report any cases of special note, but the work goes on unhindered, the good seed daily sown awaiting the refreshing shower to make it spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God.

"The missionary has a very interesting class of girls approaching woman hood, of about thirty in number, and has lately commenced a class for young men on Sabbath mornings. A regular staff of male and female visitors distribute tracts in the district, and invite the people out to the meetings. The Sabbath school is also continued in the Lady Lawson's Wynd meeting-house, and the attendance of the children is most encouraging. The hall is filled, and the behaviour of the children gives good ground to hope that the labours of the teachers have not been in vain. The teachers are regular in their attendance. and faithful in the discharge of their duties; but the field is comparatively limited, as the hall does not conveniently hold more than 120. We have a superintendent, seven male, and ten female teachers, a library, and a monthly issue of the Sabbath School Magazine" (Glasgow). The Sabbath school lately presented Mr Paton with their subscription (£2: 12: 3), which is to be expended in a medicine chest for the Foreign Mission.

"Though we have no special cases to mention, the mission work is encouraging. The Congregation takes a deeper interest in its working, and many more members contribute to its support. Almost every member of the Congregation gives more or less of his means. Last year we raised for the Congregational Home Mission £58, and received a donation of £20 from a former member, so that the funds are now in a satisfactory condition."

LIVERPOOL.-Home Mission work goes on in connection with this Congregation with increasing zeal. Mr Clow seems to be a most able and indefatigable missionary. During the past year he has made 2589 visits among the families that compose his field of labour. Many of those visited have become members of the Liverpool Church, and some who have not yet been received into membership have become hearers of the gospel.

The following extract from Mr Clow's report will be read with interest :"In the course of my visitations I have discovered seventeen individuals who were at one time members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, but were living, when I first called on them, without any Church connection. Some of these had not been members for nearly twelve years, and some for a longer period. I have called on eight persons brought up in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, whose parents were members, but they themselves had become careless. One family, a mother and two daughters, can trace back their family connection with our Church for more than a century. The mother, who is upwards of fourscore, was a member under Mr Macmillan, Mr Armstrong, Dr Symington, and Dr Bates. . .

"I called on a family living in a dirty, narrow court. I knocked at the door; a little boy opened it, who shouted, 'It's the missionary!' In that dwelling there was neither bed nor blanket, fire nor food. Awful destitution! Everything had gone for drink. The condition of the wife I can scarcely describe, as she sat before me on the floor, a piece of an old sack supplying the place of a petticoat, and an infant on her lap. I urged her and her husband to take the pledge, which I administered in this way:-Taking her hand and his in mine, I said, 'Now, you promise that through the strength of the grace that is in Christ Jesus, you will endeavour to abstain from all intoxicating drinks;' and they said, Yes.' I spoke to them of the solemn vow just taken by them, of the record of the same made, not by human hands, nor in a book whose pages may be soiled and fade with time, but made in heaven by Him who marks the resolutions and the promises of men, and who will one day call to account and publicly condemn those who prove unfaithful. I brought before them the story of the prodigal son; told them of the way by which they might be secured against a relapse into this state of misery and degradation; and besought them, for their own souls' sake, and for the sake of their little ones, to commence and seek the Lord, assuring them, that if they were willing to come back to the Great Father, they should receive as hearty a welcome as did he on whose neck his father fell, saying to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him.' I prayed with them. The husband and wife wept like children, and

heaved deep-drawn sighs; and in such circumstances could one refrain from mingling tears with theirs? For twelve Sabbaths afterwards that man was in his seat in church, but Providence thereafter called him and his family to another town. I know not whether they still persevere.

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"I have at present two weekly prayer meetings, besides a service on Sabbath evenings, in one of the lowest localities of the town. Four months ago we opened a mission station in Limekiln Lane, having a Sabbath school in the afternoon, and public worship in the evening. The school has been rising in numbers gradually, and is still on the increase. We have at present a regular attendance of 70, who meet to receive instruction, and a staff of eleven teachers." Dr Graham writes,-"The results of the labours of Mr Clow are, in several respects, highly satisfactory. The work is as urgent as ever, and we sincerely trust that the Synod's Committee will continue to extend to us the same kind sympathy and aid which we have been receiving from them for some time past." SOUTH-SIDE, GLASGOW.-The Mission in connection with this church still continues, and, in some respects, has been more prosperous of late than formerly. During the past year 14 persons have been admitted to the membership of the Church through the agency of the mission, being an increase of 11 as compared with the previous year.

