tation fund; and, therefore, the second call is to the associations, and particularly to the collectors and representatives of the associations now present. I do not call upon you on behalf of the ministers of the richer congregations. I trust that the special and individual efforts of each congregation in these classes will be adequate to the maintenance of their ministers. But I call upon the representatives and collectors of the associations within reach of hearing me, and let them distinctly understand that it depends upon the energy and success of their operations, whether, on behalf of hundreds of ministers in the Highlands and Islands, and in many of the poorer districts of Scotland, we shall or shall not be enabled to furnish such a dividend at Candlemas as will make up to them an adequate allowance for the whole year. (Cheers.) I trust that you will not mistake the object of the collections at the church-doors; and let me say a word, or two with regard to that—it is difficult to get people out of a long established habit. The collections at the church-doors have, for some time past, been undergoing a process of diminution; they have been dwindling and declining in virtue of the circumstance, that especially in the assessed parishes another fund was provided for the maintenance of the poor, and under the impression that the poor were sufficiently provided for from other sources, the less was given, so that the habit of liberality at the church-doors has greatly fallen off. (Hear, hear.) I beg you, therefore, to keep your eyes open to this fact, that these collections have now been changed in their destination, and that they are now to be applied to ecclesiastical purposes, to the sustentation of ministers—to the maintenance of the ordinances of the gospel, and, it may be, to the spread of education in your respective localities. Therefore, give liberally, give munificently to the plate at the church-door. (Laughter and applause.) We ought to endeavour to elevate the habit of church-door collections; and I am glad to say that a tract bas been lately published, setting in a clear light the application of these collections, and the obligation of church-goers to contribute to these collections; and in one particular instance, where the tract was distributed over the pews of a particular church, where the average collections were L. 1, 5s., the average has since been L.2, 8s. (Hear, hear.) There is an increase, and an important increase; and so, when the matter comes to be understood, you will give, in the indulgence of that affection which operates so strongly in the bosom of every religious hearer, and will provide for the special comforts of your minister, who, ministering to you in spiritual things, has a strong claim that you should contribute to him in carnal things. (Hear, hear, and great cheering.) Now, I believe it is unnecessary to say any thing in the way of calling upon the associations to support the general fund. There is an undoubted certainty that your congregations will go to wreck without the aid of the general fund. The object of the general fund is to enable us to overtake the whole land, in conjunction, as I said, with other evangelical denominations. I don't think the Voluntary controversy was well understood during the whole time it was carried on, because there was a prodigious mist and obscuration raised up in the midst of that controversy that prevented the combatants from having a clear and distinct view of the opinions and feelings of each other. If you mean, by the Voluntary principle, that each congregation should support its own minister, I think nothing is easier than to demonstrate the utter inefficiency of that principle for covering the whole land with an adequate apparatus for the instruction of the people in the word and ordinances of the gospel. But there is another species of Voluntaryism, which I used to call external, in opposition to internal; and I beg you to understand that, should I give L. 100 for the building of a church, or the support of a minister in another congregation than my own, I would not be acting on the principle of internal Voluntaryism at all. It is not the case of which I am here speaking of the support of my own minister, it is the case of a Christian man supporting a minister at a distance of perhaps a hundred miles from him. This is external Voluntaryism; and I should be very glad that the internal and the external Voluntaryism together shall be found adequate for the ministrations of the gospel over the whole of Scotland. (Hear, bear.) We are now reduced to the necessity of drawing from these two resources, and from these only. For my part, I never had any quarrel with internal Voluntaryism, and I would be thankful could it save me from drawing upon

