Twelfthly, That some measures be instituted, by the lay members of the Church, throughout each diocese, to obtain funds for the erection of the said Cathedral, and for a suitable endowment of the bishopric, in order that both may be placed on a more independent footing than the parochial clergy or other Churches of the diocese. And though this is a neglect which demands much and separate consideration, it is further suggested that a certain number of the lay members of the Church should severally make themselves responsible for a certain amount-say £500 or £1000 each-which they might exert themselves, severally, to raise among their friends and other members of the Church, with the view of securing two funds, one for the building of the Church, and the other for an Episcopal endowment. Then, suppose the cost of the Cathedral should amount to £20,000, twenty lay members of the Church within the diocese might (as a Presbyterian body did recently when erecting an academical institution) make themselves responsible for £1000 each, and raise the said equally apportioned sum by their own private exertions. And in the same way might an Episcopal endowment be obtained; say £20,000 be raised by subscription, as a fixed endowment of £800 a-year, while the remainder of the Episcopal income might be derived from a fourth of the funds of the Church, perhaps a fourth of all funds raised in the several Churches of the diocese, and perhaps also from an annual contribution of the faithful on one Sunday in the year as an offering for the support of the bishop of the See. The offertory collected on Easter day in each diocese might be suitably devoted to the support of the chief minister of each Christian Church.

These suggestions, however, are only thrown out as hints, as outlines of the course that might be taken. Wherever there is a true sense of the blessings of the holy gospel of Christ, and the ordinances of his Church, there will soon be discovered a willing heart and a liberal disposition. God grant that Iona may, according to the traditionary prediction of its founder, ere long rise with renewed lustre and in the beauties of holiness and usefulness, from its long night of gloom and dilapidation and neglect, and that its Church may become once more, in the proposed new site of the Cathedral on the mainland, under the fostering care of its lately appointed bishop, as much a blessing to Scotland as was formerly its predecessor on the time-honoured isle of Icolmkill! And we would further cherish a hope, that other dioceses of Scotland will not suffer themselves to be eclipsed by this Highland and insular See, whose members are

among the least wealthy and civilized of any members of the Scottish Church, but may, with ancient Iona for their model, and the proposed transference of its ancient Cathedral Institute to Lochgilphead, be stimulated by such pious reminiscences and present zeal, to merge their past inactivity in future exertions of Christian liberality and holy zeal.

R.

NOTE. It would be preferable in all cases to erect the Cathedral of each diocese, if possible, in the ancient Cathedral town. At St Andrews, for instance, a Metropolitan Church ought surely to be erected, in preference to Perth, which never was the seat of a bishop, and with which, accordingly, no ancient lingering associations are connected. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Elgin, if possible, should be retained as the seats of their bishops, and so in all cases where no solid objections can be raised. Against St Andrews no objection can be entertained, any more than against Edinburgh and Glasgow; and a preference ought rather, we think, to be given to it as the first spot where Christianity was established in Scotland, by St Regulus, or Rule. That ancient city is full of pious associations and reminiscences of former times, and called forth the veneration of Johnson in his Scottish tour. We trust, therefore, that the promoters of the Perth Cathedral Scheme may be induced to change the site of their projected Cathedral to St Andrews from Perth.

R.

NOTE BY THE EDITOR.-We have admitted our correspondent's remarks without alteration; but he must pardon our observing, that the transference of the seat of the insular bishops from Iona to Lochgilphead is much more objectionable, than that to which he alludes in the above note. Lochgilphead is a modern maritime village, created by the traffic through the Crinan Canal, and of no note or consequence whatever. Perth, on the other hand, is an ancient city, celebrated in the annals of Scotland, and well situated for a central Church. But, as far as we know of the matter, no transference of Metropolitan dignity is intended. Perth, if it were to have a Cathedral, would be the seat of the Bishops of Dunkeld, not of St Andrews, and although these dioceses are now united under the charge of one prelate, there is no reason to suppose, that this union will be perpetual; and a future Cathedral may be erected at St Andrews, even though the design at Perth should be carried into effect. Our own opinion is that there ought to be a Church, and an important one, too (perhaps Collegiate), at Perth, but the Sedes Episcopalis should decidedly remain as in ancient times.

ON Saturday, the 11th instant, the Lord Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway held his first confirmation for the diocese, in the temporary place of worship, Catherine Street, Anderston. The Incumbent offered the prayer; after which, the Bishop having delivered a most impressive address, administered the solemn rite to fifteen candidates.

On the conclusion of the service, a meeting of the Clergy and Churchwardens was held in the vestry-the Bishop presiding at which it was agreed, that as the subscription now amounted to nearly £1200, immediate steps should be taken for the erection of a new Church; and that, in the meantime, a resident curate should be engaged, whose time and attention should be devoted to the poor of the district, nearly 2000 of whom are living estranged from the Church in which they were baptized. The Bishop was pleased to sanction these arrangements, subscribing £50 to the building fund, and £10 to the curate's stipend for one year, when, the Church being built, it is believed that there will be ample resources from the increased congregation for the due support of a clergyman without extraneous aid. On the following day (the 21st Sunday after Trinity) an intimation from the Lord Bishop was read in St Mary's Church, Glasgow, and, we believe, in the other Churches throughout the diocese, appointing the prayer for the time of any common plague of sickness to be read with the morning and evening prayers, until circumstances may occur which may render it unnecessary. The intimation also stated, that as the occasion required more frequent public worship, all Churches in the diocese should be open for prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays, at eleven o'clock each day, until further order be made.