"There have been 38 added to the roll of seatholders in the church, through the influence of the mission, during the past year; in the previous year there were only 3 so added.

"In addition to those who have thus taken sittings, there are about 15 who have been brought to attend the church (some regularly, others occasionally), but who have not yet taken sittings, besides a considerable number of young

persons.

There is a class of young persons, male and female, conducted by two of the elders, on Sabbath morning, from 10 till 11 o'clock. Your missionary attends this meeting, and assists in getting the young in the district to join it. The attendance is from 60 to 80. A good many of them have been led to attend the church.

"An additional prayer meeting has been commenced in the district on Sabbaths, from 1 till 2 o'clock P.M., conducted by two of the office-bearers of the church, for the benefit of aged and infirm persons."

For some time past it has been the aim of the Congregation to become more intimately associated with the missionary in his work, by members of the church taking care of families recommended to them by the missionary, and endeavouring to promote in every way their best interests. Something has been done in this way, but there is ample room for improvement. A penny savings' bank has been instituted during the past year, in which there are already 326 depositors. A library for the district has also been set on foot, and there are 59 taking out books at the present time. A more systematic tract distribution has also been commenced.

PAISLEY.-The following is the report from Paisley :-The operations of our Home Mission have been carried on during the past year by the missionary with his usual energy and diligence, and the results, upon the whole, have been encouraging. The meetings, both Sabbath day and week day, have been attended by larger numbers, especially of males, than during some former years. Seven persons who received benefit from the missionary's labours have recently entered the fellowship of the Church; and several others have been induced to wait with more or less regularity upon public ordinances. As the principal excuse urged by many of the people for the neglect of public worship is the want of suitable clothing, a Dorcas society has lately been established by the ladies of the Congregation, to fit the more deserving for appearing decently in the house of God. The clothing thus supplied, it may be remarked, is not given gratuitously, but at greatly reduced rates; and thus a spirit of independence is fostered among the people, and the ability of the society for more extensive usefulness is increased. The scheme is yet in its infancy, but, so far as can be judged, it promises to be an important auxiliary to the mission. Already a few individuals have been equipped in Sabbath day attire, and are now join

ing with us in the services of the sanctuary. The penny savings' bank also continues to thrive and extend its operations! It has now no fewer than 500 depositors, with fully £100 to their credit."

IV. The Congregations, generally, of the Church, though not, in the ordinary sense, Mission Churches, yet in one way and another identify themselves with Home Mission work, and help it forward. They may not employ a particular missionary, and assign to him a district in which to labour; but, in several cases, as in Dumfries, they co-operate with other Christians in the employment of a home evangelist, and, through various benevolent agencies, contribute their part toward the Christianising of the land. They generally, too, contribute their proportion of the funds by which your Committee are enabled to carry on the operations with which they have been entrusted.

There is, however, one form of evangelistic effort to which, in conclusion, reference may be made-a form of effort applicable alike to all the Churches, and in which all the Churches, whether stronger or weaker, should heartily engage. Every Church should look upon itself as called upon to extend, in its own sphere, the knowledge of God through the instrumentality of its own members to diffuse the savour of the knowledge of Christ. In order to this, every Christian should look upon himself as designed to be a light of the world. He is to regard himself as a candle of the Lord, not to be hid under a bushel, but to be placed on a candlestick. Nor until the membership of the Church feel individual responsibility in connection with the manifestation of God, and His salvation here below, have we any reason to expect the period when "the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun sevenfold, as the light of seven days."

