are surprised to observe, and compelled to deplore, the perpetual anxiety evinced to go out of the country, and search in another Church for candidates suitable for the Episcopate in Scotland. Of their soundness and efficiency we have no doubt, but they are necessarily unacquainted with the peculiar traditions of the Scottish Church, and therefore ill qualified for the administration of its discipline. A condition made by one of these gentlemen, namely, that he would consent to be nominated if allowed to retain his English living, ought to be a lesson to the Scottish Clergy. The law of England only allows an incumbent to be absent from his benefice for three months in a year! And are Scottish bishoprics come to this? Are they to be administered in this railway fashion, to have their whole annual duties performed in the space of time, which an incumbent of a wealthy living would spend as a periodical relaxation from parochial labours at a watering place? It is needless to say, that such a proposition was not for a moment entertained; but we trust that it will be a warning to the Clergy in future to look at home. It is a fact established by the whole history of the Scottish Church, that her most efficient Bishops have been natives of her country, and that the Episcopates of the few strangers who have occupied Scottish Sees, though in themselves superior men, have been inefficient. It is a stigma which we feel to be entirely unmerited, to impute such a deficiency to the Clergy now serving at the Scottish altars, as to imply that none could be found competent to discharge the duties of the Episcopate, or willing to undertake the responsibility. We are confident that such is not the case, and in our lay capacity, can unhesitatingly declare a contrary belief, from our own personal knowledge and experience. There is also another view in which we regard this matter. It would be indeed a happier state were there no distinction between Scottish and English Clergy,-were there a BRITISH Church, in which all duly ordained ministers of the Gospel, on either side of the Tweed, should have equal rights and privileges; but since, in our day, that consummation is denied, and worldly-wise politicians, who have the ordering of our system, refuse to acknowledge the rights of the Scottish branch of the Church Catholic, it becomes a duty of Scottish Churchmen to guard their own nationality, and not to suffer their Church to sink into a mere appendage to the Church of England. Willingly should we accept and welcome the arrival of the English Clergy on this side of the border, did reciprocity prevail; but while such invidious distinctions as the present

exist-while no restrictions are imposed on English Clergymen coming into Scotland, yet those ordained in Scotland cannot legally hold an incumbency or curacy in England at all, nor officiate even once there without a license from the Bishop of the diocese, nor more than twice without a repetition of the license, we cannot help thinking that the Scottish Clergy are bound to guard the independence of their Church. We know that sound Churchmen in England look upon the Scottish Church with the greatest interest and respect, as a branch of the Church Catholic, existing in purity and independence, in spite of poverty, neglect, and persecution. They regard it as a firm and solemn witness to the truth, as a sound and healthy, though slender branch of the Vine which the Redeemer planted upon earth; and they strongly deprecate any practices which would lead to its submergence or decay.

But to return to the Glasgow Bishopric: what are the presbyters now to do? Are they to be employed during the respite afforded them (in case the Primus should concede it) in travelling to and fro on the face of the earth in quest of a Bishop, and discussing the merits of every brother clergyman whose name may be suggested to them? Such proceeding would not be good for them in any sense: it might render them to some extent unfitted to fulfil their duties to their future Bishop: it might create much bad feeling, and promote that party excitement which may be injurious to future peace and harmony among them. We would humbly suggest a course, which might relieve them from all perplexity. LET THEM PLACE THE We can

NOMINATION IN THE HANDS OF THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS. recommend no fitter alternative than this. It would save them from every possibility of caballing among themselves, would shew a becoming confidence in the existing Spiritual Fathers of their Communion, and an entire and disinterested regard for the welfare of the Church, by the sacrifice of every selfish or ambitious feeling. The Bishops have an advantage which the Clergy of a particular diocese can scarcely be expected to possess. They know all the Clergy throughout the Church, and in a case like the present, may solve the difficulty by the exercise of a judicious and impartial appointment. For this course there is a precedent. Bishop White of Dunblane was thus appointed to succeed Bishop Gillan in that diocese, at the request of the presbyters thereof in 1735. The folis a copy of their address to the Bishops of the Church, which we extract from a valuable record belonging to the Rev. Alexander Lendrum of Muthill, who has favoured us with a perusal of it :—

To the Right Reverend the Primus and remanent Bishops of the Church of Scotland.

