The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-23 00:00:00

LiTEST INTELLIGENCE: THE
,TWENTIETH SYNOD OF THE PRES-
! BYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND.

On Monday evening the twentieth eynod of the Presbyte-
rian Church in England commenced their sittings at St.
George's Church, Myrtle-street, Liverpool. A most impres-
sive sermon was preached by the ex-moderator, the Rev. John
Weir, of London, after which the business of the very reverend
the synod was proceeded with.
The following members and elders were present :—Elders---
Mr. James Adam, Belford; Mr. Thomas Gray, Norham ;
Mr. Robert Barbour, North Sunderland ; Mr. Alexander
Gillespie, Lowick Mr. John Johnston, Horncliffe ; Mr.
Robert Lamont, Broad-street, Birmingham ; Mr. William
Howitson, Dudley; Mr. Robert Murray, Stafford; Mr.
Thomas Bele, Workington; Mr. James Lachlison, White-
haven ; Mr. John Sorley, Birkenhead ; Mr: Alexander
Chalmers, Canning ssreet, Liverpool ; Mr. Thomas Jones,
Douglas, Isle of Man ; Mr. Hugh Donaldson, Islington,
Liverpool ; Mr. Thomas Matheson, Ancoats, Manchester ;
Mr, Amos S. Thornton, Grosvenor-square, Manchester ; Mr.
James Burt, Dingle ; Mr. David Milne, Bolton ; Mr. John
Barbour, Crewe; Mr. William Hannah, St, George's, Liver-
pool ; Mr. David Shannon, St. Peter's, Liverpool ; Mr. Adam
Glendenning, Chester; Mr. Thomas R. Arnott, Warrington ;
Mr. famed R. Brougham, Leeds; Dr. Alexander Macaulay,
Chelsea ; Mr. Robert Roxburgh, Greenwich ; Mr. Nathaniel
Cotes, Islington, London; Mr. Robert Wilson, Sohn Knox;
Air. William B. M'Kean, Gurnsen Mr. James Watson,
Regent's-square, London : Mr. Robert Lockhart, Southwark;
Mr. David Blyth, Dalston ; Mr. Lawrence Gibson, Maryle-
bone, London • Mr. Martin Lonie, Blyth ; Mr. William IC.
Coubrough, Monkwearmouth ; Mr. R. Baird, Birdhope, Craig ;
Mr. John Nichol, Branton; Mr. Thomas Bele, Wassenford ;
and Mr. John Walker, Glanton.

Ministers—Dr. John E. Mackenzie, Broad street, Birming-
halt ; Mr. George Lewis Dudley; Mr. James White, Hanley;
Mr. James Speers, Stafford ; Mr. Joseph Burns, Whitehaven ;
Mr. Alexander Douglas, Workington; Mr. Robert H. Lundie,
M.A., Birkenhead; Mr. Joseph R. Welsh, M.A., Canning
street, Liverpool ; Mr. David Blelloch, Crewe ; Mr. James
Clelland, Douglas, Isle of Man ; Mr. Alexander Cromar,
M.A., St. George's; Mr. Walter Smith, St. Peter's, Liverpool ;
Mr. J. C. Paterson, St. Andrew's, Manchester; Mr. Robert
Steel, Salford ; Mr. William M'Can, Trinity, Manehester ;
Mr. David Blyth, Wigan; Mr. William Hunter, Chester ;
Mr. Alexander Thomson, Bradford ; Mr. Joseph Wood,
Warrington ; Mr. George J. C. Duncan, Greenwich ; Mr.
Thomas Alexander, M.A., Chelsea ; Mr. John Weir, Isling-
ton, London ; Mr. William Keedy, John Knox; Dr. James
Hamilton, Regent's square, London ; Mr. Joseph Fisher,
Southwark ; Mr. John Wright, Southampton ; Mr. Henry
Gamble, Windsor ; Mr. Thomas K. Anderson, Gateshead ;
and Mr. John Walker, Amlwch.

On the motion of Dr. Hamilton, of London, the Rev. G.
LewiS, of Dudley, was unanimously elected Moderator.
After the Moderator had delivered his inaugural address,
the following committees were appointed :
Committee on elders' commissions and to visit records of
Synod :—J. Wright, D. Blyth, William Keedy, R. Roxburgh,
and T. Glover.

