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K E r R T 
 
 «r THi 
 
 PROCEPINGS AT A PUBLIC MEETING, , 
 
 J*' ■ 
 
 HELD IN EDINBURGH, lOrii NOV., 184r.. 
 
 V 
 
 TO RECEIVE THE DEPUTATION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAiND ON 
 THEIR RETURN FROM THE BRITISH AMERICAN PROVINCES. 
 
 PUNTED, FOH GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION, BY THE LAY ASSOCIATION IN SUrtOBT Of 
 THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CANADA, IN CONNECTION WITH THE 
 
 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 %■ 
 
 MONTREAL: 
 
 Printed at the Montreal herald office, 23, st. oabriel street. 
 
 #846. 
 
 
 
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{Prom the Home antt Missionary Record,) 
 
 COLONIAL CHURCHES. 
 
 THE DEPUTATION. 
 
 Hie public meeting held in the Music 
 Hall, on Monday the 10th November, to hear 
 the Deputation who have returned from the 
 British Colonies in North America, was one 
 of the most numerous and interesting ever 
 assembled within the walls of the city of 
 Edinburgh. It was truly imposing to see 
 the vast assemblage of highly educated and 
 intellectual persons congregated in that large 
 Hall ; but it was especially refreshing to those 
 who considered the motives and feelings by 
 which such an influential body were brought 
 together ; a strong sympathy with our Colo- 
 nial brethren, and an ardent desire to become 
 intimately acquainted with their condition. 
 
 And we are satisfied that the interesting 
 statements and eloquent appeals of the Depu- 
 tation, must have produced a deep and lasting 
 impression on every one present, who was 
 capable of being affected by a display of in- 
 tellectual power, or reached by conclusive 
 argument. 
 
 The speeches of all the members of the 
 Deputation were characterised by earnestness 
 of feeling, simplicity of statement, and strength 
 of appeal ; and on no occasion have we ever 
 beheld so large an audience more thoroughly 
 under the power of those by whom they were 
 addressed. So intense was the interest feh, 
 and so deep the silence which prevailed, that 
 every word was distinctly heard by every 
 member of the vast assemblage. 
 
 We rejoice that these distinguished men 
 have returned in health and safety to their 
 native laud. Their duties have been arduous, 
 but the success of their labours has been 
 
 great. They have removed much prejudice 
 from the minds of our distant brethren ; and 
 have so delivered their message of peace, as 
 to revive in the Colonies an attachment to 
 our country and our Church, which no efforts 
 on the part of our opponents can alienate or 
 diminish. 
 
 And we trust, also, that the information 
 which they communicate, and the appeals 
 which they make, will reach every heart and 
 hamlet of our land ; and that many who have 
 never, as yet, adequately responded to the 
 calls of brotherly love, and the pleadings of 
 Christian charity, will now be seen hastening 
 with their gift to that treasury, out of which 
 the religious wants of our friends in a foreign 
 land are to be supplied. 
 
 The deplorable destitution of our brethren 
 in the Colonies, in respect of the means of 
 grace, is now before the Christian public, and 
 will continue to be pressed on their attention ; 
 and sincerely do we desire and hope, that the 
 community at large may be pervaded with 
 such a spirit of Christian love and brotherly 
 affection, as may constrain one and all to give 
 as they have received of the Lord. 
 
 Let the Church of Scotland show that she 
 is neither despoiled of her beauty, nor shorn 
 of her strength ; and that there never was a 
 time in her past history when she was more 
 able or more willing to labour in the cause of 
 her heavenly Master. Let her ministerB- 
 show an example of zeal, and energy, and 
 faithfulness in the work to which they are 
 called ; and we feel assured that her people 
 will joyfully co-operate with them in all thos» 
 
'y 
 
 whemM oi Chmtiwi beiievoleuce, which , iiourud uu here to-Jay is a sufllciont proof that 
 hare for their objects to promote the iutererts \ yo" are acciuainted with the nature and pro- 
 ^ *^ < gress ot the pious and benevolent Schemes 
 
 carried on for a number of years under the 
 
 of the Redeemer's kingdom at home and 
 abioad. Can we be said to estimate our 
 privileges, or understand our responsibility, 
 while we are indifferent to the wants of our 
 kinsmen and Christian brethren 7 The lovo 
 of Christ and the love of our brethren cannot 
 be separated. The faith which fills the heart 
 
 auspices of our National Church, nnd that 
 
 they meet with your countenance nnd appro- 
 
 ! bation. It bucoines, therefore, unueceusary 
 
 ! for me to enter into any dolalls in cxplunalioa 
 
 I of their nature or the hi-jtoiy nf their progress. 
 
 You are awaie that two of them ut least are 
 
 now of considerable btanJing ns well as of 
 
 with love to God, will fill it also whh good \ unspeakable importance, 'i hey owed their 
 ._:ii . Mr™ .„f,.- »„. ...„.i.,„ 4« .!,„ foundation to the enli-'htuned toresicrht and 
 
 will to man. We refer our readers to the 
 statements, and arguments, and appeals of 
 the Deputation, in the confident hope that 
 they will produce a salutary effect on the 
 minds of all those who give them a candid 
 and prayerful perusal. 
 