external Voluntaryism. Neither have I any quarrel with mere Voluntaryism in the generic sense of the term, whether as internal or external, provided. we be enabled from these sources to cover the whole length and breadth of the land with the ministrations of the gospel; but hitherto both kinds of Voluntaryism have been found inadequate for the object; and therefore I would have been very glad to get money from any other source for that object; and the only remaining difference, therefore, betwixt us is the view that I and others who think with me take of the duty of government. I have no doubt that it is the duty of a Christian government to supply funds for the support of the gospel, and to see to the future support of the gospel in the country over which they are placed. And I would have been very glad to draw from them so long as I cherished the hope that I could get any thing from them; but the first government we had to deal with on the subject refused to endow; and the second would have been very willing to endow, but then they first wanted to enslave. (Cheers.) On their terms we could not accept of any assistance; and here then we are reduced to the necessity of drawing from internal and external Voluntaryism alone. I shall be exceedingly delighted with the success of our experiment; and in point of fact we have some reason for looking forward to the sufficiency of these two resources. We waited upon government for six years, and got nothing for our pains. (Laughter.) We were forced in fact to relinquish all connection with the latter government; and turning round to the population of the country, after it had cost us years of unavailing negociation with the government, in a few months the population came back with the magnificent response of L.300,000. (Cheers.) I look forward now, therefore, with more hope than I did with regret before; and in regard to our friends the Voluntaries, we have come to understand each other better. (Cheers.) I am glad to understand they are taking a leaf out of our book. (Laughter.) They are beginning to institute a general fund. I rejoice to hear it for the more our points of similarity are multiplied, the greater likelihood is there of our being amalgamated before all is done. (Cheers.) They have taken that leaf out of our book, and we have many a leaf to take out of theirs. (Hear, hear.) Well, then, what is the amount of the difference betwixt us? It is simply in regard to the duty of a third party with whom neither the one nor the other has any connection in matters of this kind. (Laughter and applause.) And what is the general fund? The general fund, if I have taught you to comprehend its functions, is a fund which owes its origin altogether to external Voluntaryism. It is the contributions of the wealthy, and the contributions indeed of all congregations, going to the support of all the other congregations in Scotland, or external coming in aid of what internal Voluntaryism will do. I quite agree with Voluntaryism in this generic sense of the term, as comprehensive both of external and internal. Then, I say, the only difference between the Free Church now, and the Established Church before, is, that whereas the Established Church was a state-endowed Church, the Free Church, still retaining the principle of an endowment, is a people-endowed Church. (Enthusiastic cheers.) ́ I never, in any part I took in this controversy, expressed a sentence almost which I can recollect on the duty of government; because I considered that as self-evident, as an axiomatic truth; and I did not think it worth while to bestow any argumentation on the subject: but certainly I bestowed a great deal on the functions of an endowment and on the undeniable importance of an endowment for the full and needful diffusion of Christian instruction throughout all classes of the community. (Hear, hear.) But if our Voluntary friends shall agree that ours is a people-endowed Church, as much as it was before a stateendowed Church, they may say, indeed, that we have come over to their principle, because we have relinquished the endowment of the state, and adopted the endowment of the people; but we may rather say, that they have come over to our principle, because it has an endowment about it, for we have brought in the external to supplement the internal Voluntaryism. Well, then, if we agree on the endowment, let each retain his own triumphant feeling, and let both parties be pleased. (Laughter and cheers.) The Rev. Doctor here read the following

Regulations in reference to supplies to be given at the General Expense of the Church. "That whenever an association is formed in any locality not provided with a re

gular ministry of the gospel, the presbytery of the bounds shall seek to obtain the help of elders or catechists, whom they may authorise to conduct a devotional service or services on the Sabbaths, but that one Sabbath in the month shall be sup. plied by them with the services of an ordained minister.

"2. That when the produce of the association and the number of adherents shall be increased, its locality shall become a preaching station, and be placed under the charge of a licentiate, but that still one Sabbath in the month shall be provided for by the Presbytery as before.

"3. That when the produce of the associations and number of adherents shall have still farther increased, so as to warrant a stated pastor being settled, the adber. ents shall be constituted into a congregation, under the charge of an ordained minister.

"4. That all applications, whether for the service of a catechist or a licentiate, or for erection into a congregation with an ordained minister, shall be presented to the presbytery of the bounds, and after having received their sanction, shall be trans. mitted to the Acting Committee on the plantation of charges, who, in conjunction with the Financial Committee, shall determine, in the particular circumstances of each case, whether the proposed station or fixed charge shall be placed on the scheme entitled to support out of the general fund of the Church.

The following resolutions were approved of as proper to be adopted:—

"1. That deacons be forthwith elected in every congregation, and that kirk sessions be enjoined to take immediate steps towards the election of an adequate number of deacons by each congregation, so as that the election and admission shall be reported to the presbytery of the bounds, within three months from this date at farthest, the allowance granted by last Assembly to elders to exercise the functions of deacons being still continued, where necessary in the circumstances of the congre gation.

"2. That in no case, wherever it can possibly be avoided, shall the treasurer of the Deacon's Court at the same time also be treasurer of the local association; but it is earnestly recommended that the deacons in general shall be ready to give their services as collectors in such associations, and in providing the services of others.