PRESBYTERY RECORDS

Committee on Presbytery records :—Dr. Mackenzie, W.
Harvey, T. Alexander, De D. Munn, D. Belloch, C. A.
Mackenkie, S. Cathcart, W. M. Thompson, S. Kerr, W.
Parlain, James Hood, A. Macaulay, James Burt, and John
Thorburn.

COMMITTEE ON BILLS, OVERTURES, &C.
The Moderator, the Ex-Moderator, Dr. Patterson, Dr.
Munro, Professor Lorimer, W. Chalmers, Dr. Hamilton, J.
R. Welsh, A. Cromar, J. Frazer, J. Storrie, James Speers,
R. H. Lundie, A. Murdoch, and the clerk, ministers, and
Messrs. R. Barbour, A. Gillespie, H. W. Matheson, Colonel
Anderson, W. Hay, M. Lonie, T. Gray, R. Lamont, J.
Boothwick, and H. Donaldson.

A committee consisting of the Rev. V. M. White, Dr.
Mackenzie, Rev. W. Foster, Mr. Robert Barbour, and Dr.
Macauley, were appointed to draw up petitions against May-
nooth, Sunday trading, Sabbath desecration, &c.
A committee was appointed to revise the standing orders,
after which the Synod adjourned to yesterday.

The Synod re-assembled at one o'clock yesterday. The
Moderator in the chair. There was a full attendance of
members.
After the 121st Psalm had been sung, and the 28th chapter
of St. Mathew read,
The Rev. Mr. Wright brought up the report on elders

commissions, and suggested that all Presbyteries should be
instructed to make accurate returns of their congregations, and
to forward the aims to the synod clerk.
The report and suggestion were agreed to.
At the wish of Mr. Gillespie, his name was removed from
the bills' committee.

The Rev. Mr. Lundie brought up the report in the order of
business, the first on the list for the consideration of the
Synod, being the overture from the Presbytery of London on
church extension.
Professor Lorrimer supported the overture. He said that
it would not be necessary for him to introduce the motion
with which he intended to conclude on the subject of the
overture with any lengthened need be

statement, as nothinM

said with regard to its being the plain duty, and
obvious interest of their church, to seek its
extension in England, and more especially in its
great seats of population, industry, and influence. That
was a statement in which every one of them should concur ;
but it might have been expected that, as it was their plain duty
and obvious interest to seek the extension of their church in

England, they would have adopted some thoroughly considered
scheme, in order to carry forward such an object. It was a
. ..

