The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-05 00:00:00

PRESBYTERY OF EDINBURGH.

EniNnuaGH, APRIL (—The Presbytery held
their ordinary monthly meeting yesterday, at which, after the
minutes of the former aederunt had been read, the following
Ministers were unanimously elected to represent the Presbytery
in the ensuing General Assembly, viz.

Rev. Dr. Brunton, Tron Church
Dr. Brown, Old Church
Dr. Johnston, North Leith /
Dr. Robertson, South Leith Ministers.
Dr. Inglis, Old Greyfriars
Dr. Duncan, Rath°.

Dr. OnANT then proposed that the Right Hon. Chas. Hope,
Lord President of the Court of Session, Dr. Hare of Calder-
hall, and Baillie Brown, be elected ruling elders, to represent
the Presbytery in the ensuing General Assembly.
Dr. A. THOMSON also proposed Baillie Brown, George
Ross, Esq. Advocate, and William Murray, Esq. to be elected
elders.

A division then took place, when there appeared for Dr.
Grant's nomination, 24 ; and for Dr. Thomson's, 21. Ma-
jority in favour of the Lord President, Dr. Hare, and Baillie
Brown, 3. _

Dr. LEE, acting as clerk, then read the overture which Dr.
Baird had submitted to the Presbytery at their last Meeting,
viz. "That the General Assembly may appoint a Committee to
inquire, and report, as to an advisable plan fOr the Church to
adopt, for increasing► the means of education, and of religious
instruction throughout Scotland in general, wherever these may
be needful, but particularly in the Highlands and Islands,
and in large and populous cities and towns, in which the condi-
tion and habits of children of the poor demand, in these times,
the most deliberate attention."