"3. That it be further most earnestly recommended, that the treasurer of each local association, whether himself an elder or not, shall make known to the kirk. session, from month to month, the state and prospects of the association; and it is directed that they transmit to the Financial Committee a monthly state of their contributions, and at the same time send a duplicate thereof to the presbytery of the bounds. It is also earnestly recommended, that the elders shall take every fitting opportunity of pressing home on the families of their respective districts the religious claims of their local association, as an auxiliary to that general fund which is raised for the sacred missionary object of insuring the support of a gospel ministry, and extending to the destitute places of the land.

"4. That a stated monthly evening meeting should be held, in so far as convenience will admit, on the first Tuesday thereof, of all the congregations, whether in churches or missionary stations, or in their still earlier and more rudimental form, for the purpose of devotional exercises, and for presenting the most recent information respecting the state and progress both of the Free Church itself generally, or in their own locality, and of its missionary schemes.

"5. That the presbyteries shall regularly and frequently inquire into the state and working of the local associations within their bounds, and as to the exertions of their respective congregations in the promotion of the different schemes and objects in connection with the Church, both local and general, and shall do what in them lies to stimulate and encourage these, and that Synods at every meeting inquire as to the diligence of presbyteries in this respect."

I cannot imagine, continued the Rev. Doctor, anything more important than this. Be assured, that if we realise an adequate support in carrying into effect these regulations, we shall open a way by which we shall take possession of the whole length and breadth of the land. (Hear.) It implies, however, a call on the eldership, to which call, I fondly hope, the eldership will respond. It does not, however, imply

the aid of more than one-tenth of the whole eldership. Without giving the name of the writer, and only saying that he is a person worthy of all credit and confidence, I beg leave to read a letter, which gives me the cheering hope that this proposal will be adequately supported by the eldership. The truth of the matter is just this, that whenever there is an incipient association formed, and wherever there is an association in embryo-and I would say that twenty members are adequate to constitute an association-religious ordinances must be provided for them, for if they are not supported with Christian ordinances, they will inevitably go to pieces. The great object is to keep them together and increase their numbers, and the palpable way is, from the moment they are formed, to let this first stage towards the plantation of the charge in that locality be forthwith entered upon. Now, the services on the part of the elders for three days in the month, are to be supplemented by the presbytery on one day of the month. (Here the Rev. Doctor read the letter.

"MY DEAR DR CHALMERS,-There are many of us in the eldership who are willing to assist, to the best of our ability, in conducting the devotional exercises of those flocks now without pastors, as you proposed in your report. It would greatly promote this were it understood that the Dr Gordons and Dr Candlishes of Edinburgh, and the Dr Browns and Dr Buchanans of Glasgow, would, once a-month, leave to the Robert Pauls, Archibald Bonars, Dr Smyttans, William Collinses, &c., of their congregations, the public worship of their people, while they went to preach to those to whom, for the preceding three weeks, elders had been ministering. In this way a greater number of ministers would be periodically set free to preach the gospel-a greater number of elders would be drawn into the public service of the Church; and, most important of all, it would show impartiality, that those services which you propose to give frequently to country congregations, were not deemed unworthy of city congregations.-I remain, my dear Dr Chalmers, yours very truly,

I have read this letter, continued the Rev. Doctor, merely as an indication of the willingness of this respectable elder, who knows well the state of destitution existing in many parts of the country, to co operate in the arrangement; and I am quite sure that the gentlemen whom he names will be equally willing to undertake their share of the work. Let me make a proposal just in reference to the city of Glasgow. I will give you an instance in which we may carry that regulation into effect. I will take one of the localities of Glasgow. Let me suppose it to be that department of the city that is bounded by Barrack Street on the west, Duke Street on the north, Belgrove on the east, and Gallowgate on the south. I am not aware what may be the extent of the population, but it should not exceed 2000. I would like the locality reduced to that population. Now let twenty elders-and I am sure that ten times that number will be found in Glasgow, excellent religious philanthropists-let them undertake the great task of bringing this outfield within the pale of regular Christian ordinances, and of bringing them under the bland and beneficent influences of a Christian, I would call it a village economy. (1 (Hear, hear.) Let them divide the population of 2000 into twenty parts, which implies a charge of 100 to each of them. Let each officiate as a collector, and set up an association amongst his twenty families, for there should not be more. Let him not be discouraged by his small success in the first instance. Let each keep by his own district, and not be disheartened although only one or two contributors should at first enrol themselves. Let him ply that district with religious conversation and religious tracts, and avail himself of every opening and opportunity for all the offices of Christian kindness amongst his families. What I propose is, that these twenty amongst them may get up amongst them in a single week, a promising association. This accomplished, let them be encouraged to enter on the first stage of the process. Let some one, perhaps one of their own number, do what I know many Glasgow elders are well qualified to do every Sabbath evening assemble the population of his district, and speak home to their consciences and their feelings, reading the Scriptures and conducting their devotional exercises, and reading any practical and pious work that will tell impressively on their hearts. Let these be the Sabbath exercises, the two Sabbath exercises; for, if possible, let them meet at the regular hours of Divine service,

