mittee reported that L.20, 15s., had been collected during the past year, and the society agreed to appropriate it as follows: To the Missions of United Secession Church equally, ... London Missionary Society, Scottish Missionary Society, Ladies Society for Propagating Christianity among the To Home purposes, ... Expenditure in connexion with Meetings, &c., £8 0 0 200 £20 15 0 To the Chinese mission, L.1; collected by the children attending the Sabbath school. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Messrs Thomson, Slateford; Cooper, Fala; Johnston, Edinburgh; and Robertson, Musselburgh, All the addresses were very suitable and impressive, and the audience seemed much interested. At the meeting L.2, 8s. were collected towards the funds of the current year. Kirkaldy, 16th May 1843.-The annual meeting of the missionary society, in connexion with the Rev. Mr Bain's congregation, was held here this evening. Mr Speedie occupied the chair. The funds, including a legacy of £10 from the late Alexander Beveridge, were found to amount to £33: 12:14,which was distributed as follows, viz. : £21 to Synod Mission Fund. £5 to London Missionary Society. And balance to London Jewish Society. Appropriate and impressive addresses on the various aspects of the missionary cause were then delivered by the Rev. Mr Bain, and Messrs James Dott, James Barclay, William Wilson, and Andrew Wilson. Notwithstanding the wetness of the night, the audience was very respectable, and seemed greatly interested in the statements made by the various speakers. Alloa.-Extract from report of the association for religious purposes, belonging to the First United Associate Congregation of Alloa : Books, Clothing, &c., for Mrs Watson's Box, Jamaica, In addition to the above, the following sums were given by the congregation during the year to other benevolent objects : A collection of £9 for the London Missionary Society is not included, because it was made on a Monday evening, and publicly intimated by bills. ORDINATION. KENNOWAY.-On Wednesday, the 26th April, the United Associate Presbytery of Cupar met at Kennoway, for the purpose of ordaining Mr Alexander Stewart of Galashiels, to the pastoral charge of the United Secession Congregation there. The Rev. Thomas Stevenson of Auchtermuchty, commenced the services of the day by praise and prayer, and preached the ordination sermon from Luke x. 4:-"Salute no man by the way." The Rev. Dr Taylor of Auchtermuchty, then narrated the procedure regarding the call; proposed the questions of the formula to Mr Stewart, which he answered in a satisfactory manner; and then offered up the ordination prayer, when Mr Stewart was set apart to the office of the holy ministry and the spiritual superintendance of the congregation, by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Dr Taylor next addressed the newly ordained minister, and was followed by the Rev. John Rankine of Cupar, who delivered an appropriate address to the people, and made respectful and feeling allusions to Dr Fraser, the late lamented pastor of the congregation. The church was crowded to the door, while the audience seemed deeply impressed and highly delighted with the solemn services; and at the close, gave a cordial welcome to their young minister, which must have been very gratifying to his feelings. In the evening there was a soiree, which being the first held at Kennoway on such a large scale, attracted great interest, and was attended by about 600 persons. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs Rankine of Cupar, Halley of Markinch, and Stevenson of Auchtermuchty, of the Secession Church; and by the Rev. Messrs Gorrie of Kettle, and Drummond of Cupar, belonging to the Relief. The address of Mr Halley on Christian Union, was especially eloquent and appropriate, and breathed a spirit of expansive benevolence to men of varying sects and persuasions. The Markinch vocal band added much by their sweet strains, to the pleasure experienced by the audience during the evening. The whole proceedings were conducted in an agreeable and orderly manner. On the Sabbath following, Mr Stewart was introduced to his congregation by the Rev. William Harper of Dubbieside, who preached in the forenoon; and in the afternoon Mr Stewart delivered an excellent discourse from Romans i. 16, on the importance and power of the gospel, to as large an audience as ever assembled within the walls of the church. The congregation of Kennoway has existed for upwards of ninety years; and, previous to the ordination of Mr Stewart, has had four ministers settled in it in succession, two of whom attained some celebrity as theological writers, more especially the last, who, beside his other works, is well known as the biographer of the Erskines. NO. VI. VOL. XI.-JUNE 1843. 22 PROCEEDINGS OF SYNOD. Broughton Place Church, Edinburgh, 1st May 1843. The United Associate Synod met. The Rev. John Smart, Moderator, preached a sermon on Matt. v. 14:-" Ye are the light of the world," and constituted the Synod with prayer. The Roll of Synod was called and the members present marked. The following changes in the Roll, since last meeting were reported : Taken from the Roll-Deaths.-There had been removed by death in the Presbytery of Kilmarnock, the Rev. Alex. Campbell, Irvine, March 2d;—in the Presbytery of Coldstream and Berwick, the Rev. David Inglis, Greenlaw, December 13th;-in the Presbytery of Lanark, the Rev. Sloan S. Christie, Crossford, May 7th;-in the Presbytery of Edinburgh, the Rev. George Brown, North Berwick, April 24th; and their names having been taken from the Rolls of the respective Presbyteries, were taken from the Roll of Synod. Demissions.