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clusively belongs, under Christ the Head, the legitimate government of the church.

10. That the following ministers be appointed a committee of inquiry and correspondence, to act conjointly or separately as they may have opportunity, and to report to the next meeting or synod concerning the most eligible place for attempting, under the favor of Divine Providence, to establish a mission, and to ascertain whether there be any among the preachers or ministers of the church willing to consecrate himself to the Lord, in such an enterprise, should the means of affording him competent support be realized, and an inviting field of labor be opened up :ï

For the Northeastern presbytery-Rev. Archd. Mason, Stewart Bates, and J. Carslaw: For the Western presbytery-Rev. D. Armstong, and W. McLachlan: For the Southern presbytery-Rev. W. Symington and G. Rowatt: Rev. D. Armstrong, Convener-three to be a quorum.

The moderator concludes with prayer.

Synod appoint its next meeting to be held in Edinburgh, on Monday, 25th April, 1831, at 6 P. M., to be opened with a sermon by the moderator; subject, the church's obligations and encouragements to missionary enterprise. Closed by prayer and singing.

IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL PROCEEDINGS.

Extracts from Minutes of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyte

rian Church.

Coleraine, Tuesday, July 13, 1830, 5 o'clock, p. m. THE synod of the Reformed

Presbyterian Church met; and after a discourse from Jeremiah 1. 5-"Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten," by the Rev. Dr. McLeod, of New York, the synod was constituted with prayer by the Rev. James Dick, the moderator.

The meeting was attended by the following members:

WESTERN PRESBYTERY.

Ramelton, Gortlee. --William King, elder.

Bready. Alexander Brittin, minister; William Cooke, elder. Faughan. James P. Sweeney, minister; S. Alexander, elder.

N. Limavady.-Arthur Fullerton, minister.; Joseph Kennedy, elder.

EASTERN PRESBYTERY.

Loughmourne.-John Paul, minister; Charles Conolly, elder. Newtonards. William Henry, minister; Michael Rankin, el

der.

Cullybackey.-Clarke Houston, minister; James Maun, elder.. Belfast. John Alexander, minister; James Morton, elder. Baliesmill.-John W. Graham, minister; J. Hawthorne, elder.

NORTHERN PRESBYTERY.

Kilraughts. William J. Stavely, minister; Thomas Mitchell, el

der.

Ballylaggin.-Simon Cameron, minister; James Ross, elder. Kellswater. James Dick, minister; And. Stevenson, elder. Drumbolg. James Smyth, minister; Alexander Adams, elder. Ballyrashane.-Samuel Carlile, minister; Andrew Auld, elder.

Knockbracken.--Thomas Houston, minister; Hugh Small, elder.

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Rev. Gordon T. Ewing, Canonsburgh.

1. The Rev. Clarke Houston was chosen moderator, and the Rev. Thomas Houston was appointed clerk, pro tempore.

2. Moved and resolved unanimously, that the Rev. Dr. McLeod, and the Rev. William Symington, a delegate from the Reformed Presbyterian Synod in Scotland, be invited to a seat in the court. Mr. Symington produced his commission, and was received accord ingly.

The synod then adjourned till tomorrow forenoon at 10 o'clock; to meet as a committee of bills at 7 o'clock, A. M.

SECOND SESSION.

Wednesday, July 14th, 10 o'clock, a. m. The synod met, and was constituted with prayer by the moderator. The roll being called, the same members were present as in the last session.

3. The Rev. Dr. McLeod, being present, was invited by the moderator, in the name of the synod, to a seat in the court, which he accepted, and his name was added to the roll.

4. The reports of the several presbyteries were read; they were as follows:

The WESTERN PRESBYTERY

report that the Rev. A. Fullerton is moderator, and the Rev. A. Brittin their clerk, for this year; that, since the last meeting of sy nod, they have held three stated meetings and one occasional; that the public ordinances of religion continue to be regularly dispensed in all the congregations having stated pastors, and the vacancies of Convoy and Derry occasionally enjoy the dispensation of gospel ordinances; that the days of thanksgiving and humiliation appointed by synod were observed by all the congregations under their inspection; that they have under care as candidates for the office of the ministry, Armour McFarland and Jas. Reid, the former of whom has delivered a few satisfactory specimens as judicial trials for license, and the latter is advancing through the regular philosophical course, and has also given satisfactory specimens of his attention and progress. They have only, in conclusion, to state that they have some matters respecting which they would wish the advice of synod, and that, generally considered, their ecclesiastical concerns have a promising aspect.

The NORTHERN PRESBYTERY report that, in reviewing their transactions since July 14th, 1829, they find nothing of an unpleasant nature to lay before synod. By the goodness of their God, the several congregations under their pastoral care, continue to prosper. The presbytery, judging it proper to visit the congregation of Knockbracken, which the synod had recently placed under its superintendence, did so, and found the minister, the elders, and the people, conscientiously employed

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in performing their several duties. The ordinances of religion continue to be regularly administered in all the congregations; appointments of synod to be observed; and attention given to the claims of our missionary society.

The students under the care of presbytery are Elijah Aickin and John Nevin. Elijah Aickin might have studied moral philosophy, during the last session of the Belfast institution, of which he is a scholar; but, in agreeableness to a recommendation by the committee of education, he directed a portion of his time to the study of mathematics, in which he appears to excel, while a portion of the remainder was occupied in teaching. It was likewise thought conducive to a regular plan of study, that he commence an examination of the sacred writings, and that he con tinue it contemporaneously with his other studies. He was accordingly required to furnish an epitome of bible history, which he did: his exercise obtained the approbation of presbytery. The other student, John Nevin, has completed the prescribed course of study prior to synodical examination. During the recess, since the termination of the last session of the theological school, under the care of Professor Symington, he has been employed as an agent of the Dublin city mission, and, in this situation, he has acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his superintendents. It is hoped that while he has been instrumental in doing good to others, the employment has been useful to himself, in familiarizing to him the scriptures, in enlarging his knowledge of mankind, and in furnishing specimens

of that opposition to the gospel on which he may calculate, in a more extensive field of exertion. Presbytery report that they gave not their consent to his being thus employed, until they had ascertained the nature of the work he had to perform, and were satisfied that nothing was required of him trenching on the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church. The presbytery, with cordiality, recommend him to synod for examination. Their moderator for the present year is the Rev. Thomas Houston, and their clerk the Rev. W. J. Stavely.

