Mission. There was a choral service at 11 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. S. C. Chambers, Presbyter of Perth. The Canticles were chanted to the 1st Tone, 5th ending, and 5th Tone, 3d ending; the Te Deum to the Ambrosian, and the Morning Psalms to the 4th Tone, 4th ending. The Litany was sung according to Marbecke's notation. The first lesson was read by the Very Rev. the Dean, and the Warden of Trinity College read the second. A very excellent sermon was delivered by the Rev. S. P. Alley, Presbyter of Blairgowrie; who happily attended to the circumstance of a Synod being held in Perth after so great a lapse of time. After service, the Dean opened the Synod in the absence of the Venerable the Lord Bishop. The other clergy present were, the Rev. Messrs Milne of Cupar-Fife, Lyon of S. Andrews, Macmillan of Dunkeld, Lendrum of Muthill, Johnstone of Kirkaldy, Taylor of Forfar, Walker of Blair-Athole, Malcolm of Dunblane, Wildman of Kirriemuir, Bruce of Dunfermline, and Forbes of Crieff. It appeared, by examination of the Synod book, that the Right Rev. Bp. Alexander had held a Synod at Perth in 1744, and that, at that time, the Perth congregation was a collegiate charge under the Rev. Messrs Drummond and Lyon-the latter of whom suffered at Carlisle in 1746, for his loyalty to the House of Stuart.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

AFTER Divine Service in St Andrew's Church, Aberdeen, on Wednesday the 12th ult., the Triennial General Meeting of the Scotch Episcopal Friendly Society was held in Dr Anderson's School Room. The meeting being duly constituted, and the roll made up, the Secretary and Treasurer gave in their several Reports. The affairs of this Society were found to be in a satisfactory state at present, but from the very large increase of the members of the Society within the last few years, fears were entertained that the very small payments required from them might not be sufficient to meet the future claims upon the Society. There were, however, no grounds for making any alteration in the amount of annual payment, or increasing the term of years for which it is made as yet; and it is to be hoped that such donations and legacies may be received, during the next three years, as to render any increase unnecessary. Were the beneficent purposes of the society sufficiently known, we cannot doubt but this would be the case. After the Bill was obtained, which removed the penal enactments against the Church, there remained, of

the money subscribed to defray the expenses of that measure, a considerable balance. With the advice of the leading donors, it was devoted to the formation of this society, for the benefit of the Widows and Orphans of the Bishops and Clergy, and many donations and legacies have since been received, which have contributed to hasten the maturity of the society, and to make the benefit much greater than the amount of annual premium would otherwise have provided. It is now able to pay to the Widow of a Clergyman £30 a-year, and a sum of £300 to Orphan Children where no Widow is left. Considering the very small incomes of the clergy, and their inability to leave any provision for widows and families, these sums, though they have no doubt been the means of solacing the dying hours of many a hard working priest, are yet but a scanty means of support to a widow and family. While, therefore, we have reason to know that the clergy are thankful for the advantages which the society provides for those dear to them, when they shall be called to their rest, we of the laity cannot feel that we have accomplished all that may reasonably be expected of us, till, by our contributions, we have enabled the society to provide for every Widow an annuity of £50, or to orphan children a sum of £500. We trust this notice may be the means of drawing the attention of some devout churchmen to the subject, and of inducing them to remember the Scotch Episcopal Friendly Socicty, in the disposal of their means. The Rev. J. B. Pratt of Cruden is Secretary, and the Rev. J. Moir of Brechin, Treasurer; either of whom will, we are sure, be ready to furnish information as to its state, and the proper mode of bequeathing legacies to it.

EPISCOPAL SYNOD.

ON Thursday the 13th ult., the Right Rev. the Bishops of the Church of Scotland held an Episcopal Synod at Aberdeen. There were present the Primus, the Bishops of St Andrews, Edinburgh, Argyle and the Isles, and Brechin. The venerable Bishop of Moray and Ross was, from bodily infirmity, unable to attend.

The application of the Presbyters of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, to postpone the election of a Bishop for that See for six or twelve months, was refused; and the Primus was authorised to issue a mandate for the election on the first of August, to which a return must be made within thirty days. The Bishops enjoined that prayers should be offered up throughout the diocese for the Divine

blessing on the election, and for the spirit of unity among the clergy throughout their deliberations.

The Synod then deliberated upon the filling up of the vacancy caused by the lamented death of the Bishop of Glasgow, Dr Russell, as Lecturer, appointed by the late Dr Bell, in connection with the Theological Institution in Edinburgh founded by the late Miss Panton, and it was resolved to confer the appointment upon the Rev. H. E. Moberly, Sub-warden of Trinity College, on the understanding that the lectures on Education prescribed by Dr Bell, are to be delivered by that Gentleman in Edinburgh, and those on Ecclesiastical History which have been attached by the Bishops to that office are to be given at Trinity College.

