The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-06 00:00:00

PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW.

GLASGOW, APRIL I.—Yesterday, the Pres-
bytery held their Ordinary Monthly Meeting. After some
routine.business, they proceeded to the Election of Members
for the General Assembly, when the following were chosen :
Rev. Principal McFarlane, Dr. Taylor, Mr. Dow, Dr. Gibb.
Mr. Gabriel Walker, Alex. M‘Grigor, elders.
Dr. III'LEAIT rose and said, that as G-overnment was going
to send out English. Missionaries to the West Indies, a mea-
sure which he considered of great importance, the Presbytery
of Glasgow would be sleeping on their duty, if. they were not
to look into this matter, because he considered that Scotch
Missionaries were necessary. He thought that it required their
serious attention; but if Parliament should pass their Bill be-
fore the General Assembly met, then their work was all in
vain ; however, he hoped they would use their exertions in the
mean time, and appoint a Committee to prepare an Overture
on the subject to the General• Assembly.
Mr. LAPSLIE thanked the Rev. Gentleman for bringing !lir-
ward the motion; it was one no doubt which concerned the
Scotch Church, and why not look to it ? He considered that
the Scotch Church should have as much power in sending
out Missionaries to the West Indies, as any other.
Dr. 314Gmr. considered, that as the Gentleman -of the Pres-
bytery had many friends in this City immediately connected
with the West Indies, there could be no want of information
respecting Jamaica- or_of any of the other Colonies, and let a
Committee be immediately appointed to prepare the Overture,
and transmit it to Parliament. If the Presbytery of Edinburgh
would- also prepare an Overture they may go both together, and
produce a greater sensation in the House.
The Presbytery then agreed that an Overture be immediately
prepared, and a Committee was appointed to attend to the pro-
ceedings in Parliament, and to adopt such effectual means as
seem best calculated for making a provision to those of our'
National Church in our West India Colonies, according to the
ordinances of Religion, and to the forms and usage of the Elta-
blished Church of Scotland.
A Committee was then chosen, viz.—Dr. Dewar, Mode-
rator ; Dr. M'Lean, Dr. M'Farlane, Dr. Gibb, Dr. Taylor,
Dr. Burns, Mr. Lapslie, Dr. Hankinef Dr. - Lockhart, and
Mr. Dick.

Mr. CLASON considered it absolutely necessary that there
should also be two Elders. Mr. Kirkland and Mr. Donald
Cuthbertson were then appointed. Dr. M`Lean, Convenor, and
five to.be a quorum. It was then agreed that the Committee
should meet here on Friday at two o'clock.
Mr. SMYTH said, that he was acquainted with a Mr. Ste-
venson, who had been 20 years in the West Indies, who could
give some information if it was required. A grecd to.
Dr. DEWAR, the Moderator, then read a letter from the
Reverend Mr. Clason, giving up his charge of the parish of
Carmunnock he had been elected Minister of hope-street
Chapel, in the parish of St. Ctithberts, Edinburgh, on the 13th
February last. .

,
- -
Mr. CLASON said, that he was truly sorry to leave the Pres.
bytery, but the place he had accepted was more suitable to his
views; he expressed his anxious desire that the Presbytery
mould, this day, accept of his resignation.
The Presbytery unanimously expressed their regret to learn
that Mr. Clason was about to leave this part of-the country.
The -resignation was then accepted, and Carmunnock Church
declared vacant.
Dr. DEwazt rose and said, that Mr. James Cleland had sent
to him a map of the City of Glasgow as a present to the Presby-
tery,_which he reckoned a very valuable document for the
Presbytery of Glasgow.
Dr. M‘GILL said, that the gratitude of the whole commtmity
was due to Mr. Cleland, not on this occasion only, but on
many others which he had never had . the power of publicly
expressing. Mr. Cleland was obliging in his manners, and of
a willing and humane disposition to serve any individual
within the sphere of his usefulness. lie hoped that the Pres-
bytery would give a Vote of Thanks to Mr. Cleland for his
kind and obliging conduct.
Dr. RANKINE moved, that a letter from the Presbytery,
with a Vote "of their Thanks be given to Mr. Cleland, expres-
sive of the high approbation the Presbytery entertain for
his attention to Public matters, and his services to the Pres-
bytery- of Glasgow : which motion was unanimously agreed
to.
The Report of the Committee, approving of the erection of a
new Gaelic Chapel for the West Highlanders, was read.
Mr. MAT,LHE, writer, rose, and in an energetic speech ob-
jected to this petition. lie considered a new Chapel unneces-
sary ;he alluded to several itvztances ; one was, that-of the sig-
natures to the petition—he *aild state and he was ready to
prove, there were several individuals who had their names two
or three times repeated; there were also a considerable number
who never gave their names which were also down ; there were
many of these individuals as residing in streets in Anderston
which were never head of; there were also the names of people
who had scats in the three different Cim.lic Chapels in'town ;
he had plenty of grounds to go on ; he could also mention
children, not above four years of age, who had their names
down. It was astonishing to hear of the nefarious way they had
in collecting signatures. lam instructed by my clients and am
bound and ready to prove, that this petition Stated, that -it was
from the West highlanders residing in Glasgow and suburbs;
in fact, there are subscriptions here where'th6 individuals do
not reside within 18 miles of this city ; if this be the suburbs it
was greatly enlarged since the last time he saw them. With
regard to the Duke-street Chapel, in the year 1822, the debt
upon it was 8491. 18s. 2d. unlet .seats 341, unpaid 49—Gorbals
Chapel, 533 seats unlet ; debt 5321. Upon these grounds, he
contended, that there was no nezd of a new Chapel.