very remarkable fact, however, that their church never had a
church extension scheme. The matter had been left entirely
to the chances of local zeal—of local perseverance and energy.
He did not mean to say that much had been done through
these hap-hazard local efforts ; but it seemed to him to be the
most obvious corollary to the proposition, that it was their
duty to seek the extension of their chutch, that they should
prosecute that church extension in a well-considered and
thoroughly organised way. He therefore thought that they
should at once take steps to organise a scheme of church
extension, and include under its head the object of church
building. It was true a committee was appointed some years
since, to consider the matter of church building; but, un-
fortunately, circumstances occurred which hitherto retarded,
and probably would continue for some time to retard, its
vigorous prosecution in the hands of that committee. The
scheme, however, propounded by the committee laboured under
one radical defect, which was—that while the committee pro-
posed to call on the church to contribute to a central fund, for
church building, it put no limitation upon the districts to be
served by that central fund. By it, the least influential, as
well as the most influential, parts of the country would be
equally entitled to share in the fond. Now, the members and
congregations of the church did not desire to see it extended
anywhere and everywhere. What they wanted to see was a
definite encouraging prospect, that their church was
to take possession, in succession, of those great
towns and cities in England, where alone it could attain to a
permanent and influential position, and where it alone could
hope to derive that support that would enable it to stand high.,
year after year in this country. The purport of the overture,
now before the court, was to suggest to the synod to take steps
in order to secure a scheme of church extension, founded on
this fundamental principle, that it should not be a scheme for
extension anywhere or everywhere, but a scheme for extension,
by the erection of churches in certain definite localities. The
Presbytery of London did not mean, in their overture, to
bind themselves or the synod to any present plan, butt they
suggested that ten churches should be built during the next
five years ; that a fund to the amount of £lO,OOO should be
raised in five years, at the rate of £2,000 a year, one half of
the fund to be reserved as a loan fund, and the other half to be
spent in grants ; that the loans should be free from interest,
and should not exceed £5OO in any case, and should be made
on the condition of a certain amount of local subscriptions being
forthcoming. They also suggested that four of the churches
should be erected within the bounds of the Presbytery of
Loudon, three within the bounds of the Presbytery of Lanca-
shire, twe within the bounds of the Northern Presbyteries, and
one within the bounds of tho Presbytery of Birmingham. The
English Presbyterian Church was in a very different position
now from what it was twenty years ago, and it was desirable
that they should not confine the views of their members to
what they had been and now were, but should teach them to
look forward with cheerful anticipations to what, with the
blessing of God on their efforts, their church would yet be.
The Church of England in London were going to raise half a
million of money in ten years, for tho erection of churches
withinii that city ; and with such an example before them he
thought the Presbyterian Church of England should be
stimulated to the exertion now demanded of them. In conclu-
sion, the reverend gontleman moved that the subject be
referred to a select committee to report to the next synod.
The Rev. Mr. Monroe seconded the motion. There was no
doubt, he said, that there had been grievous impolicy in the
conduct of the Presbyterian Church in England in times past.
Churches had been established in rural districts in which
there was no prospect of adequate support, and which in conse-
quence had proved but ecclesiastical abortions. He felt that
the Presbyterian church in England had a mission, and that if
they were faithful to the trust committed to them by Divine
Providence, in the present eventful times, many of the
labourers in the vineyard might live to see of their labours,
and when they were mouldering in their graves succeeding
generations would " rise up to call them blessed." He had often
thought that if some of the most talented of their ministers
were perfectly freed from their charge for a certain time, and
permitted to go forth as evangelists to the largo cities of
England, they might be the means of stirring up an interest
in their Presbyterian church, and its noble scriptural standard
of church government, which was at present unknown amongst
the people. He also thought that open-air preaching was one
of the most important expedients that could be adopted for the
purpose of promoting a knowledge of the glorious gospel of the
blessed God.

The motion was unanimously agreed to—the committee to
be named hereafter.

The next business was the consideration of the petition of
the mayor, on part of the trustees of St. Andrew's Church,
Birkenhead, praying. that the management of the pecuniary
matters of the church might be vested with the trustees.

Rev. Mr. Lnndie supported the petition, and explained that
there were twelve trustees, of whom six were sessional and
six lay. From an omission or error i❑ the account, the for-
mer trustees had the management of the pecuniary affairs of

the respc

the &met, and as the others shared L'
they were equally entitled to participate i 4 Jill Dia"gerneni.
Mr. Sully seconded the adoption of the pou'tion.
pra b 0 yerl-_
il3g
Mr. Barber opposed it on the ground of iti; ,
uncalled for and improper. . ed that
Mr. R. Lamont supported the motion, and obses alone
out of all the trustees and congregation, Mr. Barber.
i opposed the alteration now sought for. 13.'
On the motion of the Clerk of the Synod, seconded by
Rev. Mr. Alexander, the matter was referred to a corn
reittee

to report on.
The next business was an overture from the Presbytery of
Lancashire, to adopt a scheme for the purchase of reversiona
01,
annuities to ministers, on reaching the age of sixty-fiver an`f
to instruct all Presbyterians at the ordination or induction ,
every minister, to see that the congregation make the
dratneces
nary provision for the purchase of an annuity not less of
£5O, payable to the said minister on his reaching the age
sixty-five. ointcd
Mr. Gray supported the overture, and, in doing se,
out that at present in the church there was no SUS
fund available for the support of ministers, either immediate or
ultimate. He did not intend that ministers should in anY:g,
contribute to this scheme, and though he should wi9b t
more for them as they themselves deserved it, still he thondObte
that under present circumstances no other schemeol.
suggested. It would not press heavily on any congregatrodelto
and if the minister died before the age of sixty-fiver alid be
money so paid would not be lost, as two-thirds of it Wow
returnable to his executors.
Mr. Hodson seconded the motion,
The Ex-Moderator expressed how much indebted the
tern were to Mr. Gray for such consideration en their behar
and said that though there were difficulties in the way et.:;,
scheme, he thought they could be grappled with