This responsibility, however, is to be manifested, not by mere religious talk and outward stir and bustle. The tongue, indeed, is to be employed by Christians in the service of God, and they are to speak the things that concern the King. But care is to be taken that the things spoken by the tongue should first be deep in the heart. The power of Christian effort lies not only in doing God's work, but in doing it in God's name and strength; they who do it being themselves full of faith, and of love, and of hope-a faith, and love, and hope, nurtured by daily devout meditation and habitual prayer. Christians will discharge themselves of their responsibility to those around them, only when their religion is operating within them as a sacred and mighty power, and when their characters are beautified by a divine and attractive morality. If Christians are to be evangelists to their neighbours, they must be able to speak about Christianity, not as something they have learned as matter of intellect and memory from a book, but as something that has become the life, and strength, and hope of their own hearts. Healthy evangelistic effort consists in bringing persons to a Saviour, whose saving power has been felt by ourselves. It was thus that Andrew, when he first found his brother Simon after having become a follower of the Lamb of God, said to him, "We have found the Messias. And he brought him to Jesus." It was thus, too, the woman of Samaria said, "Come, see a man who told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ." If the Churches, office-bearers, and private members alike, were in daily communion with their Saviour-Prince, and were cultivating this fellowship with Him as their prophet, and priest, and king, that they might be able to act as the teachers, and kings, and priests of the world, then we would have no want of evangelists: we would have evangelistic as well as evangelical Churches, and the time would not be long till the kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven would be in the hands of the saints of the Most High, and Jesus be reigning King throughout all the earth.

JOHN M'DERMID, Convener.

The Report was adopted, with thanks to the Convener and Committee. The Committee was reappointed, consisting of Revs. J. M'Dermid, T. Neilson, A. M. Symington, T. Easton, T. Ramage, and J. Edgar, with Messrs James Reid, John Robertson, and John M'Kelvie.

The Report of the Ministerial Support Committee was read by Mr HAMILTON, in the absence of the Secretary, Rev. T. Neilson.

REPORT ON MINISTERIAL SUPPORT.

Your Committee have, in the first place, briefly to state the business transactions of the past year.

On the 21st of May last the Committee met in Glasgow to make the usual offers and grants to the aid-receiving congregations, when it was ascertained that the sum on hand amounted to £268. After carefully considering the circumstances in each individual case, the Committee proceeded to make offers and grants to the amount of £215.

As a considerable proportion of the sum at their disposal arose from bequests and donations specially mentioned in previous Reports, it was judged prudent not to lay this out all at once, but so to regulate the expenditure, that aid might be obtained from it for a few years in carrying out the objects of the scheme. It may be proper farther to state, that the offers of the Committee were accepted, and the entire sum was, accordingly, in due course paid. The details are given in the appended schedule.

Synod having at its last meeting appointed the special public collection in aid of this scheme, as usual, to be made on the first Sabbath of October, the Convener and Secretary caused intimation of this appointment to be made in the Reformed Presbyterian Magazine for September. Of this intimation the following is an extract:

"We take leave to recommend that the collection be made punctually in all the congregations, both settled and vacant, on the day specified, or on such Sabbath either immediately before or after it as may be judged appropriate. "The sum required for the ensuing year is, as nearly as can be computed, £250. This sum. the Church is well able to contribute at a single collection. And as the Committee have no other means, but such as the collection supplies, on which to rely for carrying on their operations, it is fondly hoped that the liberality displayed on the occasion will be quite adequate to the requirements of the case.

"The sound principles on which the scheme is based, the great good it has already accomplished, and its vital importance to the comfort and well-being, not to say the continued existence, of the smaller congregations, are, it is believed, now generally well understood and appreciated. And we are specially anxious that, under present circumstances, the forthcoming collection should be both intimated and made in a hearty and generous spirit."

In the Magazine for April an additional notice was inserted, requesting congregations that had made the collection according to Synodical appointment, to transmit it to the Treasurer, and those that had not yet made it, to attend to the appointment on the earliest convenient Sabbath.

Such are the business transactions of your Committee during the past year; and when the Treasurer submits his statement, it will be seen how the Church has responded to the appointment of Synod, and to those repeated intimations by the Committee.

