The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-06-13

together the black dress of the clergy tbe briIIi
uniforms OF military officers with crimson robes
OF the municipal dlgntarles. The procession starting
from Hollywood wendell its way to st. Giles Cathedral
From the crowds the street his grace and bis7od
had the warmest receptions, which they acknowledged
the service in ST. Giles was sparselv attendod IN
Rev Dr. McMurtre preached from Romans tx .
making httng reference to the death of Rev DR.
Meme, who had he been alive, would as the retiring
Moderator, have preached The firing of the royal
salute from the battery OF the Castle announced tbe
close of the service in ST. Giles. The Moderator forth
with left for the Assembly Hail where bovin,, ar
rived, he took the chair and in Il few minutes the
Lord Iilgh commissioners appeared the Throne GAL
lery accompanied by Lady Colebrook and tbe mem
bers OF the suite The Moderator constituted the AS
sembly and addressed the house The clerk affair
wards reading the commission of appointment of his
grace. "A letter subsequently read from tbe
King, in which he trusted that the blessing of God
would rest upon their labours' The Assembly IMAM
mously called DR.. Niven, of PolokshieIds TO tbe
chair. who suitably addressed the House. when the
business of the 32Oth Assembly was then proceeded
with.
Across the street the United Free Assembly was in
session IN their Assembly Hail. which was temporarily
granted to them by the Free Church. the present
popnetors. The Free Church Assembly contented
themselves with meeting III the High Church. which
forms part OF the suite of building on the mound
There was little separating between the two Assem-
ble~ except Il good strong stone wall The RETIRING
Moderator OF the United Free Church. PRINCIPAL
l'alney preached from Ps. CHI. g. Principal Rainev
was IN court dress, also the Moderator of the
Assembly. Over the velvet surtout and
Eneeheeches he wore the ordinary Geneva gown and
scarlet academic hood. The Assembly received him
outstanding in an audience of upwards of three thou
sand. DIR. Hutton Paisley was afterwards unani-
nouSly called to the chair Dr. Ramey's successor
Dr. Hutton dispensed with all relics and symbols of
court connection and appeared in the ordinary dress
a he in fDa .D1I,
rresbytery, which was that of Geneva gown He
afterwards addressed the Assembly on the Spiritual
Independence of the Church
Inc Free Church Assembly met as already stated
III the High Church, Edinburgh when upwards of
one hundred members attended. The Rev Even Me-
leod the retiring Moderator, preached from text
out OF jeremiah and afterwards constituted the AS
scnDy. The Rev. Prof. Colen A. Baunatyne New
college,, was unanimously called to the chair after
winch he addressed the Assembly concluding by say
Ing That they might humbly entertain the convic-
ZION that the good will of him that dweIt in the
"ush would not be withdrawn from their church."
Here we have three Presbyterian General Assem-
"'ea IN session at one and the time, and in al
'oS' one and the same place but yet widely sepa-
rated doctrinally the people were in the days of
onaImers, and possibly more 1t Is hard to ex-
pam the meaning of these divisions to
>uager, and still more difficult to Justify
'em Though meeting in such close prox-
'~"y' there was comparatively little ntermngling
-" 'neir respective membership As / was in no way
fcaIy committed to any of the three | visited
'''" OF them in turn The assembly that secured
"IS' attention from the general public was undoubt
H mat of the United Free, where large audience
'e public congregated daily the galleries of
'' nail The disruption spirit has not yet
''eF died out of Scotland The spectacle of the
',ee Church Assemblies meeting in Edinburg at one
,' lHe same time was, however far from edifying
wv. Us there any sign of an Immediate settlement of
," ecclesiastical difficulties The commission APP
'"'' by Parliament is making inquiries and it is
''8't that they shall give delverance in the
/ ."n Let us hope that their decision will be