It

so much cannot be said of him; he has given evidence of his kind intentions, at least. would be well for him to sit down and endeavour to acquire that information which he attempted to shut out from the people; no man in the parish stands more in need of it, according to all accounts; but perhaps he would not be ashamed although the hinds of the parish were to excel some of the heritors, both in acquaintance with, and regard for, religious information. It must be a sad system that needs to be propt up by gagging interdicts, and shutting out the people from information. No, no, Mr. Blair, you were born two or three centuries too late thus to wield the weapons of popery against the liberties of Scotsmen. But the light has got in, and will doubtless spread with rapidity, until it has acquired sufficient strength to exhibit, in their native colours, the dark designs of the intrusionists and oppressors of the people. The meeting took place at Kinfauns church, as announced by the minister, and a most harmonious and enthusiastic meeting it was. After able and eloquent addresses by Mr. M'Lagan, and Mr. Milne of Perth, a Church Defence Association was formed under the most interesting and encouraging circumstances. The attachment of the people to the cause of the Church, and the affection they manifested for their minister, exhibited much of the spirit of the presbyterians of the olden time. And the annoyance which Mr. M'Lagan had that day been exposed to in defending himself and his people from the attempt to bring down interdicts upon them, must have been disregarded, and esteemed as nothing, when one of his aged and excellent parishioners addressed him, at the close of the meeting, thus-" Ah sir, they may interdict ye, and they may tak yer manse and yer glebe frae ye, but I'll sooner lay down my head on the block than pairt wi' you as my minister!"

The following is Mr. Sheriff Barclay's note above referred to :

"Note.-The sheriff substitute desires to deal with this application just as he has been accustomed to deal with every other case of interim inderdict which has come before him. The remedy of interim interdict on an ex parte statement is one of an extraordinary nature, and is to be exercised with great caution. It reverses the usual rule of justice, that a party is entitled to be heard, and the case proved against him, before he be judged. Its only justification rests on its being preferable to prevent evil, rather than to remedy its consequences. The sheriff substitute has ever made it his practice not to grant interim interdicts as mere matters of course, but to discover from the applicants' own statement, or from a hearing of parties, whether it be safer, and more consistent with

ultimate justice, to defray granting, or to grant the interim interdict craved. Thus where any new use is attempted to be made of property --such as an erection said to be an encroachment-there exists no difficulty in at once granting the prohibition, because that less damage will be sustained by the delay in completing the erection if it be eventually found it may proceed, then in removing it when completed if it be found that it ought not to have been erected. On the other hand, where an interdict is asked against use, and possession enjoyed, or against a party admittedly in the right of a subject or office, the sheriff substitute has ever made it his practice to reserve consideration of the interdict until the cause is fully heard. He feels satisfied that his practice is consistent with the principles of justice, and he knows that it is in accordance with the practice of the supreme court, who frequently pass bills of suspension, while they refuse to grant interim interdicts. In England, (if the sheriff substitute is not mistaken,) the power of issuing interdicts or injunctions is one not of the common law, but forms part of the equitable jurisdiction of the chancellor, and must therefore proceed on affidavit.

Applying these principles to the case in hand-where the act sought to be stayed is only one and not continuous-if the interim interdict be granted, the pursuers have gained their object, whether in the end they be found right or wrong, while the minister's object is defeated, and he and his parishioners subjected to much inconvenience, although in the end he may be found to be entirely in the right. If in the result he be found in the wrong, he will be sufficiently punished by the infliction of costs; and it is impossible to conceive what damage, inconvenience, or detriment, the two heritors complaining can substantiate by an assembly of the parishioners in their parish church.

"The sheriff substitute has not had time to look fully into authorities, but he always understood that the church was erected and upheld solely for religious and ecclesiastical purposes; and that its custody and charge for such purposes was solely in the minister. The only two authorities he at present recollects as bearing on the question, are cases of interdict at the instance of ministers against heritors, or those standing in the place of heritors, and in both cases interdicts were granted. Lord Meadowbank, as reported by Mr. Shaw, gave a very clear and decided opinion in both cases. In the Edinburgh case, his Lordship remarked, 'when the legislature provided for the erection of places of public worship without saying who were to be custodiers, I would pray your lordships to consider who, a priori, might be expected to be a custodier.