as the sooner you can assimilate them to the regular economy of a parish or a congregation, so much the better. And accompany these ministrations of religion with the work of collection, and the number of your adherents will rapidly increase. Say, then, that the association comes to yield L 50 a-year, for illustration; that you may regard as an intimation that they have a sufficient interest in the locality to have it formed into a missionary station. Say after this second stage of the process of religious appliances to their understandings, and consciences, and hearts, say, for the sake of illustration, that they come to produce L. 100 a-year. Suppose this also is intimated to the Committee in Edinburgh-no doubt they will, with the concurrence of the Presbytery, agree to make a full provision for a regular church in that locality. And I say in this way--I will not say in how few or how many months-but in a much shorter period than we can at present anticipate, in this way they will be enabled to reclaim a portion of the outfield territory of Glasgow, and bring it within the pale of a regular supply of Christian ordinances. (Immense cheering.) What one set of office-bearers do in one place, another set will do in another. The Church will work its way piecemeal: the success of the 'first experiment will encourage a host of imitators to rise; and in this way I see a patent and a palpable method of pioneering my way through the whole of Glasgow, and filling it with an adequate supply of ministers and of churches for the instruction of all the population. (Cheers.) Every subject has what may be called a sense, and also what may be called a sentiment, belonging to it. Some people are full of the sentiment, but they have marvellously little of the sense: they have a kind of religious sentimentality about them, and they say, what, would you go about higgling in this pecuniary way for the supply of the word and ordinances to the people of the land? Did you not promise to fill the whole of Scotland with churches? How come you now not to fulfil your promises? Now, I say, did we promise to fill up these districts without the means? or that it was possible to proceed without providing means for the sustentation of the ministers? Take the sense along with the sentiment, and I will show you how the sentiment may be indulged and gratified tenfold more than it can possibly be if you refuse the sense. They require impossibilities at our hands. We cannot change the properties of numbers; we are not able to alter the laws of arithmetical proportion. If you give us a sum of L.50,000, and tell us to divide it among 500 ministers, we can do it, and tell you that the result is L.100 to each; but if you increase the divisor, and do not increase the dividend, you may immediately get Presbyteries to interdict our conduct; and let this decision of the Presbytery be carried by appeal to the General Assembly-let the Assembly, with all the form and circumstance of the supreme ecclesiastical court, issue its commands, and let that be backed by all the weight of its nobile officium; yet in spite of all these appliances, we the poor, helpless, rated Committee cannot possibly, with a larger divisor, find an equal quotient to that which we found before. (Laughter.) And as we cannot control the mathematical, so we have no means of controlling the physical laws. As we have never found in our body a preacher of such ethereal stamp, as to be endowed with the properties of air-fed plants, and to be nourished by the atmosphere, so we have always found their maintenance to be necessary; and here I will undertake that if you will give room for sense to operate, I will undertake to gratify and indulge the sentiment ten-fold beyond what it would have been if left to its own operation. Say that the Finance Committee have a surplus fund after providing for their ordinary expenses, of L. 1500 to dispose of. If you interdict us from all correspondence with the people who are to raise the churches, we shall spend L.150 upon each church, and after raising ten churches we shall come to a dead stand. But if, on the other hand, you permit us to correspond with the people, you enable us to make the people in the locality raise two-thirds of the sum required; to their L. 100 we add L.50; and the same L.1500, which on the first plan would only raise ten churches, is at once increased to a three-fold amount, and no fewer than thirty churches are erected by this negotiation. Permit this, then-suffer it to go on-do not overset it by a senseless outcry of religious sentimentalism-and you will see a near way to the evangelization of the whole of Glasgow in five years; but if you do disallow it, I do not see how it is possible to pursue our way through Glas