found a letter from the venerable Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, addressed to Lord Forbes, to which we wish to call the special attention of our readers. This letter is intended to recommend to the members of the Church, a proposal for the erection of a Cathedral and Collegiate residence at Perth; together with the endowment of the Bishopric, and a Staff of Clergy. To us, we feel bound to say, it has been a source of great delight, because it betokens a spirit stirring in the Church, which, we trust, is ominous of a great revival of zeal and devotion among her sons. Such an undertaking, requiring so much perseverance and self-denial from its supporters, could not have been proposed among us ten years ago without exciting the derision of the most devoted members of the Church. It would have been regarded as a scheme which nothing but the wildest enthusiasm could have suggested; and even yet many look upon it with suspicion and incredulity, doubt its propriety, and hint that it is a waste of money which might be better employed. Recent events have, however, prepared the minds of Christian men for a great and rapid change in the outward circumstances of the Church, as well as in her internal and spiritual life.

One hundred years of persecution had, in some respects, a beneficial

influence upon the Church. During that period of trial she was cured of her Erastian tendencies, and was enabled to return to a more catholic tone, both in her liturgy and practices. For the influence of a sectarian and anti-catholic feeling, had kept her, during the whole period of her establishment, in a state of bondage, from which all her efforts were unable to release her. Thus, when she sought to introduce a liturgy formed after the models of the purest antiquity, Janet Geddes and her cutty stool, backed by the Lords of the covenant and the rabble, put an effectual stop to this well-meant, but ill-managed effort in the right direction; which, after she fell into adversity, she was able to effect without trouble or difficulty. In another point of view these long-continued sufferings had, as the Bishop has well shown, an evil influence in crushing the spirit of the Church, and damping her energy. Thus, when she found herself released from penal obstructions, her nervous system seemed so shaken, that she trembled at the rustling of a leaf, fearing that the enemy might again fall upon, and entirely destroy her. The first forty or fifty years of her freedom were spent literally in doing nothing beyond congratulating herself that the power of the enemy was broken. She seemed to think that the Divine arm, which had brought her through no ordinary difficulties, would continue to support her even while she did nothing for herself. We heard of nothing but

'Magna est veritas et prevalebit '—

the truth is great and will prevail; yet nothing was done to forward its prevalence. The bygone generation seemed to rest on the truth. of their principles, and thought little was required on their part to ensure their success. They relied on the omnipotence of the Divine Head of the Church, forgetting that He works by means, and that it is by the preaching of those sent by Him that the truth is to be heard and received. This nervous inactivity, as the Bishop of Dunkeld not inaptly terms it, was the natural and necessary result of those severe and almost overwhelming trials to which we have referred. Nor was this evil influence confined to the Clergy alone. The laity partook of the same feelings in their full measure. They did nothing; and the very wealthiest of them felt no shame in ascending an outside stair to worship in a hay loft. Cases have occurred of footmen having to place stepping-stones to admit of the ladies on whom they attended getting dry-shod to their cushioned enclosure. Indeed, the best country Churches were little better than long barns,

having a chimney at each end, and square windows with clumsy outside shutters. Within the last twelve years we have seen from fifteen to twenty carriages at a building of this sort; and it took ten years of indefatigable exertion to supersede it by a neat Churchlike structure; which, with perhaps one exception, was, for several years, the only comely place of worship in the diocese of which we speak: nor were other dioceses more favoured either in the quality of their houses of prayer, or in the anxiety of the people to bear the burden of their renovation.

Now, however, all the members of the Church, both clerical and lay, feel the importance of increased exertion, under the Divine guidance, if the very existence of the Church is to be maintained. The country places of worship were too far apart to afford a shelter for any considerable portion of the people; and hence her adherents were fast merging into some one or other of the various denominations.' For want of regular training, the young, whose families lived at any considerable distance from a Church, almost invariably fell away. We are, therefore, convinced that it is only by a vigorous. promulgation of the gospel system according to the teaching of that Body which Christ requires us to 'hear' in reference to such questions, that we can even maintain our present position. But what answer can we make at the Day of Judgment to the inquiry, how far we have fulfilled our Master's command to extend the Church of His planting, to preach the gospel to every creature, and to bring all, whom we may possess the power of influencing, to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus,' if we do not act on the aggressive principle by which alone the kingdom of God, under His superintendence, can prevail on earth? The Church, which is declared to be 'the pillar and ground of the truth,' is not otherwise fulfilling her Divine mission. For however much the Churchman may respect the conscientious dissenter from the apostolic fold of Christ, and esteem him in the private relations of life, he feels himself bound to obey God rather than man, and, consequently, to warn every one to avoid divisions,' and to pray and to labour that all may be brought into the unity of the faith.' Of this duty the members of the Church are daily becoming more sensible. And accordingly, the last ten years have brought a change both in sentiment and practice, which the most sanguine of our fathers little anticipated. During that period the ancient spirit of piety seems to have been gradually rekindling in the bosoms of the more devout; and many of them show an anxiety