Mr. MiGEoaciE rose and said, he was sorry to hear so
much opposition brought forward by his ftiend, Mr. Mathie.
If the Rev. Presbytery calculated on Mr. Mathie's statement,
there would never be another new Gaelic Chapel. his peti-
tion assumes, • anti the flowing language he • puts forth, as-
sans, that it will hurt the rest of the Otelic Chapels, but he
would state the reverse of that, if the Presbytery would take
Dr. Chalmers' opinion, which was as to a new Gtelie Chapel.
—The Rev. Doctor had often asserted, that a new Creche
Chapel was absolutely necessary, and be considered, that if
a new one was opened just now, it would be very well filled.
Whatever may be the argument, and granting of the petition
cannot in the least hurt the rest of the Ciwlic Chapels; and as
to the signatures, the proof that was brought forward about a
month ago in the Girlie Chapel, Gorbals, was, • that everyin-
dividual who had got the signatures, attested on oath, that they
were all genuine, anti none were below fifteen years of age, and
with the consent of the individuals. Mr. 314 G eorge had heard
it several times • asserted, that many of the names were not
Highlanders, hut, upon inquiry, it was found that the asser-
tion was incorrect. lie had a letter this day from a friend, who
states, " that if my name he objected to,' I have only to state,
that lam not a Highlander, but my wife is." He would. call
on Mr. Math-le, who has asserted so much, to point out the sig..
natures who are either fictitious or under age.
Mr. MATHIE said, that if the Presbytery called on hint, he
would certainly do so, but not till then.
The Presbytery, after considerable discussion, unanimously
agreed to remit the Report to the General Assembly, and. gave
it their hearty concurrence. Upon which Mr. Mathie protest-
ed, and prayed that he may be heard-at-the Bar of the General
Assembly by Counsel.
• Mi. LAPstar rose and said, he was sorry to say that inno-
vations were yet practised in our churches, he meant St. JOhn's,
the communion tables were not altered, as had been preseribed
by the Presbytery. .
It was alSo agreed, that the day after the communion be ap-
pointed for a Collection for the Sottish Missionary Society for
the propagation of the Gospel in India'. •
. The Committee is also continued regarding tine profanation
of the Sabbath-day.
The next Meeting of the Presbytery is to be lithl on the first
Wiiinesd 4- of :flay.—( Glasgow- Courier.)

NAVALCHARITABLESOCIETY.—The Qma rterly
Meeting of the Illembers of the Naval Charitable Society was
held yesterday at the Thatched House Tavern, •St. James's-
street; preset,t :—Viee-A d miral Sir RICHARD KEATS, in. the
Chair ; Vice-Admirals Sir Joseph Yorke, Hon, Sir Henry
Hotham, Sir Pulteney Malcolm, and 111..1... Scott ; Rear-M-
-mirals J. E. Douglas, Sir Charles Rowley, and W. 11. Gage ;
Commissioners 'Bowen and Thomson ; Lieutenant-Governor
Brewell; thirty-six Crptains, eight Lieutenants, &c. Sixty-
two petitions were taken into consideration, fifty-eight Of wh cit
were relieved with a-sum amounting to 071: 7,4., and font- w: re
rejected as inadmissible cases.