 The Deputation have given a noble example 
 of devotedness in the work they undertook ; 
 and, referring to their labour of love, we would 
 say to others, '' Go, and do thou likewise." 
 
 Ijudijment of two venerated fiithei.s of our 
 i Church now no move. One contemplates the 
 I evtension of sciiiiul scriptural education 
 I throughout tlie large and scattered population 
 ' of our Highlands and Islands, the Assembly's 
 Scheme of lionie Education — a Scheme 
 J which hfis been most sinirularly blessed of 
 I Divine Proviilonce, anil has been the instru- 
 < meiit of making thousands and thousands of 
 ! o;ir countrymen accjuainted with the elements 
 I of cilucatioii, who olherwiso, from local cir- 
 ; cumMaiices, must have been deprived of that 
 
 of still wider extent, 
 
 PUBLIC MEETING TO HEAR THE DEPUTATON. J beiiolit. Another OllC, 
 
 . , 11 . , ,, . and of most profound interest, is the Missions 
 
 A piibhc meeting was h(;Id in the Music ; ,o i„aia^ „.iii^.ii ^ |i,.,t .seemed encompassed 
 Hall, George Street, Ldinbuin-h, on Monday, ' ^iih insurmountable didiculties, but which, 
 November 10th, at one o'clock, for tlie pur- by the encriry and perseverance of those cn- 
 pose of hearing the Members of the General trusted with' its conduct, has, under the bless- 
 Assembly's Deputation to British North Ame- i„ , „| di^i^^q Providence, flourished beyond 
 rica, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Simpson, of even the most sanguine expectation, " and 
 Kirknewton, Rev. Dr. M'Leod, of Morven, ,vhich, even though obstructed, and to a cer- 
 and the Rev. Norman M'Leod, of Dalkeith, \ ,a,n extent paralysed by lecent events of a 
 
 give some information regarding their mis 
 sion. The room was completely filled with 
 a highly respectable audience. On the plat- 
 form we observed the Very Rev. Principal 
 M'Farlan, Rev. Drs. Brunton, Steven, Muir, 
 Clark, Grant, N. M'Leod, Bennie, Black, 
 Simpson, J. M'Leod, Arnot, R. Lee, Craw- 
 ford, Gilchrist, Bryce ; Rev. Messrs. Hunter, 
 Paul, Stevenson, Glover, Balfour, N. M'Leod, 
 Home, Fraser, Robertson, Clark, Smith, Dufl, 
 M'Farlane, Barclay ; J. S. More, Hugh Bruce, 
 John Inglis, Macdutf Rhind, Thomas Ander- 
 son, Esqrs., Advocates ; Colin Campbell, Esq. 
 Robert Scott Moncrieff, Esq., John Swinton, 
 
 most painlul character, still atlbrds the fairest 
 prospect of recovering from the stroke it has 
 received, and of resinning its former position, 
 in respect not only of energy but of extent 
 and ellicacy, among tlie most benevolent and 
 most adniiiable enterprises which have dis- 
 tinguished our native Scotland. Others are of 
 J more recent origin. A scheme has lor some 
 ;' time ben carried on for the conversion of God's 
 < ancient people, the Jews, for the employment 
 ! of such human means as seem consistent with 
 I the will of God, and on which His blessing 
 ; may be expected to rest, for hastening the 
 ' happy period when this people, so interest- 
 
 Esq., Major Brown,Johu M'Fie, Esq., James ; i„g,- especially to all Christians, shall be ga 
 
 Simpson, \ thered together with the fulness " ' " 
 
 Smith, Esq., Dr. Maclagan, i3r 
 Walter Cook, George Tweedie Stoddart, Don 
 aid Home, Thomas Bruce, J. S. Darling, John 
 Bowie, John Qibson, John Hope, William 
 Young, Esqrs., W. S., &c. &c. &c. 
 
 John Swinton, Esq., rose and said,— I have 
 it in charge to propose, that the venerable and 
 respected Convener of the General Assem- 
 bly's Colonial Committee, should be appoint- 
 ed chairman of this meeting. 
 
 Mr. Smith of Carbeth Guthrie, having se- 
 conded the motion. 
 