overcome.
The motion was adopted, and the matter referred to

committee

U. recoil'''.

The next business was an overture from Berwic
mending the Synod to take steps for the stirring up of cong
pD
gations to the scriptural and equitable obligation re
e:stingt
them to make provision for the sustentation of their minis:lat
The Rev. Mr. Murdock supported the overture, and•inAf the,
a painful, but unhappily too true, a picture t
difficulties and cares of a minister's position in a poor distralcf:l
with a stipend less than the salary of a railway Porte
bet to.
expected not only to maintain a position in societh , big.
contribute towards tne relief of the poor and afflicted 01
00
congregation. In this particular, be thought, they bad g:s.er
into the opposite extreme—from an over rich church to an
famished church. „gbich
The discussion was adjourned to a future day ; after "
the Synod adjourned to half-past six o'clock in the tvierli4.

so drew

The Synod re-assembled at half past six o'clock.
Moderator in the chair.

After prayer hsd been offered up, A who'
The Clerk of the Synod introduced M. jacqua,r";,i -
attended as the deputation on behalf of the Church in Pc'e
The Church in Belgium, he observed, was quite 2 AY °;:rs r
church, or rather was the resurrection of a very old 3° ",,,firs.
honoured church. It was said that the blood of them ,iso
was the seed of the church, but that blood might be Eve
idy
largely and extensively as to almost extinguish the ch",,st
itself. And so had it been in Belgium. Persecution 110;1
the church had been so active as to obliterate oloo„s' e:bea
trace of it, and it was only since the revolution of 183v9,
liberty was given to all to profess the religion of the'r.t bad
science, that it began to revive. Since then, however, 1,014
grown year after year, and in the very scenes where the il'ai the;
blood had been shed, many delightful manifestations ° or,
Spirit's work had been given. The people were verY
and not numerous, and therefore the mission, for the Be ech,
church had properly taken the title of a missionary ev-ITrfelt
was almost entirely dependent on extraneous support'
that
convinced that that support would still be continued, 2. d
the mission would in time prove a credit to the church, an
blessing to the land in which it was being developed. synod
M. Jacquard then came forward and thanked the re.
for their kind reception of himself, and for the large tOie3sfithat
of support accorded to the church in Belgium. lie eal whours
they met the greatest opposition to their missionary the
from the priests, and that they were denounced freT; bed
Roman Catholic pulpits, and in books, especially Publ's tbe
for the purpose. In this anxiety of the priests to suPPre_B! dif
mission, was to be found the best proof of its success;
the same support which had hitherto been generousll:be,
tributed towards it were still continued, that success $00'"
year after year, largely increased. were
On the motion of the Clerk of the Synod, thank' ti
voted to M. Jacquard, and the mission commended to
generous consideration of all members of the church. the
Mr. R. A. Macfie was appointed treasurer, to receive
contributions.