-The Presbytery of Selkirk had received the Rev. James Clark's demission of his charge of the second congregation, Jedburgh, May 23d; the Presbytery of Kilmarnock had received the Rev. David Henderson's demission of his charge of the congregation of Dalry, May 31st;-and the Presbytery of Glasgow had received the Rev. John B. Munro's demission of the charge of the congregation of Cambuslang, September 13th. Their names having been taken from the Rolls of the Presbyteries, were taken from the Synod Roll. Added to the Roll-It was reported by the Presbytery of Glasgow, that they had ordained Mr Archibald Ritchie to the charge of the congregation of Campbelton, August 2d;-by the Presbytery of Paisley and Greenock, that they had ordained Mr William Lauder to the collegiate charge of the congregation of Port-Glasgow, November 23d;-and that the congregation of Lochwinnoch having applied, and been received by them as authorised by the deed of Synod, by which the Presbytery was erected, the Presbytery had ordained Mr James Monteith to the charge of this congregation, April 26th ;-by the Presbytery of Kilmarnock, that they had ordained Mr Thomas Mathewson to the collegiate charge of the congregation of Galston, March 14th ;-by the Presbytery of Dumfries, that they had ordained Mr David Bayne to the charge of the congregation of Urr, April 4th ;-by the Presbytery of Wigtown, that they had ordained Mr James Fleming to the charge of the congregation of Whit horn, July 6th-by the Presbytery of Selkirk, that they had ordained Mr John Baird to the charge of the second congregation of Jedburgh, January 18th ;-by the Presbytery of Lanark, that they had ordained Mr Henry Paterson to the charge of the congregation of Stonehouse, August 19th ;-by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, that they had ordained Mr Andrew Duncan to the collegiate charge of the congregation of Mid-Calder, September 29th ;-by the Presbytery of Dundee, that they had ordained Mr Walter Muckersie to the charge of the congregation of Ferry-Port-on-Craig, June 8th; and Mr Laurence Gowans to the charge of the congregation of Broughty Ferry, February 7th-by the Presbytery of Arbroath, that they had ordained Mr Robert Forbes to the charge of the congregation of Letham, October 25th; and had inducted Rev. George Walker to the charge of the congregation of Johnshaven, October 27th;-by the Presbytery of Cupar, that they had ordained Mr Thomas Stevenson to the charge of the second congregation of Auchtermuchty, June 14th; John Ogilvie to the charge of the congregation of Crail, April 25th; and Mr Alexander Stewart to the charge of the congregation of Kennoway, April 26th;-by the Presbytery of Aberdeen, that they had inducted the Rev. Robert Paterson to the charge of the congregation of Midmar, December 14th-by the Presbytery of Stewartfield, that they had ordained Mr John Callendar to the charge of the congregation of Craigdam, November 3d ;-by the Presbytery of Newcastle, that they had ordained Mr Thomas Bowman to the charge of the congregation of North Sutherland, November 8th; and Mr James Douglas to the charge of the congregation of Hartlepool, February 1st; -by the Presbytery of Elgin, that they had ordained Mr Adam L. Simpson to the collegiate charge of the congregation of Forres, May 19th;-by the Presbytery of Stirling and Falkirk, that they had ordained Mr James Duncan to the charge of the congregation of Alva, February 15th; Mr John Steedman to the collegiate charge of the first congregation of Stirling, August 17th; and Mr Andrew McFarlane to the charge of the congregation of Bathgate, May 1st. Their names having been added to the Rolls of the respective Presbyteries, were added to the Roll of Synod. Translations. It was reported that the Presbytery of Glasgow had loosed the Rev. David T. Jamieson from the charge of the congregation of Busby; and that the Presbytery of Kilmarnock had inducted him to the charge of the congregation of Prince's Street, Kilmarnock, November 2d;-that the Presbytery of Kilmarnock had loosed the Rev. Alexander Duncan from the congregation of Girvan; and the Presbytery of Glasgow had inducted him to the charge of the congregation of East Regent Street, Glasgow, June 30th ;—and that the Presbytery of Edinburgh had loosed the Rev. Andrew Thomson from the charge of the congregation of Lothian Road, and inducted him to the collegiate charge of the congregation of Broughton Place, June 28th. Mr Elliot, Moderator.-Proceeded to make choice of a new Moderator. Messrs Andrew Elliot and William Fleming were proposed as a leet. A vote having been taken, Mr Elliot was chosen, and took the chair. Committee of Bills.-Appointed a Committee of Bills and Overtures, to meet to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock, with the power of adjournment.-Dr Beattie, chairman; Mr Duncan, clerk. Dr Brown stated that he had received a communication for the Synod from the Rev. Dr Mitchell, Professor of Biblical Literature; Mr Alexander Duncan stated that he had a communication to present from his fathe:, the Rev. Dr Duncan, Professor of Pastoral Theology. The Synod agreed to receive these to-morrow, immediately after the devotional exercises. Appointed for conducting the devotional exercises to-morrow forenoon, Messrs William Fleming, and William France. The Presbyteries of Perth and Kirkcaldy were appointed to meet at the close of this sederunt. The Presbytery of Newcastle, to meet to-morrow forenoon, at 10 o'clock. Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock. Concluded with prayer. Same Place, Tuesday, 2d May, 11 o'clock a.m. The Synod met, according to adjournment. The Moderator commenced the devotional exercises with praise and prayer, constituting the Synod; and was followed by Messrs William Fleming and William France. The minutes of the former sederunt were read. Resignations of Professors Mitchell and Duncan.-Dr Brown read and laid on the table a letter from the Rev. Dr Mitchell, Professor of Biblical Literature, the tenor whereof follows: To the MINISTERS and ELDERS of the UNITED SECESSION CHURCH, in SYNOD assembled. Glenarbach, 28th April 1843. REV. AND DEAR FATHERS AND BRETHREN,-At your Session, in May last, you were informed, by a communication from myself, that the hand of God had touched me, and I solicited that you would be pleased to provide for carrying on that department of the Theological course, with the conduct of which you had entrusted, and honoured me; while, at the same time, I intimated that I should endeavour to do what little I could to aid in its administrations. At that period, such was the nature of the disease of which it had pleased God to send me a premonition, and such the effects of the medical applications which were necessary to ward off the ultimate crisis, that had I listened to some of the promptings of my own spirit alone, I had then given in my resignation. But the state of the church, the advice of brethren, and my love for the interesting office with which I was invested, as well as the happiness I felt in attempting to farther the education of pupils who had all along, in succession, approved themselves assiduous and affectionate, induced me to prefer the intermediate measure which was then suggested, in the hope that, by the blessing of God, I might be restored to former health and strength, and enabled still for some time to fulfil the duties of the class. But although I have in mercy escaped several of the worst and most prominent evils usually attendant on the malady with which I have been visited, yet my strength has by it been "weakened in the way;" and under the pressure of age and the infirmities consequent upon it, I can no longer entertain such an expectation. I found, too, that my anxieties about the class, my partial attendance in the fulfilment of my implied pledge, and the little that I did, particularly in the closing address, not only retarded my recovery, but threw me back in the way to it. Above all, a most afflictive bereavement which has lately befallen me, deeply affecting my spirit, and greatly enfeebling my strength, forbids me to expect such a result as I had hoped for, and seems, as with the finger of God, to point out the course I ought to take. For I feel that I can no longer bring unbroken health, unimpaired energy, and unabated spirit, to the discharge of duties, at once, in my apprehension, extensive, arduous, and delicate, requiring all that in me lay in my best times for their assiduous and somewhat adequate prosecution. I beg leave, therefore, humbly and deferentially, to transfer to the disposal of this court that office, most important as I conceive in itself, and certainly most interesting to me, which about seventeen years ago you confided to me. The administration of it, always heavy, would now be oppressive. Its momentous responsibilities I dare not any longer continue to undergo. Always deeming myself inadequate to its multiplied and onerous functions, I should now feel that I was altogether incompetent for them; and, therefore, cherishing a strong sense of the importance of the duties of the chair, I now devolve them on your wisdom and guardianship, and pray that the "Counsellor of Israel" may guide you in all your deliberations in this and the other subjects affecting the usefulness and honour of the ministry of the saints by your instrumentality. I close by expressing the grateful sense I have of your kindness to me, and the humble hope that my feeble services for you and the church of our blessed Lord, have not been altogether in vain. May the Lord guide you “in judgment just alway:"-may he cause his face to shine on your sanctuary and seminary-may he bless his own church in all her departments in our beloved country and throughout the world, together with all institutions of sacred learning:-may many sons be born to him in Zion-may he cause to come forth from the schools of the Prophets many who shall bear the oracles of God and the message of salvation to their brethren of mankind everywhere, until the earth be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea, and men be blessed in Emmanuel, and all nations call him blessed.--" Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wonderous things. And blessed be his glorious name, for ever and ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen."-With sentiments of peculiar regard and attachment, I ever remain, yours very affectionately. (Signed) JOHN MITCHELL. Mr Alexander Duncan communicated a letter from the Rev. Dr Duncan, Professor of Pastoral Theology, which was read, as follows: Mid-Calder, 25th April 1843. REV. AND DEAR BROTHER,-You are aware that it has pleased God, in his wise and holy providence, to lay his hand upon me in a way which incapacitates me for active service in the gospel of his Son. Though it is more than a year since I was first visited with the affliction under which I still labour; yet, at the time of the meeting of Synod, last year, the progress of my recovery warranted the indulgence of the pleasing hope that I should be able, when the period for the meeting of the Theological Hall arrived, to perform all the duties connected with the office to which I had been appointed. The expectation I then cherished, God was pleased to disappoint, so that the assistance |