 The Very Rev. Principal Macfarlan took 
 the chair. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Balfour, of Colinton, having 
 opened the meeting with prayer, 
 
 The Chairman said— Ladies and Gentle- 
 men, the attendance with which you have ho- 
 
 ss of the Gen- 
 tiles, and shall acknowledge the Lord 
 Jesus, the Head of the Church, as their 
 Saviour. Another Scheme has been es- 
 tablished for more adetjuately supplying 
 Churches thrown vacant. The imjwrt- 
 ance of this Scheme, both locally and 
 generally, will not be disputed, but it 
 comes home more feelingly when we consi- 
 der the obstructions which have presented 
 themselves at all times, but still more of late, 
 to the filling up of the churches where a 
 knowledge of Gaelic is essential to instruct 
 the people. That Scheme is for the fulfil- 
 ment of what was felt to be a sacred duty on 
 the part of our predecessors and forefathers, 
 that provision should be made in every High- 
 land parish for having ordinances administer- 
 
!ir 
 
 on 
 
 •d and religions in«tnirfion cominunicatfd 
 through thiit liuiKiiiiiri*, in whiih ho inaiiy 
 thousuiid.M thiiii( and tcci, ami in wiiich alone 
 they are Jihle to receive iiinlriiciion wlit'ii 
 oninmiinicuttMl. Not only the Chnroh, bnt 
 every Jenomiiiatioii of Cinistjant in our ian<l, 
 has expi'riencftl the (lillicnlly arising from a 
 deficiency of snllicii-ntly cilncaled men tn as- 
 sume the oriice of inslruclois, jiossesscd of 
 the necoHsary qualiHcations for communicat- 
 ing with the people in llicir own energetic 
 and impressive fansrniiarc — of up|)ealing to 
 their hearts through tliat nu*dinm,lhi' employ- 
 ment of whidi alone can sociire those entls. 
 Oi'r (Jracious Sovereign, lliroiiifh her repre- 
 sentative in the last Assembly, siu;ni(ied her 
 approbation of any measure wliit^h should 
 supply education to young men in the (>aelic 
 language, with a view to the sacred ministry. 
 That encouragement, I rejoice to say, has had 
 a most powerfid etii'ct. Not nuicli under a 
 hundred young men have come forward in 
 the various nuivt>rsilies of our land, daiminur 
 the patronage of the Church and a share of 
 the bounty of the Sovereign, with a vif'w to 
 the ministry in the Ili::hlands and Islands. 
 And you will forgive me for adverting to these 
 circumstances, when you recollect that to the 
 same object it has been projK>sed to devote 
 the contribntious of this day, as an object well 
 worthy of the encouragement of the ('iiristian 
 community of our country. And now, will 
 
 }'ou i)anlon me for adveiliuff more part icular- 
 y to another scheme in which I feel, I may 
 say, a paternal interest — the scheme for pro- 
 moting the spiritual welfare of Scottish Pres- 
 byterians in the British Colonies. I am con- 
 fident I address an assend)ly, the trreater part 
 of which has a direct interest in this subject. 
 There are few amongst us who have not 
 some members of our families, perhaps some 
 ©four beloved friends, some near relations, 
 some who are objects of our kimlest allections 
 and warmest prayers, called upon to occupy 
 their station in the dependencies of the British 
 empire. And sure I am it is our earnest 
 wisn, as it is our fervent prayer, that, in go- 
 ing forth frojn amongst us, as I trust they go 
 forth, cherishing an atfection for their native 
 country, an attachment to the faith and doc- 
 trines of their native Church, they may be 
 preserved either from going astray into erro- 
 neous opinions, or from sinking into lassitude 
 in regard to the worship and services of their 
 God ; and if they and we ever meet again, 
 that we may be enabled to receive them back 
 not only as our brethren and friends, but as 
 our brethren and friends in the hope of the 
 gospel of our common Saviour. You are pro- 
 bably aware, ladies and gentlemen, that by 
 the authority of last General Assem.bly, a de- 
 putation of our committee was appointed to 
 visit one most important branch of our Colo- 
 nial Churches, namely, that in British North 
 America. It was earnestly i^quested by our 
 countrymen there. It was considered an im- 
 
 Krtant instrament for giving us a more per- 
 3t knowledge of the wants and necessities 
 
 of our fellow-Christians than could be obtain- 
 ed by written communication; and also a 
 means of imparting to them more distinct, 
 impressive, lull, and satisfactory intelligence 
 ol what we do here, whether as regards ec- 
 di'siastical aHairs in general, or our exertions 
 and ••uileaviturs to promote the spiritual inter- 
 ests ol the Colonies. While solicited by them, 
 it was complied with by us as an expression 
 of sympatliy — as not only keepinflf up a more 
 perlect intercourse for the sake of information, 
 but as serving to nutintniu unity in the bond 
 of peace, by k ind, brotherly, aticction lie com- 
 munication, Kuch as could not be so elTectual- 
 ly nuiintained by anv written documents. I 
 have no do(d)t that the deputation were ad- 
 mirably successful in fuUilling the objects of 
 tlieir mission ; but from them you will receive 
 a more lull, more nalisfactory, and more in- 
 terestin-r accdiiiit of their prweedings than I 
 could irive. I liave now jireat pleasure in 
 presenting to you mv much respected bre- 
 thren. Dr. Simpson ofKirknewtiui, Dr. John 
 .M'I.eod of Morveu, and Mr. Norman Mao- 
 leod of Dalkeith. 
 