The Synod likewise resolved that a complete course at Trinity College shall be held to qualify for admission to Holy Orders; and the Warden of Trinity College was authorized accordingly to make arrangements for the opening of the Theological department of that institution in the Autumn. As will be seen on reference to the advertisement in this magazine, Tuesday, the 5th of October, has been fixed for that purpose.

ON the Festival of Whitsunday, the Rev. R. Bruce, M.A., with the license of the Bishop of Aberdeen, celebrated Divine Service at Banchory, Devenick. This lovely village is about sixteen miles distant from Aberdeen, on the Dee side, and has long been a favourite resort of the inhabitants of that city during the summer months. The only draw-back has been the want of church privileges, and now that these have been provided, with every prospect of their permanency, it will, we doubt not, be an additional attraction to devout Churchmen who cannot go where these are not to be obtained. A lease has been taken of a tolerably neat edifice, belonging to some dissenting sect, which has been for years unoccupied ; and it has been neatly and appropriately fitted up for the solemn celebration of Divine Service according to the rites of the Church.

ON the third Sunday after Trinity, the Rev. J. Torry Anderson, by the appointment of the Bishop of Brechin, opened a place of worship at Broughty Ferry, where there are many members of the Church residing.

ON the fifth Sunday after Trinity, the Rev. Charles Grant, M.A., of Meiklefolla, celebrated Divine Service at Bogfountain, by the appointment of the Bishop of Aberdeen. It is proposed to erect a Church here for the convenience of the members of the Church who lie between Meiklefolla and Forgue, but are far distant from either of these places of worship. The service is now conducted in a temporary place of meeting, to ascertain the real numbers likely to attend, before any farther proceedings are taken in reference to the erection of a Church, or the permanent appointment of service. For the present the Rev. Messrs Grant of Meiklefolla, Wilson of Woodhead, and Smith of Forgue, are to take the duty in turn.

On the fourth Sunday after Easter, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Edinburgh held an ordination in St James' Church, Leith, when the Rev. J. A. White, Deacon, was admitted to the priesthood. After the Ordination Service was concluded, the Bishop instituted Mr White to the pastoral charge of this congregation in room of Dr Russell, the lamented Bishop of Glasgow, to which he was unanimously presented. The Bishop delivered an impressive address to Mr White and his people on their relative duties.

On the first Sunday after Trinity, the Rev. Arthur Rankin, M. A., Registrar of the Diocese and incumbent of Deer, acting for and by authority of the Right Rev. the Bishop of Aberdeen, instituted the Rev Alexander Low, M.A. (who has hitherto officiated as assistant to the Very Rev. the Dean) to the pastoral charge of St John's Church, Longside. The Institution took place in presence of the Dean, the Churchwardens, and a very numerous congregation.

A meeting of the Clergy of the united Diocese of Moray and Ross was held on Wednesday the 21st of June, in the Church of St John the Evangelist, at Forres. Morning prayer was said by the Rev. J. Smith of Aberchirder; after which the Very Rev. the Dean, acting as surrogate for the Bishop, proceeded to institute the Rev.-Jermyn to the pastoral charge of the Congregation of Forres. The Communion Service was then said; the epistle by the new incumbent, and the gospel by the Rev. Mr Macdonald of Huntly. After a sermon by the Rev. Mr Jermyn, from Titus ii. 15, Let no man despise thee,' the Dean proceeded with the service of the Holy Communion, and administered the Holy Sacrament to the Clergy present, and to

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a few of the laity. He then constituted the Synod; and received reports of the state of the several congregations within the diocese.

THE Rev. Stephen Allen, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, late Curate of Christ Church, Westminster, has been presented to St Andrew's Church, Aberdeen, in room of the Right Rev. William Skinner, D.D., resigned.

:

Reviews.

The Isle of Man its History, Physical, Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Legendary. By the Rev. JOSEPH GEORGE CUMMING, M.A., F.G.S., Vice-Principal of King William's College, Castletown. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row. 1848.

THIS interesting work properly comes within the scope of our notice, both as containing an account of Church matters in the British Isles, and particularly relative to a Church anciently connected with a Scottish Diocese. We believe that the work was originally intended to be confined to the natural history of the island; but the author has judiciously interspersed a variety of interesting historical matter. Still, however, the geological description forms the larger and more important portion of the work.

Professing to be unacquainted with this science, we shall not interfere with its details, especially, too, as the subject is not generally suited to these pages. We must not, however, be mistaken, as if attempting to express an opinion adverse to that science. On the contrary, we believe it to be one of intense interest, and involving momentous truths and discoveries. Neither do we concur in the belief that it clashes with, or contradicts, the truths of revelation. It has often been asserted that theories propounded by geologists are inconsistent with the Mosaic account of Creation. But although the theories of rash and presumptuous professors of this science may be liable to this accusation, there is nothing in the science itself, as handled by sound and reverent minds, which need excite such a suspicion. The Bible, we know, does not profess to be a philosophical work. It is a revelation from Heaven, giving an account of the creation of man on this globe, and the subsequent dealings of