Dr. Hamilton brought up the report on foreign missions.
ots.
Mr. Mathison treasurer, read the statement of ac'"tug
in connection withl the mission. The total receipts fora the,
year, including a balance in hand, amounted to £2,385 1.,°11,T5;•
total expenditure (of which £1,352 was on China) was 1+1)vio
leaving a balance to be carried over of £Bl3 8a lid. cos
treasurer recommended that, as the Rev. Mr. johneoe
too ill to make domiciliary visits to the friends of the e'l;
contri ;e
l
they themselves would kindly come forward with the
dons which they might feel satisfied in giving toward'
China mission . free'
The Rev. Mr. Johnson, lately returned missionary
China, and who was accompanied by a young native con:icor;
addressed the Synod at some length, and detailed the err, toy,
of his missionary labours, particularly in the district of ffichin,
He clearly pointed out the difference between India and ,0 of
as fields of missionary labours, but stated that the great afiur to
the missionaries in both countries was the same, natnelY:u
raise up native agencies through whom for all time t° ra• ebted
gospel of Christ might be preached to their now beeigtoo
thcountrymen. In accomplishing that aim, however, leu colt
means could not be employed in both countries, for whi vrorlif
presented certain peculiar conditions favourable to thedi3 tlto
each also had difficulties peculiar to itself. Tu I° pea
ra
knowledge of English was a vast acquisition to the 'lto', that
qualifying them to high offices in their countrYs and -oe
acucioteu ns
sufficient
ffiethei
entto
desire
induce
ua ceqeutihree
ma
tkonvoiwsiltedagt ea of the
riskth Jan Pal si o
ci
the tuu soh.
ary schools. In China, on the other hand, 7,,gear,
inducement prevailed, and then the English d thje
was at a discount. But if China preseute.ahouts'
difficulty, it also presented an advantage for missional
Jio
over India, in the higher moral tone of its PeePle°lll still
urged the Synod to continue their mission in China Ii
greater energy, assuring them that all the favourable co support
for a large success were now in existence there. Tod NIP
the mission in Amoy alone, there would he require, 'extol&
from £1,500 to £1,600 a year, but they should alei° roe of
their labours further, and conduct them with
energy.
d hir
On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Murdock, 8,---ride,l tr- a
Rev. Mr. Frazer, the report was unanimously acloPtel,eadogo
commission appointed for the ordination, on Thursday
°
of the Rev. Mr. Sardiman, as a missionary to China. stood,
The native convert then, by invitation, addressed thlolotoner
His observations were interpreted by the Rev. Me. Puootri
and were as follows :—I have been going about the uieg
with my teacher, and I have seen many of God's Pulrejoiee
as I see a great many pastors and people of God here, that the
almost as if I had seen the Lord himself. I a like deg
rejoice t"uf the
people of God, and those especially who are the teachersbeosuse
i
church are showing such love to China. I trust it .children
God loves China, that he is directing his downf
to love it thus. When I left China many people esili° teach
and trusted that you would send out more teachers s° who
their countrymen. I pray God to multiply the teacheriiijot if
go to China, and desire that you will reverently Pray true
God does add to the church in China, they will he ar' brigt.
disciples, and not false ones, who bear the name of
-
(Applause.) oclP'
The Ex-Moderator brought up the report on r.. ect,
A memorial from Mr. R. A. Macfie was read on the suof a
in whioh he pointed out the difficulties in the way on
compilation of a hymn book, from the difference of vie"" 0
certain subjects among congregations, and invited the attenti"
on the subject.
The Rev. Mr. Munro, while giving every credit to the
committee for their diligence and zeal in the matter, (Vora
proved of the collection of paraphrases laid before the Sfn°o
for their approval. He did not say that they were deficieet
piety, but he regretted in looking through it that there,
should be so little poetic wisdom and discernment is „;•161
collective Church. It was difficult to define taste—it wsB"
more difficult to express what it was, but he should object.:
in liming to the very first specimen. He believed thatthat.
United Presbyterians had a hymn book much superior to
which had now been brought before them by the e°l,l,6ean'd
wisdom of their church. (Cries of " Yes, Yes'
"No, no,")
of the
The Rev. Mr. Campbell expressed himself in fav°lll:, to bf
compilation, and mentioned that the specimen objecte" any c.
Mr. Monroe had, to his own knowledge, moved In

sinner.
The Rev. Mr. Anderson moved that the report be rceelca:
that they approve of the dilligenco of the col:u rn
instruct them to revise and publish the collection, for th
of such congregations of the church as might desire to a
themselves of it. netted
The Rev. Mr. Whewell seconded the motion, but regred
.0.
that the conamitte had not included soy of the hymnB use
the early and middle ages. the
The Rev. Mr. Lundie objected to the collection, on
ground that it would he distasteful to most congregationst.
moved that a new committee be appointed, to prePlouptlool
tional paraphrases, with due regard to variety do
literature ittee,e
0:10

The Rev. Mr. Clelland seconded the amendment.
The Synod rose at half-past ten o'clock, when the discus
was adjourned to half-past ten o'clock this morning.

SCOTCH AND IRISH PATIPERS.—OD Monday a deputationl
consisting of Mr. Rickards, the chairman of the Manebest''d
board of gnardians, Mr. Harrop, the clerk of the board, an
Messrs. Low and Lings, overseers of the township, bad 'tr.'
interview with the Right Hon. E. P. Buuverie, at the (4`m
of the Poor-law Board, on the subject of the bill relating to
Irish and Scotch removals, now before parliament.