THE EASTERN PRESBYTERY have to report that the Rev. William Henry is their moderator, and the Rev. John W. Graham their clerk. Since last synod, they have held four meetings. Having no vacancies under their inspection, all their congregations continue to enjoy the regular administration of gospel ordinances. The days of thanksgiving and humiliation appointed by synod have been observed among them, and the sacrament of the Lord's supper has been dispensed in all their congregations. They have under their care as students of theology, Hugh Hawthorne and William Toland, the latter of whom is recommended to synod for examination.

THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERY report that it has held three meetings since the synod of 1829. Rev. Thomas Cathcart is moderator, and Rev. John Hawthorne, clerk. The days of public thanksgiving and humiliation appointed by synod, have been observed by the congregations under the care of presbytery; gospel ordinances continue to be regularly administered in each of the congregations having stated pastors; the Lord's supper has been dispensed in three of them this summer, and arrangements are made for celebrating it in the fourth. The vacancies of Shercock, (now called Corenery,) and Grange, enjoy the preaching of the word occasionally-the latter has had the Lord's supper dispensed annually for a few years past. Presbytery report farther, that, having been called upon by petition from one of the congrega tions, to express their mind judi cially concerning the propriety or impropriety of a member of the church qualifying for, by registering his lease, and exercising the elective franchise at elections, they declared that the practice in question is utterly incongruous with reformation principles, and inconsistent with the testimony held by the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Presbytery has under its care John Stott, student of moral philosophy, and Thomas Boyd and William Gibson, students of theology, who are recommended to synod for general examination. 5. Messrs. Hawthorne, Smyth, Sweeney and Graham, were appointed a committee to make inquiry after the payments to the clerk of synod. This committee to meet and attend to the business after the recess of synod in the afternoon.

6. The committee of education, formerly appointed, being called upon to report proceedings relative to a plan for the education of candidates for the ministry, requested to be allowed to hold a meeting before they submit their report, which they engaged

to bring forward at a future stage of the synod's proceedings. This request was granted. The reply to the letter from the faculty of the Belfast Academical Institution, which had been referred to the committee on education, was reserved till the report of the committee should be brought forward.

7. The committee of conference appointed at last synod to meet with a committee of the synod of Ulster, reported that they had held six meetings in the case of the professor of moral philosophy, and three meetings in reference to other matters intrusted to their management. Mr. T. Houston, the clerk of the committee, further reported, that the committee of the synod of Ulster had received them in the most friendly manner; read the minutes of the correspondence that had passed in the case of the professor of moral philosophy in the Belfast institution; and stated that the following resolutions had been adopted by the committee, after much deliberation in this case:

I. That we do not, in present circumstances, recommend to our synod, to send their students to be taught moral philosophy, for the ensuing session at least, in the Belfast Academical Institution.

II. That we feel pleasure in our conference with the committee of the general synod of Ulster, and that we will be ready at all times, to co-operate with them in measures for improving the system of education generally, and obtaining and exercising a salutary control over the teachers of the candidates for the holy ministry, and particularly effecting a benefi

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cial change in the manner of teaching moral philosophy.

III. That our committee shall at the end of the ensuing collegiate session, attend the examination of the moral philosophy class, and report to synod.

After receiving the report, it was resolved-That this synod, approved of the conduct of the committee, because of their diligence and fidelity in the service to which their attention had been directed. In reference to the same matter, the thanks of the synod were unanimously given to the committee for their attention to the interests of the church in this case.

8. Mr. Stavely intimated that he was willing to assign reasons for not forwarding to the presbyteries copies of his dissertation on license and ordination, in the committee of bills, and that he would there also report the progress that he has made in preparing the sketch of the history of our church.

9. Mr. Paul had not yet prepared his synopsis, and was unable to declare explicitly when it might be convenient for him to have such a document in readiness -his appointment was continued.

10. Moved-That the synod, considering the present necessities of the members of the church, now appoint a committee to prepare a new act and testimony, suited to the present time, to the interests of the church generally, and to the state of the reformed church in this island-the committee to report progress from time to time till the work be finished.

Dr. McLeod having intimated his intention of bringing forward, at a future stage of the proceedVOL. I. MAY, 1831.

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11. Resolved-That a committee for the signs of the times, consisting of Messrs. Paul, Hawthorne, Brittin, and Smyth, be now appointed, to deliberate on the propriety of observing days of public thanksgiving and humiliation on the present season, and the expediency of publishing causes of thanksgiving and fasting; and to report the result of their deliberations to synod at a future session.

12. Mr. Dick stated that he had his dissertation on the renovation of the covenants partly prepared, and that he would submit it to synod after it shall have been read in the committee of bills.

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13. Copies of the letters to the reformed presbyterian synods of Scotland and America, the preparation of which had been intrusted to the committee of conference, were read and approved of.

14. The directors of the missionary society were required by the court to report their proceedings during the last year, and the present state of the society. Mr. Houston, one of the secretaries, being instructed by the directors, read the report of the society, for the last year, which, after detailing the operations of the society, contained a request on the

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