Dr. BAIRD, in rising to support his overture, was happy to say
that it would be unnecessary for hint to go into any detail as to
the objects of his motion—its principle was fully understood,
and its general utility and necessity admitted. It was not neces-
sary to expatiate upon its merits, whether in relation to the state
of the country, or as to what were the particular duties they had
to perform in regard to it as Ministers of the Gospel. On the
state of the country he should mention a few facts,_ which
would convince them that these were wants which it was
incumbent upon them, as ministers, to provide for. His mo-
tion, however, would refer more particularly to the means of
education, but it would rest with the General Assembly to give
their authority to sanction and support its operations. The only
thing which remained for him to do was, as it-were, to make
out a case to the Presbytery, that there really was need for
their stepping forward, in regard to the education of the people,
as well as for additional places of worship. The general state
of education in the Highlands and Islands was pretty well
known, from the reports of the Society for Propagating Chris-
tian Knowledge, as well as the Gaelic School Society ; but there
were still several facts that had come to his knowledge, which
might not be generally known. He had in his possession a great
mass of papers, containing more information upon this subject
than was perhaps possessed by any other member of the church.
—As far back as the year 1812, Mr. Brougham applied to
the General Assembly to give their countenance and support to
the inquiry he was then making, in order to ascertain the real
state of education in Scotland, England, and Ireland. But
as the queries submitted by Mr. Brougham did not go the
whole length which the Assembly thought necessary, from
the peculiarities of the Scottish Church, a Committee was
appointed to assist in making the necessary inquiries, and
sending the returns to Mr. Brougham, that he might pre-
pare and mould them into that shape which might best an-
swer his purpose. Mr. Brougham, with whom he (Dr. Baird)
had long been on friendlygohrnapinbritiss,agftearlwrnaorsdts
everysent hloianriishbacikn
those returns; he had therefore now in his possession between
700 and
d 80101eoflt
of them,
ould be only necessary to notice a few
of those returns; to satisfy such as might have any doubt
of the state of education in the Highlands. Some ex-
tracts, however, from those which referred to the Synod of
Glenelg, would dispel the doubts of members. (Dr. Baird
here noticed the returns from the parishes of
'Gairloch, Portree,
Lochcarron, the Small Isles, South and North Uist, Barra,
Harris, &c. die. in the synod f Glenelg, which contained a po-
pulation of about 70,000,0 f whom nearly 50,000 could not read.)
The Reverend Principal, in continuation, said, that notwith.
standing the labours of those persons sent out by the Society for
Propagating Christian Knowledge and the Gwlie School Society,
—and these labours were of great value—yet, with all these ad-
vantages, there yet remained a great deficiency in the Synod of
Glenelg. What had been said of Glenelg, might be applied
with equal truth to the Synods of Argyll, Caithness, &c. He
had lately seen a letter from the parish situated in the Synod
of Moray, which had a population of about 1800. This parish
is divided by a rapid river, the Spey, 1201) of its parishioners
live on one side, and 600 on the other; of the latter who
reside in the Rothiemurchus side, only about 60 persons can
read. With these facts before them, could the Presbytery for
a moment hesitate to take such steps as were in their power to
remedy those evils ? There were many good men who thought
it their duty to support missions for the spread of the gospel in
distant 'lands, and in that they had his most cordial support.
But he still was of opinion, that it was our first duty to teach
our fellow citizens at home the truths of the gospel, which
could be done in no other way so effectually as by teaching them
to read the sacred volume. Dr. B. said lie would sit down in
the strong hope of obtaining the unanimous concurrence of the
Presbytery in the object of his motion.
Dr. DAVID RITCHIE seconded the motion. It was unneces-
sary for him to do more, for if it were in the power of the
Church to devise any means by which the people could be
benefitted, it was their duty to attend to them.
Dr. THOMPSON was fully aware of the extent of the evil
complained of—that it was great, and required an immediate
remedy ; but he did not like that such a statement as had been
made by the' Rev. Principal shoiild go abroad as he had made
it, because he thought the facts were overstrained. There had
been a great deal done by the Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge, and by the Gaelic School Society, since the returns
from which he had quoted were made, which were as far back
as the year 1819. He was much inclined to think, that in the
number of those who could not read, were included the child-
ren as well as the adults. Now, he never understood it was their '
duty, nor was it possible, to teach infants. It was, therefore,
by no means surprising, that sucking babes could not read. He
made that remark, not with the view of detracting from the
overture, but merely to shew that a stigma of carelessness was
more apparent in idea than in reality.
Dr. BAIRD, in explanation, said, that notwithstanding what
had been done by the Societies mentioned by Dr. Thomson,
whose reports came down to 1822, there yet remained much
to be done; and the returns he had referred to did not aptfly to
such as were anon age, or were incapable of being taught,
but they included all between the ages of seven and seventy.
Dr. le;GLis admitted the importance of Dr. Baird's motion.
He happened to be a member of a committee of the Gene-
ral Assembly, which had for its object the consideration of
a subject very intimately connected with his Reverend Friend's
motion, the state of religion in large and populous cities and
districts. That Committee had recommended that a school
should be established in every parish within the bounds of
the church, which were to be supported by funds to be ap-
propriated under an Act of Parliament ; circumstances had
hitherto prevented the accomplishment of that object, but
the General Assembly w ere in hopes that in the course of
the present Session it would be attained. Certain obstacles
which had existed were in progress of being removed, and it
was probable that in the course of a year or two that the mea-
sure would be carried into full operation, and additional schools
as well as churches would be established. He had no intention
whatever to throw cold water upon the measure of his Reverend
Friend ; he merely made these remarks to show that the sub-
ject had never been lost sight of by the Church. They had at
their last meeting recommended a general collection, and be did
not like the idea of again going up to the Assembly with a de-
sire that they wished a second collection to be made—this was
the only part of the overture to which he objected.
Dr. BAIRD said, whatever might be the wish of Dr. Inglis,
the effect of his remarks went to throw cold water upon the
motion ; he would, however, endeavour to warm it again. He
was not sure if the Bill which was in progress would answer
the purpose to the extent he (Dr. Inglis) anticipated ; -it only
went to the building of a church in each parish. Now, his ob-
ject was not only to teach by preacteing in a particular spot,
but by itinerating where it might be necessary, and also by
establishing more schools than one in a parish.
Dr. INGLis again remarked that it was not 50,0001., but in
fact the sum which would be given would amount to 150,0001.
to be appropriated for the support of religion in Scotland, by
building and endowing churches. Government having, besides
building the church, engaged to pay the stipend of the encurn-
bent, at the rate of 1001. per annum, which would amount to
40001. annually. This sum was snore than could at present be
conveniently got for a capital of 100,0001.
Rev. Davin Dicwsow said, that in !the friends of foreign
missions, Dr. Baird would find his most warm supporters, but
he thought the Presbytery were bound to do something, in
order to ascertain what was the actual state of education within
its own bounds.

Sir H. MosICUIEFF had little confidence in public collec-
tions—a little money might indeed be obtained, but that was
all--something more efficient was necessary. The overture had
his most cordial support.
After some further observations from various members, the
overture was adopted.
Dr. LEE moved that a Committee to appointed to examine
the state of the Schools within the bounds of the Presbytery,
and to report. He suggested that the Committee should con-

silt of such members of the Presbytery as could conveniently
attend, and the minister of the parish in which the school was
situated to be convener.
This motion, after an animated conversation, in which Sir
H. Moncrieff; Dr. Inglis, Dr. Brunton, Dr. D. Ritchie, Rev.
D. Dickson, Mr. Solicitor-General, and several others took
part, was agreed to.
Dr. A. Tuoinsow postponed till next ordinary meeting of
Presbytery, his motion regarding the acceptance by one of the
Presbyterian Ministers of Calcutta of secular office.
The Rev. D. DICKSON then laid on the table a number of
papers relative to the appointment of the Rev. Patrick Clason,
of Carmunnock, to St. Cuthbert's Chapel of Ease; which
having been read, Mr. Dickson said, that in consequence of
Mr. Clason being a member of the Presbytery of Glasgow,
which only met on the same day (yesterday) with themselves,
Mr. Clason could not tender his resignation sooner, and re-
quested that the Presbytery might meet on Saturday, for the pur-
pose of receiving the certificate of that genllernan's resignation
of his present charge.—(Edinburgh Observer.)