The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-05 00:00:00

CHAPELS OF EASE.

The Clerk read some overtures on this subject, complaining
of the violation of the barrier Act, by the admission of the
Chapels of Ease ; and also one from the Presbytery of Aber-
deen of an opposite character.
Principal HALDANE moved that the resolution of the last
General Assembly be rescinded, and that it be remitted to a
committee to consider and report to this Assembly, and after-
wards to obtain the opinion of Presbyteries.
Dr. COOK seconded the motion.

Dr. P. MACFARLANE stated that his former objections to
this measure bad now been removed. He concluded by show-
ing the necessity of certain modifications in the Act, and moved
in substance, that the Assembly see no cause to disturb the Act
of last Assembly in regard to Ministers of Chapels of Ease,
and, therefore, reject the overtures laid on the table thereanent,
which motion was seconded by Mr. Dunlop.
Mr. GRAY, of Woodside Church, Aberdeen, advocated the
cause of the chapel ministers, contending that the Act of last
Assembly was no innovation, and that it introduced no new
principle. He hoped that the members on the other side would
not persevere in a hostility which would be so lacerating to the
feelings. Such an Act, he was sure, would go far to alienate
the affections of the congregations from the Church of Scotland.
A long discussion ensued, for which we cannot possibly find
room.

A Committee was appointed to consider the Act of Assem-
bly, 1798, respecting the erection and constitution of Chapels
of Ease,. and to prepare an overture to be transmitted to Pres-
byteries, embodying the regulations to be observed in future.
It was also agreed to include the overtures anent the erection
of new churches, together with the references anent Gaelic
chapels, to a large committee, with power to sub-committee.
The Assembly then adjourned at 10 o'clock.
Wednesday, May 27.

TRINITY GA SK.
The Assembly took up the case of Trinity Gask. It ap-
peared, that the parish having fallen vacant shortly after the
passing of the Assembly's Act respecting Calls last year, the
parishioners sent a list of three individuals to the patron, Lord
Kinnoul, requesting his Lordship to make choice of one of
as minister of the parish. This his Lordship declined,
presented Mr. Gray to the vacancy. After some discussion,
themandNir
C. FERGUSSON moved, " That the Assembly approve
of the reference, sustain the appeal, and, as it appears on the
record that the proceedings in the case of the presentee have
not been in conformity with the directory of last Assembly, re-
mit to the Presbytery of Auchterarder to proceed with Mr.
Gray's trials, and with instructions that the heads of families
may state any special objections to Mr. Gray to be considered
by the Presbytery, and disposed of as if no moderation of the
call had taken place."
Dr. BRUNTON seconded the motion.
Mr. A. DUNLOP contended, that no neglect or omission on
the part of the Kirk Session or Presbytery in fulfilling the
injunctions of the Act of Assembly anent calls could take away
the right of the parishioners to dissent from a minister being
intruded on them against their will.
Dr. COOK said, the interim act of last year laid down a cer-
tain position—it laid down a fundamental principle, that it was
the law of the Church that no minister should be intruded on
a parish contrary to the will of the people, and declared that a
disapproval of the majority of the male heads of families, com-
municants, was sufficient.

Thursday, May 28.

CHURCH EXTENSION•

Dr. CnALmEas read his report, which stated that the first
care of the committee had been to make known their appoint-
ment throughout the Church, and to the various individuals
fliroughOut the country who were well known for their attach-
ment to the Establishment. The result of their labours was