 The deputation were received with im- 
 mens,' cheering. When it had subsided, 
 
 Dr. Simpson rose and said, — When, Sir, I 
 tliink of the peculiar object of the present 
 meeting, and look around me, my feeling is 
 that of pure satisfaction and devout thanklul- 
 ness. I do most sincerely rejoice to see so 
 large, so respectable, and so inlluential an 
 assemblage of my fellow-Christians, called 
 forth by their deep concern, as I am bound to 
 believe, and their earnt'st solicitnile in regard 
 to the religious well-being of that most inter- 
 esting j)ortiou of our fellow-Christians, whom 
 my colleagues and I have been employed in 
 visiting. And gratifying as this sight is, it 
 ought not to be, nor is it, at all surprising. 
 All who ! K»mselves know the value of the 
 truth as : i in Jesus — all who themselves 
 have becon > members of the Redeemer's 
 kiiiirdom — must ever take a deep interest in 
 the promulgation of that truth, and the ex- 
 tension of that kingdom, in every laud and 
 among every people. But the case which 
 we are now met to consiiler is peculiar. The 
 individuals of whom I spi-ak have special 
 claims on your Christian atfections. They 
 are not only our fellow-Christians, they are, 
 in some sense, our fellow-countrymen. 
 Their language is ours. Our blood flows in 
 their veins. They are bound to us by a thou- 
 sand tender ties and affecting recollections. 
 Nay, the very name, the household word, by 
 which Scotland is spoken of, and that even 
 by those who never saw it, who scarce can 
 hope to see it, and to whom it is only the land 
 of their fathers — is home. These are the peo- 
 ple among whom we have been sojourning ; 
 these are the people in whom this meeting is 
 naturally, and, I trust, deeply interested. 
 When the General Assembly came to the 
 resolution of sending a deputation to those 
 distant Colonies, I felt how becoming, how 
 proper, how befitting the relation in whioh 
 
our Church lUnds lo the Nortli Airioricun 
 Province*, was thi» nieature ; uudiii cuiiimoii 
 with mv ba'threii aiul thu cumiiiuiiily at 
 ]ar(ie, 1 rvjoiooii in i\r* aduption. Uut I 
 ihraiiic from iiiuiirrin;^ a porsoiinl Hliaieut'tlie 
 rvspoiiaibility wiiirli kU'vulvoil on that ilupu- 
 talion. I wan awtire uf tliu ditlicultirt, the 
 (lelicacie*, tho dt-cp rL-<|Hiiii«ibilttiL!t wliU-ii 
 attendud tlit* tunk cuiii)nill<;d to thuin ; and I 
 iremblud I'vuii lo tako a Nhaiu in itti evci'ti- 
 tion. It wuH your Jlmt nii-^oion In lliosu dii- 
 tant piDvinc'i'"^. 'I'hnso wilh whom wo wcro 
 to foinmnniciito, witili* in koimu vii-w liiiMuU 
 and biuthrt'u, woro also in M)iii(! simiho .stran- 
 gers to \i». Tlioy lived in dilijrL-nl land'*, 
 and were plaeed nnder dilleri'i I eilc•llnl^lun- 
 cos; thuir liabili ut tliiiii«iii<_' and ynljuw^, it 
 nii{(ht bo, weio diirorfnl,lhi'i.'i)n'jiidii'i.';* and 
 pr<!iX)H»e».>«ioiis wt-rc, in ni:iny ru perls, we 
 liacl reason to .siipjiosc, cast in a nnuld dis- 
 •imilar loournvvn; .lul we searerly, in co;i- 
 ssqnencu, Ivnew hovv li) adiht'stt Ihcni. Nor 
 did tlie peiiiliar enciiin^lanees ol' our own 
 Church lessen tho diliicuily and delieaey ol 
 tliis task. Dili, on ihi; uIIk r hand, 1 was not 
 insensibh; lo Iheciniiiii.-lantos ol eiu-oina'^^e- 
 menl connected willi lliis mi-isinn. ll was a 
 great, a cheerniLr, an elevaUni; eiiaiid to ear- 
 ryame.ssa'jjeol'lirolheily love,aiiilcl;aiiiy, and 
 Christian sympathy liomoneehiii'clitoaii>iih(-r, 
 acro»sthe broad Atlantic ; an>!toassnre tliedi.s- 
 taul daiigiiler institution, liiat ihoiiirh iIum 
 niijfhty cK-ean rolled between tiiein, h'r pms- 
 f erity and the spiritual wcltaie ol le-r peo])le, 
 were deartotlio parent institution at houicjaiid 
 that to promote tluun her best ellorts would ; 
 be i^iven, ami iior most (erveni prayi-rs l)o of- 
 fered up to the throiio ot' Divine jfiace. It , 
 was an enterprise in full aecordaiice with the ■ 
 oominaiidtnent of lht> urcat Head ol tlii' 
 Church, " (Jo ye into all the world, and preach 
 the Gospel lo evfiry creature." reeliuy; the 
 conHtrainin^r torce of this injiniction, and 
 humbly trusting; to the accompanying? pro- \ 
 miso, " Lo, I am wilh yon always even to the 
 end of the world," we took coura^'e and went 
 forward. And with ileep and devout thank- ; 
 fulness, it beeuuies us lo siy, that in our ex- 
 perience, this pronii.se has been lary;ely lul- i 
 filled. We wore sustained in liealth and i 
 strength to fjive our best endeavours to the ' 
 execution of ihal task which the General As- ; 
 aenibly had devolved uixju us. The objects ; 
 of our mission vere lo cornnuiiiicate to our ' 
 friends and fellow-countrymen in the Colo- ; 
 nies the assurance that the Church of Scot- j 
 land still regarded them with great parental \ 
 affection, still looked at their situation with { 
 deep sympathy ; and to pive them tho fur- i 
 ther assurance that she was most ready and I 
 anxious, to the utmost extent of her available ! 
 means to assist them in tho great work of main- } 
 taining and extendingamong them the mani- : 
 fold blessings of tho kingdom of Christ ; and 
 wilh a view to this assistance, we were in- 
 structed to seek and collect the requisite infor- 
 mation for guiding and directing the opera- 
 tions of the Assembly in aflording it. Such 
 
