The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-23 00:00:00

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

bAfter NIIUR CiF, MONDAY', MAY 20.
the. "
answer to the letter of the Pyper,
prepared
earn ilwininittee, had been read, Mr Pyper, an advo-
1144;tm.srlught forward what is called the Ceres Case,
risto' appeared for Andrew Wallace, and other pa-
. ner of ueres to the number of nearly 300 appellants
'atlitinst a, decision of the Synod of Fife, of 9th April, 1844,
punning two several sentences of the Presbytery of Cu-
, dated 31st October and Ist November, 1843. The
it/P-Petil affected the regularity of the Presbytery's proce-
tirein the reference to the settlement of the Rev. Robt.
,1"k, of Clatt, in the parish of Ceres. The Presbytery
at Ceres on the 2d October, to moderate in a call to
, Cook, who had preached in the church on the two
rbree„ °ding Sundays. At this meeting objections against
jo;isettlement were tendered on behalf of 226 parish-
ei% of the following tenor:-
1. That his voice is so feeble for the size of the
church that he often, especially in parts remote from the
oflPit
heeomes perfectly inaudible. 2. That his style
'Peed' is so different from that which we have been
accustomed to hear, that many of us, especially the old,
dol not Understand what he says. 3. That he is a man
be far advanced in life, that we do not consider he would
Capable of yielding that activity which is necessarily
demanded in a parish of such extent as Ceres." At a
kb,
n equent meeting, on 18th October, additional objec-
t,. 8 were lodged, declaring that Mr. Cook read his
tolincng, and that so slavishly, " that he is not cal-
of r.ed to impress upon the congregation the import
so is subject, and this may be one cause that he is
imperfectly heard, for, toward the conclusion of
tis. sentences his voice dies away to be quite inaudible.
"ta, and his defect of speech and hurried pronunciation,
tanders his sermons to be of little or no spiritual benefit
jeett•he congregation." In explanation of the second ob-
rion, it was stated that it referred to Mr. Cook's rapid
o
rnunciation and peculiar Aberdeenshire dialect and
eevelit• The Court would observe that the Presbytery
er,gave any decision as to the relevancy of these
betedeeti or proceeded in the way they should have
of allowing to the parishioners a proof of them,
ttProceeded, without notice and ih opposition
roll ue Protest and appeal of their counsel, to call the
state objectors, a number of whom appear and
their adherence more or less to the objections.
to their adherence
adjourned till the 31st of October,
thoi."rl4ider the case, and appointed a Committee of
(M; bfluinber to examine the rest of the objectors. He
then 'YPer) did not now insist on the argument as to
tot ft,,ll4l4fioiency of Mr. Cook's call, only with reference
this' treatment of the objectors. The Presbytery at
1,115,7, meeting decided at once on hearing proof, before
Peltdecided as they should have done, upon the
e.it of •
prise relevancy. The parishioners were taken by sur-
orth,' No interlocutor deciding the relevancy, and no
proe-er to lead proof had been given, yet the Presbytery
proofeded without any intimation to the parties to hear
kidep: The minute bears that " Mr. Macknight
The'-' various mandates in behalf of objectors.
41,0eounsel for the objectors having been repeatedly
h4v;nt° Produce further evidence in the case, and
teftthg, declared that he had no more to adduce in the
obi the Presbytery find that the case for the
Preeektors closed." At this meeting, however, the
of 3auYtery had no objection to lead evidence in favour
dovre Presentee. There could be no proof led that
cle'stwr the objectors, no proof being asked, and no
Prired")ll of witnessess. The objectors were thus de-
tiote, rt ally opportunity of proving their objec-
thei,'' and the Presbytery at once proceed to declare
stip]; ;,.,ease closed, and heard four or five witnesses in
Veo4;" of the call. The Presbytery on Ist No-
The ~er dismissed the objections,
.sustained the call,
'eg°lved to proceed with 'Mr. Cook's settlement.
to tearishioners, through Mr. Macknight, appealed
ha• tl e ,SYnod, who unauitnously confirmed the deci-
°' Presbytery,and dismissed the appeal.
e be
lvtoon,gged to submit that the Presbytery had done
of 1:: In not allowing the parishioners an opportunity
tiekeeving their objections; they never asked for evi-
expeatid all of a sudden, when the objectors were not
proof rag to be called on for proof, they decide that
shall be led without the slightest previous notice,
could
muse no witnesses were present, which they
„• ",ot possibly be, they declare that the objections
thoo.,l‘ been substantiated, and as he (Mr. Pyper)
eoder.'lt had broken through all that regularity of pro-
ttts ;,;," which they ought to have observed, and which
ate r-es' essential to the right administration of justice.
tiforived the Assembly to reverse the sentences of the
• Aitur Courts. er,r cotinsel had been heard on the other side,
bwatte'X'tt- moved that the Assembly affirm the sen-
41resby-te. rtyhenrSeiynod of Fife, and remit the case to the
eouto proceed in the settlement with
fir, "lent speed.
-Ir. Cone LULL, of Tullynessle, seconded the motion o
Lhey ;"*. The only case, be conceived, regarding which
,71 the er. called on to give a decision, was that relating
tll ..ce of the preientee ; and having carefully read
ZitupiCalroaPers in the case, he thought there was very
~011%.,, laud for coming the decision that the objec-
realeoleundoubtedly unfounded in fact, and that they
tevence nfirui the decision of the Court below. In re-
'rieed the to another of these objections—the dialect of his
•••

resentee—he was not, perhaps a proper judge

' Vet • to
h Mr Cook belonge
to AY ttoportant fact—that thoug .
~aue•hter)—but he must be itllovired to state
-..13e,~ . ,
sentee qeenshire—ana he
he hat, of old not wish todenythat the pre-
"ible, F`Aen heard it remarked
where he belonge
10.-...(tr°41 his language, to ascertain:
he
regarding age,
that it—(Laughter)—yet
iNvoul dbe m; o sd-
-01 `-I,4oghter ) As to, the objection
I.' - null) . 'night on that point also be ill,r11:11,!'„aled judge. lt would, indeed,
bet
the age of
fiftv-'4,rY if he had been told that, ex t raan-
he
h " Pam. .
e that period,
them
orn"le had been unable to discharge
.a all the duties
44, u .hiai minister when, sing . r.^ fUr t Ta.ler the providence of God,
hecltscheoaurlgded
,: teatott additional years, andlegtti-
tl,iseh Yr Rive evidence in
ifeavoluvr
thoftt'n himself, had
hmaidy
Vriaerged them more
ae el„,,Peried of his life. effiHee was perfoecrt
1 but still he
°lvedlv't to confine himself to the recto a
to
44:t,t,
sense of duty,
aware that
friendship, to justice, and
,_ 41_ . neeto .
d itted to his
Itn,,in In reference ' his friend, Mr. Cook, that he had
active,
vretmon mately since ever he was a m
4 toe, Parlhi,
zealous, a more _
it
h of Scotland,
MA3 hie wfiotking minister of the Church
found
; and that a more
within her
1)ale 3(61.41 conviction was not to be
begged cordially
4ln,.„es of "Hear, hear.")
34tisefa--,;4 ur• Cook's motion; andni
Lord Aber-
dettli-e"!mi if in this, the first case under Lord
4411111, they et
would add to his
came to a unanimous decision.reesed
the As-
sta)hivr a Nialber of clergymen had ttdd
- Cook,- , a division took place, whenthere were for Dr.
~ ,
_____bly
adj in! Inotioll 162 a 1 against it 78. Inc AbSUL"
-t)
Ile" at two o''clonctk Mi. Tuesday morning.
Assembly
, i 111, AR
~,..,_ 1 REE CIIURCII•
314 --3v""°l3, met at twelve o cloc , a
Mr.
11. ,Praise, and some preliminary proceedings,
,Trev,
the lan Alt'r read a report of the proceedings
kM°l4ndnAaYfier prayer
Rated that, for the conversion of the Jews.
toatiii 41, at Pesth ('specially, there was a great thirst
Th during
be th "riled
suc-
for Christian knowledge, and every prospect
eessfilei Church missionaries becoming still more
Jassy,
also,
the 1,b:11 their labour of conversion.
e that I) .
4vr 1 lirs of Mr. Edwards had been Amtostsuccehasysfieulg,
ist,,, a Interesting communications to that effect
titive`Yabn-ea received from
most important
nation_ , atnascus would become a
stated
him. Great hopes were enter;
9(.,atvvit ha'ttri regard to Constantinople, the report
ilittly of v.
„,
sift be sent back to this station; however,
e
not yet been determined whether. Mr. C.
ti lies ' B'xty converted Jews continued to meet three
th, ilt.Week• report then referred to the state
past
.11,,,,_ tiods, the collections f 4 which, during the
441.7, tunonnted to 4 '4R/ d concluded by noticing
trert 1s which the'sCheamne had experienced by the
asgow
°I. GI '''
Mr. k`Cheyno of Dundee, and Mr. Wodrow
t:e pr
in
reference ti.•DTrieAN "''shed to make a few remarks
em.s.
tries 0 the qualification of young men to b. . 10.
afellss°
, to.the !louse of Israel. What he had n3y
had 113 fald.down on this matter at a former occasion,
WA
-tl iithe effect of deterring young men from coming.
eorotnend_hing-tivat those qualifications which her
easily
attelnWere hi those
than they possessed or couldno
ground f al • While he thought that there was _
or entertaining either of these opinions, heecaelso.
adavitted that
sary in
__, Jewish learning was by no means n sa
.‘ Such le:r!",er to make useful labourers among the Jew..
Much— ling, hovvever, was of great importance, inas-
to the.,a!t secured more personal esteem and influence
staele
`v ell lie then referred to the great ob-
speet
~,, :hie), the nl. issionaries had to encounter in re-
the It s , coed
let of those professing Christianity.
in
\ peeted
till, bliavourite argument among the Jews to point to
Moral
could ;)- of Christians, and ask how they
to leave th eligion which was so
Of w., its results, and adopt airygion the professors
;II "r 0 54 47049 -
a LI acted the truth and
x 0

justness of the argument, and hoped that it would be re-
futed by Christians taking care that their walk and con-
versation was becoming the Gospel. Taking that view
of the matter, he considered the great revival now taking
place in this country, and which was to come under the
consideration of the Assembly—svas a most important
movement in favour of the conversion of the Jews, and
he confidently expected that it would be zealously pro-
secuted at home, and prove a great assistance to the la-
bours of the Church abroad. The Learned Doctor con-
cluded by calling upon Mr. Schwartz to address the As-
sembly.
Mr. SCHWARTZ, who is himself a Jew, accordingly
came forward and addressed the Assembly at some
length, corroborating the statements of Dr. Duncan.
He dwelt chiefly on the character which Christians bore
of being drunkards, swearers, &c., which caused the
Jews to consider them as bad, if not worse, than Roman
Catholics, or those belonging to the Greek Church, and
concluded by adverting to the many temptations and
difficulties to which missionaries were subjected.
Dr. BROWN, of Aberdeen, moved the adoption of the
report, which was seconded by Dr. WILSON, of Bombay,
and the motion was agreed to.
The Assembly, after retiring for refreshment, met in
the evening, when Dr. CUNNINGHAM gave a report of
his mission to the United States, of which the following
is a brief extract :—" They were most thankful for the
assistance they had received from evangelical churches
both in England and in America ; but they valued them
chiefly because—as had often been avowed, it was given
merely as a testimony of approbation, sympathy, and
brotherly esteem.—(Cheers.) He rejoiced at the sym-
pathy which the Free Curch had called forth from evan-
gelical churches, and he was most desirous to promote
it, and friendly to co-operate with them, not because of
any pecuniary assistance which the Free Church had
received, or might yet receive, but upon far higher
grounds. The Free Church had little difficulty in
doing so, because it could occupy such a position with-
out any risk of its motives being misunderstood, except
indeed by those who were the meanest and basest of men
—(Laughter, and loud cheering)—men who had sold
their principles for their living—(Renewed cheering)—
or who would do so if put to the alternative.—Continued
cheering.) The Rev. Gentleman then referred to the
pecuniary results of the mission. It had not turned out
very large, and some people might regard the result with
some measure of disappointment. Looking to all the
circumstances, however, he thought the assistance in this
respect was as liberal as reasonably could be expected.
Before the deputation left this country 3,000/. had been
received from America; since then 6,0001. more had been
sent; so that, altogether, the Free Church had received
9,0001. from America.—(Cheers.) He thought that
more money would be forwarded. There were seve-
r ral individuals in America who had shown great li-
berality towards the Free Church. In particular, he
could not refrain from mentioning Mr. James Lennox,
New York, who had contributed the munificent sum of
3,000/. On his detailing the hardships to which many
of the Free Church congregations had been exposed
in procuring sites for churches—for he, of course,
told them of the atrocities of such as Ale Duke of
Sutherland—the Americans expressed their deep sym-
pathy and burning indignation of such conduct ; and
seriously proposed that the whole Free Church—the
600 or 700 congregations should go over and settle
in the United States—(Loud laughter and prolonged
cheering)—for there they would get rich and fertile land
of as much extent as Scotland itself, not to rent, but to
purchase, at the rate of ss. per acre. His answer to these
suggestions was, that the Free Church could not aban-
don Scotland to the Erastian Moderates.—(Cheers.)
No person had called forth so much sympathy in Ame-
rica as Janet Fraser (Thornhill), and he had been en-
trusted with the donation of a pair of silver spectacles
as a token from Elizabeth Scott, along with a letter
which he would read. He accordingly read the letter,
' which complimented Janet in glowing terms for grant-
ing a site to the Free Church congregation in the lo-
cality in which she resides, adding that her most noble
and generous conduct formed a strong contrast to that
of her neighbour the Duke of Buccleuch.—(Laughter
and cheers.) The Doctor concluded his address, which
occupied an hour and a half in the delivery, by calling
upon Mr. Ferguson, who had accompanied him during
his tour to America, to address the Assembly.
Mr. FERGUSON rose amid much cheering, and spoke
shortly in corroboration of what Dr. Cunningham had
stated, relating a few anecdotes illustrative of the recep-
tion they had met with from the American people, and
concluded with a very effective allusion to the circum-
stances of the success of their mission.
Dr. GORDON moved that the Assembly tender their
' best thanks to Dr. Cunningham for his exertions in
their behalf, while in America, and-convey to him their
ardent prayers that he might be long spared amongst
them—an honour to himself and the Church.—(Cheers.)
Tho MODERATOR, in a short speech, accordingly de-
livered the thanks of the Assembly to Dr. Cunningham.