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to sacrifice, not of that which costs them nothing;' but of their time, influence, labour, and money. Now, as of old, they refuse to dwell in the houses of cedar, while the Ark of God is confined within mud walls. Within the last few years we have seen great efforts made in various quarters to extend the Church, and with a success that proves the Divine blessing to have accompanied them, and encourages perseverance. In places where her voice has not been heard for ages, temples are rising up, and the praises of the Redeemer are sung in the sweet songs of Zion, and incense is offered and a pure offering,' according to the rites and ceremonies of a pure and primitive ritual, the very existence of which had become unknown. And hence the deep feelings of a primitive devotion begin to revive, and many there now are who take delight in the daily sacrifice of prayer and praise, and in the weekly celebration of the blessed Eucharist. Thus we perceive that the blessing of God rests upon the Church in proportion to her own efforts to help herself. She is made to see of the fruit of her travail; and wherever she is enabled to provide a home for the weary pilgrim, many of the care-worn wanderers into the bypaths of error return and find therein a secure resting-place. Let this encourage the faithful sons of the Church; let their exertions be 'begun, continued, and ended' in the fear and love of God; and having truth on their side,-truth not according to undisciplined private judgment, but according to Catholic teaching, while yet the lamp of the Lord was but newly fed from the fountain of divine and saving truth,-let them not be afraid of success.

But we pass on from these high and important generalities to the more specific details of movements which now affect the Church. And though our present business is chiefly with the Cathedral scheme at Perth, we cannot omit a passing notice of Trinity College, Glenalmond, as one of the most important works which is the fruit of that awakened spirit in the Church, of which we have been speaking.

This noble institution is intended for the education of the young members of the Church, and the training of her ministers; and to the extent it is finished, is the most magnificent pile of scholastic buildings in Scotland. We do not feel competent to give a correct description of the architectural features of the buildings; but we observe, in the Ecclesiologist' for December, that they are in the 'third pointed' style, except the chapel, which is in the first pointed,' or early English. This judgment with regard to the Chapel must have been formed from the engraving; but, in justice to the

talented architect, Mr Henderson, we feel bound to say, that the very small sum allowed for this part of the erection, almost compelled him to select this style as the only one which could have been advantageously carried out. The discriminating taste of the Warden, however, detected this error, and his munificence having provided the means of remedying it, the architect was instructed to prepare drawings in a more appropriate and characteristic style. About eighteen months ago, we had a hasty glance at the rough draft of the new design; and, so far as we remember, believe it was in the 'second pointed,' or decorated style; and will cost, when finished, from eight to ten thousand pounds. The buildings consist of a quadrangle, with the Warden's Lodge at the south-west corner, and the Sub-warden's at the north-west. Between these are the apartments for the fellows and divinity students, and also for some of the junior boys; while in the centre stands the great tower, with the principal gateway into the quadrangle. The north side is entirely occupied with sleeping apartments for the boys. At the north-east corner are the kitchens and servants' rooms, behind which there is a tennis wall and ball court. The east side is occupied by the public school and chapel; the latter standing east and west at the south-east corner. Both these, we regret to say, are at a stand-still for want of funds. Thirty thousand pounds have, however, been expended on the part already completed; and though twenty thousand more are required, every true son of the Church rejoices in the prospect that this too will soon be raised; and there is not one who can be called a Churchman who will not be ready to contribute to the best of his ability. We do hope we shall soon see this magnificent work completed. It is acknowledged by all who have seen it, that the arrangements and accommodations of the part already finished, are superior to any thing of the kind even in England. We hardly like to speak of the Warden or Sub-warden in the terms we should wish, as we know our praises will be distasteful to them. But as efforts have recently been used to destroy public confidence in the qualifications of the former, particularly for the eminent situation he holds, we feel we are but doing him justice when we state, that Dr Moberly, with whom he was for ten years associated in the management of Winchester College, considered him eminently qualified for such a charge, owing to his good temper and affectionate intercourse with the boys, which completely won their regard and confidence. His learning, piety, and enthusiastic devotion to the cause of education