 was tlie iiulua> uf our tu»k, nud auuh the go- 
 iieral tenor ot ourinstrnctiuii« ; and all 1 shall 
 nay of its execution is, that we were most ear- 
 nest and solicitous — that wo were most fer- 
 \ent m prayer — that we might be enabled tu 
 discharge this task in some measure worthi- 
 ly of the church which we represented, and 
 in some measure protitably tu the suuls uf 
 lii»4e with whom wo were sent to hold bro* 
 iheriy and Chiistian communion. 'J'hey re- 
 j liced in every place where we had tho hap- 
 pinest of aildie-siu:; to them the message ot 
 peace an*l salvation ; and that message was 
 not less welcome that it was spoken by min- 
 islers belou'^iiiir to ihe ehnrehof their lathers, 
 the church in whichall their sympathies cen- 
 \ tered, Ihe church oltheir veneiali><nand love, 
 l!ie ciiuivh Irom which they desire still to be 
 instructed, — that church which it was our 
 wi.sji to sliow llii.>ni \Nas blill entitled to, and 
 worthy of all their atleclion and all their vene- 
 ration. In |iruseciition ol this task we were 
 calU'd upon lo preach theuospel, and this we 
 did in all ils plainness and all ils simplicity. 
 Wherever we went this was ourlirsi and most 
 prominent care ; and 1 know not in what Ian. 
 ;.'i:au(' to expie-» the i^ladnt'ss with which tho 
 people' heaid us. In pro-eeution of our ob- 
 ject we travelled over a wide extent of terri- 
 tory, and throu;rh many new and varied 
 .~(;ent.>s. On a rouirh calculation, from tho 
 lime of our landim; at Halifax to tlut of our 
 embarkinir at noslou, we travelled nearly five 
 thousand mi.es. Wt." preachi.'d everywhere 
 — in the wrll-arraMi:ed church t)f Ihe popul- 
 ous town — in the humble sanctuary around 
 which, as the centre of attraction, were erect- 
 ed the scallereddwellingsof the remote ham- 
 let — in the still humbler log-house standing 
 in the deep recess of the forest, and gathering 
 ils w(jrshippers from a wide surrounding dis- 
 trict of separate habitations; and I know not 
 whether tiie crowded audience of tho one, or 
 the handfull in the other, was the more inte- 
 n.'stin^ congreL'ation. 1 have preached where 
 not the seats only, nor the passage and stairs 
 aloiu!, but tile spaces around the doors and 
 windows — wherever ear could hear — were 
 ciowiled wilh eairer and earnest listeners. — 
 This was a deeply inleresting scene ; an oc- 
 casion on which it wiis matter of high privi- 
 le;re and devout thankfulness to have been 
 permitted to minister. And I have seen a 
 iniditier multitude still gathered round my 
 friend. I have seen thousands upon thousands 
 seated o.i the green earth, under the bright 
 blue canopy of haven, while he spoke to them 
 the word and broke among them the bread of 
 lift;. 1 marked their deep and rapt attention ; 
 and though I knew not the language in which 
 he addressed them, I well knew his power of 
 manly and energetic eloquence, and I could 
 understand the leeling, depicted on the eager 
 upturned counleiiaiices, which thrilled their 
 souls. We addrt*ssed other audiences than 
 these ; I have addressed a handful of people. 
 They had travelled over many a weaiy mile 
 to meet wilh us. Yet there they sat deeply 
 
h« go- 
 
 1 •hall 
 ust uar- 
 08t fer- 
 ibled to 
 worthi- 
 L'd, and 
 liuuU of 
 old bro- 
 huy r«- 
 
 lio llBp- 
 
 »»ugu of 
 
 igo was 
 
 by inia- 
 
 tuthera, 
 
 lit'Jieon- 
 
 iiid love, 
 
 lill to b« 
 
 wuH our 
 
 I Ui, and 
 
 c'ir vene- 
 
 wo were 
 
 1 iliii* we 
 
 Miplicity. 
 
 uiiJ most 
 
 wliut lull. 
 