BURNTISLAND-DIOCESE OF ST ANDREWS.

THE Rev. George Hay Forbes has been appointed by the Lord Bishop of this diocese, to open a mission here in connexion with the Church in Scotland. Having received a formal license for the purpose, he celebrated divine service, for the first time, on the 19th Sunday after Trinity, in the Town Hall, a handsome and capacious room, which was crowded during both the services of the day; and we are happy to learn, that the mission promises to be very successful.

Miscellaneous.

ATTEMPTED PROPAGATION OF PSEUDO-ANGLICAN

SCHISM.

THE following circular, recently printed and distributed about Crieff, has been sent to us :

"We, the undersigned, believing that a sufficient opening exists in

CRIEFF, for the establishment of a congregation in connexion with the Church of England, and considering that the present time offers many facilities for the accomplishment of this object;-desire, under prayer for the blessing of God, to make an effort to form such congregation now.

In doing so, we are anxious most explicitly to declare, that we are actuated by no spirit of opposition or hostility to any body of Christians. We repudiate the notion of all Sectarian exclusiveness and animosity.

On the contrary, we merely claim the freedom for ourselves to worship God in the way we conscientiously prefer, while, at the same time, we wish to go hand in hand with every denomination of Christians who hold the truth as it is in Christ, and whose desire is to promote the best interests of the people of this land.

We rejoice to see denominations having other forms of government and worship than our own, successfully labouring among the rich and the poor of our common country, and we earnestly bid them "God speed."-Our sole object is to be a section of the one great army of which they form a part,—that we may, with them, endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ Jesus, and together contend, under one common Master, for the promotion of his glory, against every form of superstition and ungodliness.

And thus, while we are doing what we conceive to be a duty to ourselves and to our families in attempting to form the congregation to which we refer, we are also satisfied that by this very act we are tending to strengthen the cause of truth generally in the country,we are not adding an element of strife and division, but of unity and power, we are helping to extend the limits of Christian charity,to deepen the current of Christian peace and truth,—and to give increased force and vigour to all the operations of Christian benevolence.

In coming to the above resolution, we are happy in being able to state that arrangements are now in progress for our obtaining the assistance of a faithful and efficient Minister of the Church of England.

ELIBANK.

GEO. DRUMD. GREME, of Inchbrakie.
JAS. GILLESPIE GRAHAM, of Orchill.

HENRIETTA OLIPHANT, of Gask.

WM. MACDONALD MACDONALD, of St Martin's and Rossie Castle.
R. SPEIR, of Culdees Castle.

FRANCIS GROVE, R.N., Kincardine Castle.

Crieff, 27th September, 1848."

From the style and composition of the above quoted document, we can easily conjecture the author. The first paragraph contains as strange an assertion as could well be hazarded. There is not a single member of the Church of England in Crieff, excepting those who belong to the congregation of St Michael's Church there, which

is in full communion with the Church of England, and is amply sufficient, in its rubrical orthodoxy and complete services, for every purpose which Churchmen can require. In all Scotland, a place could not be pointed out, where any attempt to form a rival congregation could be so little justified.

The second paragraph is to be interpreted directly by contraries: the contemplated measure is unquestionably intended as an opposition to the Church; why-is very well known to the promoters. The third is merely the commonplace cant of dissent.

The fourth commences with an expression of rejoicing to see the Redeemer's flock, for the unity of which He so strongly prayed, broken up into innumerable sects and schisms!! Prelates of England! mark this from the self-styled members of your communion! The notion of enduring hardness (Anglicè hardship, we presume), would be ineffably ludicrous, were it not profane. What may be the amount of hardness' endured by ladies and gentlemen driving in their carriages once-a-week to a schismatic meeting-house at Crieff, excepting that in a temporary building they may miss the stuffed couches, luxurious cushions, and other paraphernalia of 'Religion made comfortable,' we are at a loss to imagine. As to superstition -we know something of Crieff, and believe such a quality to be about the last commodity likely to be found there. A warfare against such an enemy would be after the fashion of the Knight of La Mancha, for the relief of enchanted damsels.

The next paragraph is full of the same cant as the third, with the additional information, that people find it a duty to themselves and their families, to introduce schism where they have no connexion, and expect to see unity and power arise out of division and discord.

As to the mention, in the last paragraph, of the 'faithful and efficient minister of the Church of England,' we shall have some remarks hereafter.

On the whole, we cannot congratulate the party on their effusion, for a more miserable production, in language, taste, and spirit, we never had the chance to peruse.

Towards the individuals whose names are affixed to this paper, delicacy would prohibit any personal remarks.* But we may ob

* We reprint the signatures, as we wish to give the circular entire, as it reached us, and it would not be intelligible without them. But we dislike the introduction of names unnecessarily, and disclaim all intention of uncourteousness towards the parties, who are altogether strangers to us.