If

"The question, therefore, for the sheriff substitute at present to determine, is whether it appears, at once and without doubt, that the meeting convened for this afternoon, in the parish church at Kinfauns, is for a purely secular or political purpose, or for one strictly religious and ecclesiastical. it clearly appears to be of the former description, then the wrong intended must be prevented by an interim interdict; but if there be a doubt, such, it is thought, must first be resolved before the minister, as legal custodier of the church, can be held as intending to abuse his holy office and charge.

"The minister is the recognized ecclesiastical organ in the parish, and he, in the first instance, is the proper judge of what is and what is not a proper use of his church. He, in this case, convenes a meeting of his parishioners, for what he states is strictly a religious and ecclesiastical purpose. Two of the heritors say, in their opinion, it is not. The presumption, as has been said, is in favour of the legal custodier and the ecclesiastical person, who is amenable to his ecclesiastical superiors for the proper exercise of his office. The minister, however, may form an erroneous opinion as to the extent of his powers and the proper application of his church. If, on the face of the notice of meeting, or on the minister's statement of the intended proceedings, it clearly appeared that the meeting is one secular or political, any heritor, or even perhaps any parishioner, might stop the desecration of the church. The sheriff substitute has got no concern with conflicting opinions on matters of state or ecclesiastical polity-these he altogether excludes from his consideration; and he looks at the question solely as a lawyer, and one of pure and technical law. As a judge, he knows nothing but what is contained in the proceedings; and from these he cannot find, contrary to the minister's solemn declaration, that the meeting is one not strictly ecclesiastical. There can be no doubt as to that part of the proceedings which consists of religious worship, although it is possible (if a minister can be found guilty of so great depravity) that these services might be prostituted for purposes strictly political. As little doubt can exist as to the minister addressing his parishioners on subjects which he considers of a religious import. The only part of the proceedings where the sheriff substitute entertains a doubt, is where the

assembly resolves into a meeting, with a chairman, and are addressed by persons, one of whom at least does not belong to the parish, and where a society to oppose a legislative measure is intended to be formed. It is difficult, if not impossible, in dealing with an established church, to define the exact line which separates the civil and ecclesiastical provinces; but it can never be pretended that all endeavours to obtain or prevent any legislative measure, must of necessity be political and not religious. That depends entirely on the nature of the measure. The Confession of Faith itself is embodied in an act of parliament.

"The sheriff substitute (whatever may be his own opinion) cannot enter into the question of expediency of holding meetings in places of public worship, even on questions of an ecclesiastical nature, where a difference of opinion unhappily exists in the church, both amongst its ministers and members. All that he has at present to consider is, whether there is enough admitted to show that the meeting is one not of an ecclesiastical nature. This he cannot find on the face of the proceedings; and, therefore, in the absence of all authority, he is constrained to decline granting the interim interdict, whatever what may be his ultimate judgment when the case is ripe for decision. (Signed) "H. B."

GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S FOREIGN MISSION-DESIGNATION OF FOUR MINISTERS AS MISSIONARIES TO INDIA.-On Wednesday, the 12th ult., agreeably to a previous notice, the ceremony of designating, or setting apart, four ministers of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as labourers in the missionary cause in India, was performed by the presbytery of Belfast, in Dr. Cooke's church, May-street. Never have we witnessed, on any previous occasion, a more numerous or respectable auditory, including a large number of persons in connexion with other religious denominations, as well as hundreds of the presbyterian clergy of this province, many of whom had come from a considerable distance in order to be present and take part in this most interesting and affecting ceremony. On the platform, which was erected for the occasion immediately below the pulpit, sat abreast the four gentlemen who have cheerfully given themselves for this good work, namely, the Rev. Adam Glasgow (brother of the Rev. James Glasgow), James M'Kee, Robert Montgomery, and James Henry Speirs. We observed also Dr. Cooke, Rev. James Morgan, Dr. Edgar, Rev. Mr. Gibson, Rev. Mr. Hamilton, Professor Wilson, Dr. Hanna, Rev. Mr. Henderson, Rev. D. Hamilton, Rev. Dr. Coulter, Professor Killen, Rev. Mr. Bellis, Rev. J. Shields, Rey,