 .vliichtbu 
 
 1' our ob- 
 
 t ofterri- 
 
 lul varied 
 
 I'rom Iho 
 
 iuit of our 
 
 leiirly fivu 
 
 orywhere 
 
 lio popul- 
 
 y tirouiid 
 
 ere erect- 
 
 lote hum- 
 standing 
 rathering 
 
 liiling dis- 
 know not 
 
 10 one, or 
 
 noro inte- 
 led where 
 and slairB 
 doors and 
 
 tjar — were 
 sleners. — 
 I! ; an oc- 
 igh privi- 
 have been 
 fe seen a 
 round niy 
 thouttanda 
 the bright 
 ie to them 
 e bread of 
 attention ; 
 e in which 
 a power of 
 ul 1 could 
 I the eager 
 illed their 
 snces than 
 of people, 
 iveaiy mile 
 sat deeply 
 
 rapt and absorhcf' in nttHntion to the lidinc;"i 
 which wo brouffhi. These are things wliiuii 
 we cannot forifi't. Thf«e nr<; lei»»on» which 
 ought to lmv(> told on oiirown uiiil)>rstandiii;,'u 
 onu our own henitj* ; nml we Hhoiild have bi'on 
 greatly wnntiii(r in tlu> duty of prolitin:; by 
 our opporlunitic-., if wi; luul not iVit inortMilivf 
 to that in»'.ssnL'"' wliicli wr procluinicil, and il' 
 we did not fofl moru uli\t' to it in all comisi^' 
 time Ironi obscrvinu: llie (•aini"'tnf.s» willi 
 which it was liMiMicil to in that iliMant land. 
 We were rliariri-il also to t'iv<? mihIi oxplatia- 
 tions us miirlit bf souirlit with rt-yird to tlio 
 Mtatc nf the chuicli at liiunc. This wu fflt 
 was a (Iclicalo task. We frit that llicro was 
 dandier Ikto nl it'ciniiii: totriMifh on liio <fround 
 of controvj'rsy, troin wliicli wf slniiiik. For 
 ours was a nics>aL'(' of jmnicc and i;oo(l will. 
 Mo oonlrovt'rsial bilti-rni'ss i'%er rnti'md our 
 heai1, and I blf.«s (Jod that no ucrinioniiins t'X- 
 pression t'v»,'r |)a^sl•d our li|)s. \Vluici'\i)la- 
 nationn wort' di'>ii('(i — we did not volunteer 
 tlunn ; — it woniil iiave lu'cn unwoilliy ol iIk; 
 conimisfion we bon.-, mi\\ orthv of .Seolcli'iicii, 
 fur more of inini.^ters ofllie ('linrcli ol Scni- 
 land, if we luid liehitated fulU, frei'ly.i and 
 frankly to tell tlieni wliiit Wiis tlie f-taleof tliiit 
 Church ; and wo l>le><MMl (ind tlwil we were 
 enabled to tell tiu'Mi, aiuitliey b!i\-.-cil (iod a> 
 they liMeried to tli'* evpiaiialioii, ihat tlie 
 Cluireli of their fatliers wa ■ .'lill woitiiy of 
 their warniesl nlieelions. 'J hey knew — and 
 wo had no desire to eoiiceal, — lliat slie liiid 
 had times of trial and daiknes-;. ^Vo told 
 them, aii<l Iliey joined in bles^int; fiod when 
 we told liiem, that lie wlio hud watched 
 over the (,'hureli of tlieiv fidliers in niiiiiy 
 past troubles i.nil in pa^l :r; in'raiioiis, iiad not 
 forsaken her in her reciMit Ironhles. We 
 told them that sho had pushed tliroiiuh llie 
 furnace of allliction bnl was not c;)risinni'd — 
 that our Ziun had KuMaincd a sliock, hot tl<at 
 her breaches wer(! a'j;ain Imi't up — that the 
 storms of controversy, aiul f-trife, and division 
 were passeil, and that oin- Jeni-^aleni was 
 now a (piiet habitation. And could I i)i('liire to 
 you the feeling with which the evidences and 
 proofu of this state of thiniis were heard — had 
 you seen the <leliiiht and satisfaction with 
 which these men, to whom distance seemed 
 but to endear the Church of their fathers, lis- 
 tened to her vindication — luul yon seen the 
 glistening eye and the quivering lip wlien 
 the doubts and diliiculties were removed, 
 which misconception and misconstruction (1 
 use no stronger words) had awakened, and 
 which had disquieted their minds, but could 
 not alienate their aliection — had you seen the 
 workings of their countenances, when they 
 felt that their love and veneration for the 
 Church of Scotland was still fully warranted, 
 and might still be allowed to llow forth in 
 their wonted channels and fullest tide, — I 
 ahould not appeal in vain to the friends of 
 that Church in the land of her national Es- 
 tablishment, for sympathy in the spiritual 
 destitution of her distant children. By our 
 common love to that Church, I call an you, 
 
 nnd byjhc blessing of Cod, I trust we shall 
 be enabled, to aid them in the form in which 
 they so earnestly desire our sympathy and 
 aid, by sending them mini:>tersto teach them 
 the word ol life, nnd break among them the 
 bread of life. Wo had special instructions— 
 and it was essential to the accomplishment 
 o( oiir task — that we should hold familiar in* 
 tercoiirse with our fiii.'iids, clerical and Inyi 
 wherever we im t the n. And we were not 
 wanting in this duli^htfid ]iait of our duty. 
 U'e had iinuli intercourse with onr clerical 
 brethren ; ami my colleagues will join mo in 
 evpressing the conviction ihni llle^e men are 
 faithful, able, laborious, /ealons niinibterst 
 Theirs is no ea<y tn-k ; but they give them- 
 selves to it wholly. They :.'ive tlieniselvoa 
 to it under a deep sense ol its impoitancc. 
 They are willing to spend and to be spent in 
 the cause of I heir Mu-ter. With such men 
 if was delighlfiil to hohl iiiterconrco. And 
 we trii-t the expianatioiis given and received 
 may have been for tiie miitiiiil beiielil of both. 
 Bill the»e were not the only pi i sons who 
 , showt'il themselves deeply iiilevc-ted in our 
 mission, rroin all elas>es of men wo expe- 
 rienced the iitmosi kiiitlness and tho utmost 
 coniti'sy. And what is of more importance 
 tlKinaiiylhinLr personal, tiieytonk the warmest 
 iiileresl in the ol ji'i'Is of fnir iiii-sion, and did 
 all that lay in their power for the furtherance 
 of tlio.-e obj(;cts. 'I'his vas onr experience 
 ainiMig all ranks, and in all ciiciinislanccs. 
 Wo i-'xpcrienced from the high civil authori- 
 1 tics every attention. Thi; governors of the 
 ' provinces were mo<t anxious to forward the 
 great objects of our mission ; nnd one qnes- 
 ' tioM alwa;>s put was, in whiit way their ser- 
 vices could be made available to ns ? I am 
 delighted to tell you that tho.-o feelings, so 
 ] expressed on all hands, weio carried prac- 
 tically into elliicf. At Halifax, the very first 
 jilace where we landed, there was a large 
 and iiithiential deputation assembled to hail 
 ' and welcome us, as the deputation coming 
 from the ("hurch of Scotland. Our reception 
 ; was the same wherever we went. As the 
 ; steamboat approached tho wharf, there was 
 ' uniformly seen a laru'e assemblage waiting 
 ; our arrival. Wherever we went we were 
 \ hailed by glad and joyful hearts, as ministers 
 ; of the Church of Scotland, bearing welcome 
 .'issurancc of her continued attnchment to their 
 great spiritual interests. But I was goina; to 
 ; mention that at Halifax, where we first landed, 
 ; a large lay association has been established 
 : on the model of that important body which 
 I has been established at home. And I rejoice 
 : to say, that the Lay Association has, at every 
 : stage of its progress, been receiving large 
 accessions to its numbers. And we were 
 assured at Halifax, on our return homewards^ 
 that the Lay Association has been joined, not 
 only by a lar»e number of those who were 
 originally and naturally connected with the 
 Church of Scotland, but by many belonging 
 to a variety of other communions, which I 
 shall not more particularly designate at pre- 
 
I i 
 
 •ent, but communions, from which it i» nlo^t , They armo not Ii;m powerfully frorn iho cir- 
 delitfhtful to uh to hfar, tliut Hiieh an \>^Mf \ cuiiKstaiiioN by wliu-h llu'y nro iliosuvi'red 
 #.iB»mnhMrH.!«iveamoi(limixtrlaiitarci'HMoim. from us. 'I'lifir heuits luru warmly lowariU 
 
 * 
 
 \ 
 
 ciatiou ha« rocoivcd moHt im(xtrlaiit 
 It i« tliH same ut Moiitn-Hl ; ami I bttlicvi-, 
 that, in conMecmuufu of this niiMrtioii »>! llu' 
 (junurai AMm'mbl y, a >*\nn\ lias bffii a\vak('iu'<l 
 throui^liDUt till! (oioiiii'x, iVom wliiili ymi niay 
 au;rur tin) nioM im|MMlaiil ri"«iill.'< lo ii'liL'ion 
 anci to tii« woll-biMii'i of lln' Chiircii of Sinl- 
 laml, or, I .slumltl imut' propoily kiv, of tin- 
 Norlli AintMican chitulu'.sin coiiuauiiion willi 
 the C!\nr<;l> of Sootlanil. 
 