Right Reverend Fathers,-Forasmuch as the vacancy of the district of Dumblane, by the death of our late worthy ordinary Bishop, John Gillan, is not unknown to you the surviving Right Reverend Bishops of this Church, we the presbyters of the said district, being desirous to have another Bishop set over us without loss of time, and also well assured of the good regard which our Right Reverend Superiors entertain for the welfare of this Church and of this district in particular, do hereby pray and beseech you either to confer the inspection of us on one of your own number, or to lay your hands on a proper person for that end. And we promise readily and willingly to accept of and submit to WHOMSOEVER YOU in your wisdom shall think fit to appoint over us, testifying hereby our sincere and hearty desire to maintain and promote, as far as in us lies, Peace and Unity amongst all the members of this poor afflicted Church. In testimony whereof we subscribe ourselves,-Right Reverend Fathers, your obedient sons and servants,

(Signed)

18th March 1735.

R. DOUGLAS, Jo. GREME, JAMES LAUDER, WILL. BELL, JOHN CONNACHAR, WIL. ERSKINE.'

In consequence of the above application, the Rev. Robert White was, by a majority of the Bishops, chosen Bishop of the said diocese, duly consecrated, and being unanimously received, took his seat in the Episcopal Synod.

In a concordate agreed upon by the Scottish Bishops in 1731, there is an article comprised in the following words :

'That upon the demise or removal elsewhere of a Bishop of any district, the presbyters thereof shall neither elect nor submit to another Bishop, without a mandate from the Primus, by consent of the other Bishops of this Church.' Upon this there is the following note in Bishop Keith's handwriting, he being clerk to the Synod:

* Id est, one who is already a Bishop, as the word elect in the former part of the clause has a respect to one that is not yet in the orders of a Bishop. And that whole article lays no obligations upon presbyters to elect, if they think fit to refer; but only declares, that if they elect, they must do so by virtue of a mandate.'

NOTICES OF MEMORABLE DAYS IN THE MONTH.

S. JAMES.-25TH.

ONE of the most marvellous things in our every-day life is the death of a zealous priest or bishop, cut off in the midst of his useful career. When we see the vast amount of evil around us, and the few who, having girded on the sword of the Spirit, are warring valiantly against it, it becomes a mystery when the diligent labourer is called away from the vineyard of the Lord, at a time when diligence is so rare, and the necessity for it so urgent. Some there are who content themselves with offering up the daily sacrifice, -others who satisfy themselves with catechising the young,-others who employ themselves solely in visiting the sick and poor,—and last and least, others who labour only in preparing homilies. They think they do their duty in fullfiling one or two of these duties and leave the rest undone. When therefore one, who has been ever unwearied in his ministerial office, is removed, I say, it seems strange. We might wonder why a less devoted one was not removed. It is not our way of doing things. And not only of the priesthood is this an accident, but of all ministry to Christ. The same thought of surprise strikes us when a good child or good parent,—a kind friend or benevolent relation is cut off by death. Now on this saint's day this mystery is set forth. S. James held his apostleship but for a year or so. The sword of Herod reaped him as the first fruits of the apostles. He might have looked for a longer and more useful life, seeing how Christ had ever joined him with Peter and John to be a favoured witness of His glory and sorrow. Still his labours were soon terminated. It is God's eternal purpose by suffering and death to work out more than by action and life. So has the Church been built up from the beginning-even so must it be finished. It is the mark of the true shepherd that he giveth his life for the sheep. He is not a true bishop or priest who shrinks from death in doing the work Christ gives him to do. By dying, O priest or bishop, in the midst of thy work, thou addest many to the Church, but thou losest none. Be watchful then, and strengthen the things that remain,' lest it be said of thee, I have not found thy works perfect before God.'

The Treasury.

'Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is

an householder, which bringeth out of his treasure things new and old.'-ST. MATTHEW xiii. 52.

* Another version of the first stanza is as follows: