The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-24 00:00:00

SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.

The Synod of Glasgow and Ayr met at Irvine on the 9th
instant. After an excellent sermon by the Rev. Alexander
Fleming, the Synod proceeded to choose a new Moderator, and
the • Rev. Thomas JOHNSTONE of Dairy was called to the.
Chair.—The only cause of public interest that came under the
Synod's consideration was that regarding the Grelic Chapel of
Greenock. The circumstances are shortly as follow :—This.
Chapel was erected in 1791, to accommodate a numerous and:
respectable conwegation, for whom divine service in that lan-
guage, one-half of the Lord's day, was found highly expedient.
By the death of their first and much respected pastor, on the
13th of April last, a vacancy took place, and on the 24th of that
month, the Rev.. Mr. Sage, of Aberdeen, was proposed to the
proprietors, and his immediate nomination urged by Mr. Ro-
bert Bannatyne, one of the proprietors, on the ground of a-
warm recommendation of M r. Sage, by some most respectable cler-
gymen in the north, as a fit person for the charge for the Gwlie
Chapel of Rothesay, lately vacant, but which Mr. Sage had de-
clined accepting. Mr. Angus assistant in the parish
of Croy, near Inverness, having been recommended by the same
most unexceptionable authority for the same situation, was thus
favourably introduced to the proprietors and congregation of the
Chapel of Greenock. Mr. Sage and Nir..lll4Baine having both
come forward, on due notice to them by the Committee of, Ma-
nagement for the proprietors, a general meeting on the 12th
June last declared, that they wished to hear no more candidates,,
and fixed the 10th day of July tbr the election of a successor to
the late Reverend Kenneth .liaine, of which all having interest
were, fully apprised. Thus far every step had been taken
without challenge on the part of any party pretending to have.
interest in the issue of the election. Mr. Sage having with
drawn on the eve of the election, it was proposed that it should
be postponed till a future day, and means adopted to bring for._
ward other •eandidates. This being negatived by eighty-six
votes to ,29, Mr. Bannatyne protested against, proceeding
to elect at this meeting, and withdrew with the others who.
'failed in their motion tor farther delay. Mr. M`Baine was of
course elected unanimously by the proprietors, who cone, iced
it their duty to follow out toe object which all professed to have
in view, and shewing, with the addition of that of the proses,'
87 votes against 29, several of whom, had- they judged any elec-
tion competent on that occasion, might have given their support
also, as they have since declared they actually do, to the candi-
date named by three-fourths of those who were: preSent on that
day, and. by a clear majority of the whole proprietors, whose
votes, by an authenticated copy of the roll, does not athount to
-
BANNATYNE brought up the case to the Presby-
tery of Paisley on the 28th September, when a . hearing
took place. .This was accompanied by a Petition to the same
general effect as the protest in question, subscribed by several
names of proprietors, or their doere, whose petition was heard
and considered- by the-Presbytery ; who, after mature reason-
ing,• found, from the documents before therri' that Mr: Angus
M'llaine has been duly elected, and resolved, to proceed to his.
ordination. In this finding Mr. Robert Bannatyne, the only
party entitled to be heard rn opposition to the election of Mr.
M‘Baine, acquiesced ; but a protest arid appeal was Ofthed in
name of the petitioners. In this shape only it came under the
review of the Synoci, when Mr. A. If. Simson, writer, 'Paisley, ,
was heard for the petitioners to the Presbytery, now appellants,
and Mr. Andrew Inglis, writer, Greenock, for the Proprietors
of the Chapel, and several Members of the Presbytery of Pais-
ley, in support of their decision. • The Synod unanimously
found, that said petition ought not to have been received, and
approve of the Presbytery's resolution to proceed in the settle-
n entof Mr.' M`l3aine with all convenient speed, according to
the rules of .the Church.

EDINBURGH, OCT. 19.—Donald M'Kenzie, Esq. of NcIV:.
hall, has presented the Rev. Donald Sage, Minister of the
Gaelic Chapel of Eitse in Aberdeen, to the (;lurch and, United
Parishes of Eirkroichaeland Culieudden, vacant by the death
of the late Rev. Robert Arthur. The Earl of Fife has pre-
sented Mr. William Duff, preacher of the.gosPel, Banff, to the
church and living of Grange, Banffshire, vacant by the death
of the Rev. Francis Forbes.