The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-05 00:00:00

SYNOD OF DUMFRIES.

The Synod of Dumfries met on Tuesday the
26th ult. after sermon by the Rev, Mr. Monza:llm of Tro-
queer, when Dr. BROWN of Eskdalemuir was unanimously
elected Moderator for the current half year. The Court next
proceeded to consider an overture for the enactment of a law
to abolish all pluralities in the Church ; and after Dr. Lamont
and others had been heard against the overture, and Mr.
31`Whir and Mr. Kirkwood in favour of it, a vote was taken.
which stood thus: Dismiss 19 ; Transmit 11; Majority for
dismissing B.—The following overture was then brought under
consideration by, Dr. H. Duncan :—" That whereas the fun.,
damental principle of all free-Governments is an equal participa-
tion of civil rights ; and whereas political disabilities imposed on
account of religious distinctions are altogether abhorrent to
the spirit of the Gospel as well as inconsistent with sound po-
licy, and whereas such disabilities tend to inflame dissention,
and to perpetuate, and render more inveterate the evils they
are employed to cure ; and whereas, a religion founded on ig-
norance and superstition, if left to itself, must vanish before
the increasing lights of the age ; and whereas, all the danger
which might otherwise have been apprehended from the
predominance of the Roman Catholic religion in Ireland
has been removed by the incorporating union of that country
with Great Britain ; for these and other reasons, it is highly ex-
pedient that the penal statutes enacted in times of danger, irri-
tation, and intemperate zeal, and still in operation, against the
Roman Catholic inhabitants, of these realms, should be abo.
lished, and that every class of his Majesty's subjects, without
distinction of sect or party, should be admitted to the full en-
joyment of British rights and privileges, as far as compatible
with the security of our present establishments in Church and
State: It is therefore humbly overtured to this very reverend
'court, that an overture be transmitted to the General Assembly
of the Church, submitting the subject to their serious conside-
ration; and-farther, that a petition be presented to Parliament
praying them to apply such a remedy to this great evil, as
they, in their wisdom, may find most efficaciom)..."' Mr. Wight-
Man M`Whir, and Mr. Kirkwood opposed the overture.
1)r. Duncan. was most anxious to' wipe away from the church
of -Scotland the stigma of illiberality. A noble opportunity
was now afforded of showing to the world that the ministry of
the Scottish Church rose superior to the prejudices natural to
y, however, he was
I.:atdiosppospoer(tiutnoitthrow
away;
ecclesiastics, and could be just and liberal to those whose prin.
wtrifia'draw his overture. Here the matter
and lie
;mei .ot es)ioe consented ta: condemned.tei
was alloi•ed to drop without any vote being taken on the
tscioitPerirr o
ttoirw
question.

her companions, a • n
has turned ;MURDERS.—(CLONmEL, APRIL 27.)—0n Saturday night
aatnNuneiwbrßtuirmnateingyhouainng. woman was
sup itusrendtttoo
hdlevAethuiebne:tita
tiiiiiionr-or,getw:annki-niiis,nt
Saturday rs
by two other unhappy prostitutes,
.fury,hom a
heldvrt
ecitoorfe wilful3i. Baker.m urder hason
eb eoefn
themfo tui d
prover, and both (Mary Connors and Ellen Johnston) havea--
been committed to Clontnel goal for the offence.—on
night a man of the name of William w'Hacke from Derr
h midway between this town and Caller, as grap , .
~ most barba_y-
rously murdered near the ringer-post adjoining
Woodroof, by
some person or persons as yet unknown, by whom his neck was
broken, and his skull dreadfully fractured by blows of stories
or some blunt 'instrument in different parts. • The body was
not found until yesterday morning, when it was traced by some
marks of Wed across the hedges Into Ploughed ground, a field
distant from the road where it was discovered buried 0)011(.3 feet
below the surface. The inquest was adjourned to Thursday next.
It appeared that on Saturday night, while a man was on firs Way
home with his horse and car near the scene of this Murder,
he perceived a man dragging another over the hedge front the •
road ; but being much terrified, he scented not to observe
what was passing till a chaise came up, to the driver of which
he cried out that he much feared a murder was commtting, and
begged assistance to examine the case ; hut,
shameful
to
say, the chaise was driven on without any attention being paid
to him. The deeettied had a few days previously been plaetd
iri care of some grotiricl from which the tenants were ejected.

BRITISII AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Yesterday the AnnUal Meeting 'of the Friends of the above
Institution waa held at the Freemason? Tavern; Lord B E XLE Y
in the Chair.

The Nonr.r. CnAritstist, after explaining the nature and
object of the Institution, requested the attention of the Meeting
to the Ref ort of the proceedings of the Society during the past
year, which was read by the Secretary. It stated, among other
facts, that the Society had, during that time, distributed 80,000
Bibles in different parts of the globe.
The Earl of "HiIitROWBY, after remarking upon the gratify-
ing statements contained in the Report, moved tlzat it be
adopted, and ordered to be printed.
• The Reverend Wit. Drag TRY said, the importance and
usefulness of the Bible Society were now universally admitted.
Although there were still many extensive countries, where the
Holy Scriptures had never been heard of, yet, by the exertions
of the Society, he hoped ere long to see the time when they
would be distributed throughout the whole globe, anti the'
knowledge of the,Lord cover the earth, as the waters cover the
sea. He trusted that the Meeting would not relax in their
exertions towards prcznioting the objects of a Society:which had
already been productive of such beneficial effects. He had
attended several of their Anniversary Meetings, but none had
ever yet given him greater pleasure than the one he then had
the honour of addressing. lie concluded by seconding the mo-
don, which was then put and carried unanimously.
The Bishop of LICHFIELD and Covp:xTur said, that the
Society were particularly indebted to' the exertions of his Right.
Hon. Friend (Lord Tei,mmouth), who for the last twenty.years
had been unwearied in his exertions for the benefit of the cause.
He regretted that severe indispOsition prevented his attendance
among them, but although unable to attend, he was convinced
his heart was with them, and he would rejoice to hear of the
success of the Society. He concluded by proposing a resole-
tion of the thanks of the Society to Lord Teignmouth, for' his
exertions in- its behalf, and a request that !.e would continue to
act as its President.

The Earl of ROCKSAVAGE Seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously. •
The Hon. CHARLES SHORE returned thanks on the part of
his father (Lord Teignmouth) And was received with con-
siderable applause.
The Rev. S. WHITE, of Boston, the Representative of the
American• Bible Society, said he" felt happy to inform them,
'-that in his native country every possible encouragement was
given to Bible Societieti. 11,e had lately travelled through dif.
ferent parts of the Continent, and in even some of the princi-
pal cities, not a single Bible could be obtained, the consequence
of which was a total want of, morality arhong the people,
which he hoped the exertions of the SOciety would one day
remove.

Lord CAtTHORPE was happy to hear that Bible Societies
were established in America, and that the cause of religion re-
ceived their support. He congratulated the Meeting .on the
increasing prosperity of the Society.
The Rev. Dr. AlonnisoN, and several other Gentlemen,
then addressed the Meeting, which ...after passing a vote of
thanks to the Chairman, who acknowledged the compliment
in a short speech, separated.