J. Meneely, Rev. J. M'Aulay, Rev. J. Millar, Rev. J. Porter, Rev. W. Blackwood, Rev. J. Orr, Rev. J. M'Kenzie, Rev. G. Morrison, Rev. S. M. Dill, Rev. J. Rowan, Rev. J. White, Rev. W. Magill, Rev. W. White, Rev. A. Montgomery, Rev. J. King, Rev. J. Brown, Rev. J. Moorhead, Rev. J. Greer, Rev. W. Campbell, Rev. W. Graham, Rev. J. R. Leslie, Rev. R. Knox and H. M'Manus (Irish Home Missionaries), Rev. A. Breaky, Rev. H. Leebody, Rev. H. Simpson, Rev. D. Patterson, Rev. H. Hazlett, Rev. W. Wallace, Rev. S. Allison, Rev. J. Rodgers, Rev. J. Steen, Rev. J. Murphy, Rev. Thomas Toye, Rev. Professor Cairns, Rev. J. M. Morrow, Rev. J. S. Brown, Rev. H. Brown, Rev. W. Watt, Rev. J. Carson, Rev. G. Jamieson, Rev. R. Gault, Rev. S. Dunlop, Rev. S. Blair, Rev. S. B. Shane, Rev. R. Winning, &c. &c.

Dr. Hanna having ascended the pulpit, the proceedings were commenced with singing and prayer, after which Rev. J. Morgan ascended the pulpit and preached an eloquent sermon suited to the occasion. The preacher took for his text the 67th Psalm, 1st and 2d verses. Mr. Morgan was followed by Professor Wilson, who offered up a short but impressive prayer, and then proceeded to deliver an explanation of the presbyterian form of ordination, which he defended with much force and distinctness. He stated, with reference to the important occasion which had brought them all together, that the preliminaries for the departure of their missionaries to the far distant lands of India were all arranged, and that they only waited to be solemnly set apart. Two of them, he said (Rev. Mr. Glasgow and Rev. Mr. M'Kee) were already ordained, so that the ceremony need not be again repeated-the remaining two (Messrs. Montgomery and Speirs) would now receive ordination at the hands of the presbytery.

The usual questions which the church of Scotland demands of her ministers, were then put to those two gentlemen by Professor Wilson. Dr. Edgar offered up the ordination prayer, in which the audience fervently joined, and the rite of ordination was then concluded.

After the ordination, Dr. Cooke delivered a brief charge to the ordained brethren, and concluded by suggesting that as many of the clergy who were in town, and who would not return home that evening, as well as other friends, should meet at 8 o'clock in the same place, for the purpose of holding a prayer meeting, and for commending their missionaries to the care and guidance of Almighty God. The meeting was accordingly held at the appointed hour; the devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. Mr. Gibson, of Belfast, assisted by Rev. Mr. Shields,

of Newry, and Rev. Mr. Paterson, of Saintfield. The audience, on both occasions, evinced a deep interest in the proceedingsmany were deeply affected, and the prayer that the Almighty arm would uphold their missionaries, and bear them through all the dangers and temptations to which they might be exposed whilst separated from their native soil, was inwardly and earnestly implored by all.

ANOTHER Vacancy has fallen to the crown, that of Kettle, by the death of Dr. Barclay. The parishioners applied to the Home Secretary for permission to name a leet of four or five individuals, with either of whom they would be satisfied. An insolent note was received in answer, dated 3d curt., in which Sir James Graham states, that he requires no list by the parishioners of Kettle to guide him in advising the crown as to the presentation." Of course not. We wonder

that the parishioners had ever expected that Sir James Graham would condescend to take their advice in a matter in which, says Mr. Cook, of Laurencekirk, they have "no interest."

ARBROATH INTRUSIONISTS.-The Dundee Warder having dealt pretty severely with some of the leading intrusionists of Arbroath, the wrath of the body, which has the complete command of the public readingroom, was stirred to the utmost intensity. A meeting of the managers was held for the purpose of discarding the obnoxious publication. To the great disappointment of the clique, however, the majority was in favour of continuing the paper. Nothing daunted, a general meeting of the subscribers was called, and held on Thursday last, when, by a majority of twenty-seven to five, the object of the moderate members was, in the meantime, gained. How anxious are some people to display to the world their dread of enlightenment! The only paper

now taken into the room favourable to the proceedings of the church, is the Montrose Review. We would strongly advise these men to cast off that periodical also; and then there will be no fear of a ray of truth breaking in upon the cimmerian darkness in which they delight to be enveloped.

WE understand that Mr. Charles Johnston, preacher of the gospel, Greenock, was on Thursday elected minister of the church and parish of Old Monkland, vacant by the death of the Rev. William Thomson.