on the whole most satisfactory. The Rev. Doctor then, enu-
merated the various new places of worship which were com-
pleted, or in the course of preparation, and went into a variety
of details as to the subscriptions and donations. Bu't although
the subscriptions and donations had been so great during the
first year, of course they could not expect the mime liberality
in future. Their aim was not accommodation only, but cheap
accommodation, so as to congregate the lower orders in the
house of God, not by individuals, but by families. But this
essential object could never be achieved as long as the scat-
rents formed the fund for the support of the clergyman;
and unless they were assisted otherwise, they might despair of
bringing back the Church to that efficiency it possessed in
former days, when it forced its way into the bosom of every
household. The first step was no doubt to build churches,
and that might be done by private exertion. The next great
step, however, was to relieve the people of their support, and
for that they must look to the powerful hand of a good and
wise Government, who, with comprehensive views, saw that
the highest work of patriotism was to encourage the spread of
religion, and thus stem the tide of irreligion and immorality.
The munificence of the subscriptions afforded the best answer
to all those sophistries that had been lately maintained against
the Church of Scotland, although there were unlet sittings in
the Established Churches, and also in the Dissenters' ; but
when people were too distant it was no answer to tell them
that there was plenty of accommodation twenty miles off.
The number of people who had an opportunity of going to a
place of worship, but did not do so, was also no argument
against their scheme, as it only showed the amount of good
undone. They could never make head against the accumulat-
ing profligacy and irreligion if they did not get cheap sittings
for the poorer classes, and additional facilities for the visitation
of clergymen, and active and zealous elders. The manner in
which a vast majority of the working classes were at present
left unprovided or in all large towns, clearly showed the ineffi-
ciency of the voluntary system. In thus endeavouring to pro-
vide the inestimable benefit of cheap religion to the working
classes, they felt that they approached the Legislature, not as
petitioners, but as donators. - They certainly did expect their
co-operation in averting the hideous spectacle of a depraved
population. One hundred and thirty churches would be put
in their hands, and they would be asked to endow them, so that
the seat-rents being thus lowered, the entrance of the people
would be facilitated. All that would be asked would be a
decent subsistence for the clergyman, not for his own sake,
but for the sake of the people, for that endowment was not
a boon to churchmen, but to the common people—not for the
multiplication of pampered ecclesiastics, but as the great means
whereby the lower classes might be reclaimed and humanized
by the lessons of Christianity ; and that the gospel of Jesus
Christ might be preached without money to the poorest
in the land. But they never expected provision from the State
until the wants were first fully ascertained, and there was a
test for the ascertainment of those wants which was quite ef-
fectual to guard the national purse against any uncalled-for ex-
penditure, for many were the grotesque and extravagant mis-
conceptions abroad as to the enormous draft they intended on
the public purse. But there was always prima facie evidence
that the application did not exceed the real wants, when the
application was not made for the endowment of the Church,
until the Church was raised by the liberality of the individuals,
which liberality required the strongest necessity to call it
forth. He had already expressed a hope in the liberality of
the Government, and he now expressed an equal hope in the
liberality of the Legislature. The Government might impose
any conditions whatever--they might provide all the securities
which a wise Government could devise, or the most vigilant
Administration insist upon. With regard to the division of
the funds, the committee were unanimously of opinion that
they ought generally not to engage in the enterprise of church•
building themselves, but that the general funds should be ex-
pendedin aid of local efforts, and to stimulate parties by a pro-
portional allowance. The friends of the Church in Glasgow
did not propose to avail themselves of any part of the sum
raised by them for general purposes. Thus Glasgow, besides
supplying her own wants, was elevated to the rank of a great
and general benefactor for Scotland at large. He then allu-
ded to the donations which had been made in aid of the scheme
by the working classes throughout Scotland. But all these
aids would be nothing without the assistance of a higher power
—without the recognition of the Spirit. The reverend Doctor
then said that he would recommend a change in the name of
their object. Church extension was not perfectly adequate,
still it might relieve them from the misconception attached to
the present name. After intimating his intention to proceed to
London, for the promotion of a Government Grant to the
Church, the reverend Doctor sat down.

On the motion of Dr. P. MACFARLANE seconded by Doctor
Cook, it was agreed that the General Assembly approve of
the report of the Committee, and that it be re-appointed with
the same powers as before.