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

KILMARONOCIL CASE.

This was an appeal by Mr. John Crichton, preacher of
the Gospel and prcsentfe to the above parish, against a judg-
ment of the Presbytery of Dumbarton, finding him guilty of
drunkenness, and that he ought to be deprived of his licence.
The libel,- contained no less than 24 separate charges of in-
toxication.

Parties being removed from the bar,
Dr. P. MACFARLANE moved that the Assembly affirm the
decision of the Presbytery.
Dr. Cool( moved as an amendment, that the appeal be
sustained, the sentence of the Presbytery of Dumbarton re-
versed, and the articles of the libel found not proven.
136 Voted in favour of Dr. P. Macfarlane's motion, and
104 for that of Dr. Cook.—Adjourned.
Tuesday, May 28.
EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Dr. GORDON brought forward the report of the Committee
of the General Assembly for increasing the means of educa-
tion and religious instruction in Scotland, particularly in the
Highlands and Islands.
Dr. WELSH said that there should be a sufficient number of
schools, with such endowments as would afford the means of
education to the whole inhabitants, even the poorest of the
land. That these schools should be filled by well-qualified
teachers. That these schools should be under vigilant and
efficient superintendence. Among all the means devised for
promoting the religious, moral, and intellectual culture of the
great body of the people, none had proved so efficient as the
establishment in every parish of a resident minister and school-
master. But notwithstanding all that had been done for the
general instruction of the people, it was yet matter of regret
that none of the conditions he had mentioned had been en-

tirely fulfilled. That there were no fewer than three hundred
and eighty-four schools still required in the Highlands to sup-
ply the population with elementary instruction—this he could
scarcely have believed, had it not come from an individual
(the Secretary of the Committee) whose accuracy was alto-
gether unquestionable. He should not at present refer to the
melancholy deficiencies in our great cities, because there was
scarcely less deficiency in the crowded lanes and alleys of our
great cities. The plan could be carried into effect, by making an
immediate and earnest application to government to obtain the
aid of a grant, and he was sure they could go with the strong-
est possible claims to the attention of the Legislature. He
had seen parish schools of all kinds. He had seen some where
no endeavour was made towards the improvement of morals
or intellect ; where there was no attempt at classification ;
and even where there were not two individuals in the same
class who had the same book. Till there should be an im-
provement in the professional training of schoolmasters, great
advancement was not to be expected in the cause of education
in Scotland. In all the mechanical arts, some period of train-
ing was necessary ; but when all other trades fail, a man is
thought ready made for a schoolmaster. There was a strong
tendency of late years for increase of power on the part of the
people, and he was anxious that there should be a high stan-
dard of education throughout the whole country. In raising
the character of ministers and schoolmasters, they would be
preparing the people generally to exercise well the power
entrusted to them. It was therefore their duty to consider
in what hands they would wish to see that power wielded—
whether in the hands of a well-educated community, or by
those whose education was altogether neglected.
The Rev. Mr. BtiCHANAI, of Glasgow, then rose to second
the resolutions moved by Professor Welsh. He commenced
by remarking on the importance of the subject—a subject on
which that venerable house had a hereditary title to legislate,
having been identifie with the cause from the earliest period
of her history. After some remarks upon the necessity of
extending the ancient parochial system of Scotland generally,
the Rev. Gentleman concluded by describing the nature of
the efforts made in Glasgow to extend the parochial system,
and to establish a seminary for the professional training of
school-masters. After Dr. Welsh's resolutions had been
had been seconded,

Principal MACFARLANE moved that the General Assembly
do express their warm approbation of the fidelity, zeal, and
perseyerence of the committee in the discharge of their im-
portant duty—that they re-appoint the Committee with the
same powers and instruction as formerly—renew their recom-
mendations to all the Presbyteries, Ministers, and Congre-
gations in Scotland, that they employ all the means in their
power to keep and improve the funds requisite for continuing
and extending the blessings of a Christian education in our
land—approve of the suggestions of their committee with re-
spect to the institution of model or training schools, and the
establishing of ordinary schools to a larger extent, not only in the
Highlands, but in large and populous towns, and especially in
the several districts annexed, as parishes, to the Parliamentary
Churches in the Highlands and Islands—and agree to pe-
tition the House of Commons for such aid as may enable
them to accomplish those very valuable and beneficent objects ;
which motion having been seconded by Dr. DEWAR, was
agreed to, along with the other resolutions moved by Dr.
Welsh.