HUNTLY, Wednesday, December 22, 1841. -This evening a numerous and enthusiastic meeting was held in the new church, of members and friends of the church of Scotland, for the purpose of forming a Church Defence Association. The church was crowded in every part, and there certainly must have been nearly 1000 people present. Mr. Sin

clair, the assembly's missionary in the parish, presided; and the meeting, besides the chairman, was addressed by Messrs. Cordiner, of Forgue, and Thorburn, of Forglen. Admirable and appropriate speeches were also delivered by Messrs. Sellar and Watt, elders; and by Messrs. Andrew, M'Pherson, Robert Littlejohn, Robert Morrison, and William Andrew, managers. An association, with a numerous and influential committee of management, was formed; and the whole proceedings manifestly proved that a spirit of zealous adherence to the church, in her present struggles, has not been on the decline in Huntly.

[The following letter from Dr. Cooke appears in the Irish papers :-]

"To the editor of the Belfast Commercial Chronicle.

"Dear Sir, I think it a duty I owe to the ministers, elders, and people of the General Assembly, to state that, according to the latest information I have received, my confidence' in the settlement of the affairs of the church of Scotland, in a manner satisfactory to her non-intrusion committee, not only remains unchanged, but, in so far as any thing human may be called certain, amounts to certainty.

"In making this statement, I wish it to be distinctly understood, as I formerly stated, that I disclaim all knowledge of the opinion either of the premier or the cabinet. But, at the same time, I have friends who, I believe, confide in me, and in whom, at all events, I confide; and relying upon whose judgment, I do not hesitate to make this announcement, as one that, I believe, will fully be realized.

"H. COOKE.

"Ormeau-road, 1st Jan. 1842."

BLAIRGOWRIE.-PROGRESS AND ARTS OF THE SCOTCH PUSEYITES.-Considerable interest was excited in this place on Sunday, the 19th ultimo, by the commencement in it of public worship according to the forms of the episcopal church. The town-hall having been neatly and appropriately fitted up for the purpose, divine service was conducted by the Rev. J. Marshall, the newlyappointed rector of the congregation; after which, and subsequent to the reading of some documents relative to the formation of the congregation, and to the introduction of the Prince of Wales's name into the prayers of the Liturgy, the rev. gentleman delivered an opening address. Having taken for his text, "I saw Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd," 1 Kings xxii. 17. He began by repudiating, in the most distinct manner, all idea of its having been his intention to set up a mere proselytising establishment at Blairgowrie, or of

his having originated that establishment from motives of hostility against, or of undue rivalry with, other denominations and sects of Christians, and their respective ministers; stating, however, that to a conversion of persons from these denominations and sects, when the result of proper motives, he, as a minister of what he considered, and was bound to believe to be, the only pure branch of Christ's holy catholic and apostolic church in Scotland, neither could be, nor would be, indifferent. For the propagation of a knowledge of the principles of episcopacy, he intimated it to be his design to commence, in a short time, a series of lectures on the Book of Common Prayer, on the thirty-nine articles, and on the past history and present state of the episcopal church.

EXTENSION OF PRESBYTERIANISM.-A presbyterian church has been erected in Broomfield, in the Baroney of Ferney, between Castleblaney and Carrickmacross. The Rev. Samuel Blair Shaw has been recently ordained in this district, and his congregation have engaged, in the most spirited manner, in erecting a plain and substantial house of worship, capable of accommodating about 400 persons. Mr. Shaw has been collecting for this highly deserving object in Dublin, and has come to Belfast to solicit subscriptions. The case, we understand, is very cordially recommended by Rev. Drs. Hanna, Cooke, Edgar, Mr. Morgan, Mr. J. Wilson, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Bellis, &c.

MORE SYMPTOMS OF THE TONE OF HEAD QUARTERS.-An evangelical preacher lately called on a friend in Edinburgh, who has considerable influence with government, and, amongst other things, spoke of his desire to be employed. The gentleman in question stated, that he had no doubt something migh be done for him if he were "of the right sort;" i. e., if he were an intrusionist, and, of course, had no objection to be escorted to his church by a body guard of cavalry, or rural police. The preacher remonstrated, but was assured with an oath, that if he were his brother, he could not promote his prospects on any other terms. Well might a sensible old man remark lately, that we seem to have got a new "Clavers" (Claverhouse) in the Home Office. Graham is a very ominous, and it will soon again apparently become a very odious, name in Scotland.

THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE NEW MINISTRY. (Extract from a letter dated Elgin, Dec. 24, 1841.)-People in Elgin are at present on the tiptoe of expectation regarding their future minister, Mr. Wylie, who has just been appointed, and who is not the sort of man wished by the majority; but Sir James Graham having written that ministers would establish him in his charge, even

at the point of the bayonet, [will they?] They seem to think it would be useless to attempt to veto him, and therefore I hope will submit quietly.-London Courier.

The Rev. Alexander M'Glashan, Glasgow, has been elected by a very large majority, to the pastoral care of St. Andrew's Scottish church, London, vacant by the translation of the Rev. Dr. Crombie to the parish of Aberlemno.

UNIVERSITY REFORMS.-The University of St. Andrews, at their last monthly meeting, abolished the library dues hitherto exacted from the students at both colleges, and which formed a heavy tax upon the poorer students, who experienced great difficulty in paying the high fees in the united colleges, which were so improperly raised in 1829, and in consequence of which no fewer than forty-two students quitted the college in the following year; that is, the students in the next sessions were forty-two fewer after the rise of fees than they were the preceding year. The university also agreed to discontinue the 17. of depositmoney previously exacted from students, in security for the books which they borrowed. About two years ago the university abolished the fees of 41. 4s. for the degrees of A. M.; and the United College, with equal liberality, abolished the annual payment of 58. as bookage money.

MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE TWELVE JUDGES.-PresbytERIAN MARRIAGES.-The judges met in chamber, to consider a point of immense importance to the people of the north of Ireland, reserved by Judge Crampton from the last Armagh assizes. The question simply was, whether a marriage between a presbyterian and an episcopalian protestant, celebrated by a presbyterian clergyman, be valid? The meeting of the judges was private; but we have learned that their lordships have decided, by a great majority, that such a marriage is not valid-is, in the eye of the law, no marriage at all! It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of this decision. It will astound and afflict hundreds of the most respectable families in the north of Ireland, where such marriages have been of every-day occurrence, and have never heretofore had their validity brought into question. There must be, of course, an instant appeal to parliament on the subject. The decision is retrospective, as prospective, in its operation; and unless the legislature pass an act to protect the multitudes whom it will affect, its consequences must be really of a terrific character. But we cannot doubt that the legislature will interfere, promptly and effectively, if the presbyterians of Ireland exert themselves for their own protection. The judges were

almost unanimous in this decision, there being ten for it, and only two dissentientswho are understood to have been Baron Foster and Mr. Justice Perrin.

We have since heard from good authority that the solicitor-general intends bringing a bill into the House of Commons, early in the ensuing session, to legalize the marriages that have already been solemnized by presbyterian ministers, between members of their own church and episcopalian, which a recent decision of the majority of the judges has declared invalid in point of law. We understand, however, the relief afforded by the proposed bill will be retrospective, applying merely as a remedy for securing to the issue of such marriages the property and rights which would otherwise be alienated from them by the late decision of the judges. We have also heard that it is not intended to make any change in the law, as it at present stands, but that, in future, all marriages between episcopalians and presbyterians, to be considered legal, must be celebrated by clergymen of the established church.

SYNOD OF ORIGINAL SECEDERS.-This body met on Tuesday, January 11th, and was opened with an able and eloquent sermon by the Rev. Archibald Brown, Kirriemuir, which he was afterwards requested by his brethren to publish. The time of the synod was chiefly occupied in discussing articles of union between them and synod of original Burghers, and making arrangements for consummating the union. A deputation from the last-mentioned synod was introduced, consisting of Messrs. Hill, of Shotts, Anderson, of Carluke, and Headrick, of Longridge, whose addresses gave great satisfaction, and there is now every prospect of the points of difference between the two bodies being adjusted in an honourable and harmonious manner. The synod appointed a day of fasting to be observed in their communion, and that in May next, when the union is anticipated, they should renew the covenants, by entering into a bond suited to present circumstances.

GAELIC MISSIONARIES FOR EDINBURGH AND LEITH.-Mr. Lindsay, treasurer to the association for employing Gaelic missionaries or catechists in Edinburgh and Leith, has received ten pounds from a lady in aid of the object of that association. The existence of this society is new to us; indeed we understand its operations have commenced but very recently, and we heartily wish it all success. It originated with a few individuals who know the wants of their Highland brethren, and the value they attach to religious instruction and conversation in their native tongue, the only one, in fact, in