As the biennial statistics of the congregations were collected last year, the schedule will (with the exception of a few necessary corrections), of course, stand at present according to the returns then made, so far as this scheme is concerned. However, it is proper to state that two additional congregations, namely, Carnoustie and Laurieston, fall under its operation during the ensuing year. In both of these, ministers have been settled since last meeting of Synod, and both belong to the aid-receiving class, beyond the bounds of the six counties that fall under the operation of the Ferguson Bequest. While thankful for this gratifying increase of settled congregations, your Committee feel, and it is hoped the Church will also feel, the additional obligation of increased liberality, arising from the happy circumstance of having two new congregations added to the number of the aid-receiving class in one year.

It may be proper here distinctly to state the general rule of the Committee's procedure in all such cases :

When an aid-receiving congregation is settled, it does not participate in this fund till the settlement is intimated to Synod at its ordinary meeting, and the minister is enrolled among the members of that Court.

The object contemplated by this scheme, the sound principles upon which it

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is based, and the mode of carrying on its operations, have been so frequently and so fully laid before this Court and the Church, that it is not deemed necessary to enlarge upon them in the present Report.

The simple object is to augment the livings of ministers in small and poor congregations. It is specially trying when, in addition to the discouragement and depression of a limited and unproductive field of labour, a minister has to contend with humble poverty. And it is well known that in such cases, some £15 or £20 per annum make all the difference between comparative comfort and an intense struggle to make ends meet. The thing avowedly contemplated is to raise the stipends of ministers in aid-receiving congregations to £120 per annum, and a manse. Modest and humble, however, confessedly though this proposal be, it is yet, alas! far from being realised. And hence the Committee are in the position of men who, while unable to effect what they would, are thankful to accomplish what they can. It is, indeed, ground of sincere satisfaction and devout gratitude to God, that during the past eighteen years so many worthy families have been materially aided through this scheme, in providing things honest in the sight of all men.

The remarkable smallness of sacrifice to the Church by which this has been accomplished merits also a passing remark. In the first Report the minimum sum specified for carrying on the scheme was £360 per annum; and this was suggested among other reasons, on the equitable ground that it was less than the interest of the debt on the places of worship in the Church which had all been happily liquidated. Since then nearly £4000 of debt on manses have also been paid off, and yet the sum asked for the past year was only £250, or £110 less than was deemed necessary at the inauguration of the scheme some eighteen years ago. But for the providential interposition of the Ferguson Bequest in the six counties to which its operations extend, the sum requisite by the Church for carrying on this scheme at present, could not have been less than £600 or £700 per annum. The Committee have surely, therefore, good and solid grounds for urging that the comparatively small sum of £250 should be readily and cheerfully contributed towards this vitally important object. Nor should it fail to be mentioned and gratefully remembered, that the ministers of Hightae, Lochgilphead, and Stirling, have most generously waived their undoubted claim to participate in the Ministerial Support Scheme, which amounts on their part to the very handsome subscription of about £30 each annually.

In advocating the claims of this scheme, with the on carrying of which they have been entrusted, it must not for a moment be supposed that your Committee are either cold or indifferent to the other schemes of the Church. Quite the reverse. There is, in fact, nothing antagonistic between the Ministerial Support and the other schemes. They all contribute towards one grand harmonious end, and the importance of each in its own sphere is patent and unquestionable. At the same time it is surely evident, and is, or ought to be, conceded by all intelligent Christians, that the decent maintenance of an educated and faithful ministry is the primary and paramount duty of the Church. Let the time and expense of a minister's education, the social position that he must occupy, and the many claims upon his Christian benevolence, be duly considered, and it will at once be seen that no class of men are so inadequately remunerated.

A small increase of thought and liberality upon the part of the members of the Church would go far to set all things right on this head; but, unhappily, it is a subject in regard to which there is extreme difficulty in awakening any thing like healthy enthusiasm, and those who are the victims feel backward. from obvious, yet amiable considerations, to lift up their voice and honestly make known the true state of matters. Still, it is matter of devout gratitude that so much progress in the right direction has already been made. This, while good in itself, is specially valuable as the pledge and promise of a hopeful

future.

One thing, indeed, is still requisite to the full development and completion of this scheme, namely, that some provision be made for aged and infirm retired ministers. It is plain that out of the small incomes of the ministers of this Church nothing can be laid aside for the dark days of infirmity and old age. It is plain, further, that a large proportion of the congregations are quite un