 1 f.'L'l tliat is M'.Kit'ly iifrfs!>nry for us to 
 
 tliL' luiiil to which llu'y traco their Juucuiitt 
 and by tlii.H tlicy ha\c a claim upon uh, Aial 
 if they havf it'll lhi< land of their birth; if 
 thev liiivc been driven to m'i>k Nheiter and 
 niainlenance in tin* laml of their ailoption, — 
 is n(Jt this another and not' less |H)Werful 
 claim? They have been driven from undur 
 tlieir vine and liu tree; and mhall we, 
 wild bit under our vine and li;| tree, anil none 
 to in.d.e us HlVaid ; ^hali we, who aru btil' 
 
 ipeak of success; but it would beiiijnMiee to ini.ilo "to lie d(twn in yreen paMniett," and 
 you, and to those also whom we visited, were led " beside the still waters" ot reli-fioiiH or- 
 1 not to say, that wi- were evervwhere a>sui- liinances, loriret those whose lot is now t-ast 
 
 ed, that wo jiud not altogether failed in ac- 
 compliwhin-,' the ;rreat and important obiecls 
 eutruwted to our care. We were every vvliere ' 
 assured, that the messaife we brouy:lit was 
 deeply acceptable to those to wiiom it wi.s 
 delivered. And if we received much person- 
 al kindness, we shouKl have the less hesita- 
 tion in alluding to this, for we are well aware 
 tliat, the kindness and attention, tin- courtesy 
 and respect, with which we wiMo »'very where 
 treated, were derived from a sinnce which 
 niuile it tloubly valuable, — the feelinyf that 
 the deputatitm wasconnectcil with the Clnnch 
 of their fathers and oiu- tiithers. What is the 
 practical result of all this i What is to be the 
 effect of the inhirmation we have communi- 
 cated? What can you do? What are vcai 
 disiKJsed to do for these our brethren ? We 
 tell you — and we s))eak bom personal obser- 
 vation, from immediatt! insi)eclion, not only 
 from what W(* heard, and what we believe as 
 haviii"? heard, but from what we saw, that 
 there is a deep and melancholy ilotitiUion of 
 the means of relii,'ious instruction and pastor- 
 al superintendence in the North American 
 Colonies connecteil with Great Ihitaiu. Aiul 
 if this destitution exists, and if you and this 
 
 on the wild waste of a hirh)reiL;u land ( No, 
 Sn, I trust, and I am conliilent that this meet- 
 ing will prove that we do not trust in vain lor 
 syin|ialhy. 1 am p(>rsnaded that the hope wo 
 veiUured to ^'ive ot relii'f will be amply fid- 
 lilled; that there are kind Christian hearts 
 jireparcd to ^ive prcHifs of their sympathy ill 
 a practical, |M)silive, substantial form, by do- 
 iim what lii's in their power to send out la- 
 bourers to break aiiKinj{ them the bread of 
 life. The details of what wc have to eoin- 
 mnnicate are from another place. But per- 
 mit me, I beseech you, to remind yiai of the 
 duty, I may say of the hii;h ;<:rati heat ion of 
 contributing; to this yreat Christian work of 
 extendimr tlie Itedi'emer's kiiii;dum over ano- 
 ther laud, o{ renewiiiiL; the Church of Scot- 
 land in this distant countiy in the form of 
 that dau;j:hter Church which still eliii^H 
 to its parent with the fondest ati(;cti(Uis. 
 I trust that the pl.'d|^e, which the very 
 fact of our mission uave to this ellect, will 
 be speedily and fully redeemed. I re- 
 joice in the statement made from the chair, 
 that there are youiiu; men deeply impressed 
 with the desire of bi'in^ ambassadors for 
 Christ, wiltiui!; to enter on the duties of thu 
 
 meelinji are persuaded of its existence, I do ministerial oliice in its most laborious fpitn. 
 
 not permit myself to doubt for a mom(?iit that 
 the next cjuestion every individual here puts 
 is: how are the wants of our bretlnen to he 
 supplied ? Ilow are wt; to show our sympa- 
 thy in that form in which we may best show 
 
 I'hese yomi^ men are anxious to be employ- 
 etl ; and tluiy wait with solicitude to see 
 whether they can be ipialilied in respeet of 
 education h)r the task to which they are wil- 
 liii>j to y;ivo themselves. And shall these 
 our Christian reu:ard, — in that form in which means be wanting? I believe wlien Scotland 
 they most desire to receive it f Everywhere knows that the want exiMs at home and 
 they teslilied — •• We w^iil spnitnai iaitouurs ('xi^l.-. :.iit vously abrend — I b dif ve nnd I 
 to speak the word of truth, and break the trust tiiat the means for (pialifyiiiu them for 
 bread of life amongst us. Oh send such la- this most important task will not be withheld, 
 bourers!" And their earnest desire is, that The gift;* which shall go to educate these 
 such labourers should come from the cliurch young men, — for which there is among the 
 of their fathers, the church of the birth of various schemes of our Church no other dis- 
 niany of them. And there is in this an aj)- tinctive provision,— those are gifts which 
 peal, which, I trust, will go lo every Christi- i will be especially and doubly blessed. I 
 an's heart, when he thinks, ihat, by sending know they will be blessed to those who re- 
 among our Christian brethren abroad labour- | ceivethem; I believe they will be blessed 
 ers for the vineyard, he is not only extending to those from whose l)ounty they proceed, 
 the Redeemer's kingdom, not only discharg- ; We felt — even in delivering her message — 
 ing a great duty owing to every man who has; even in declaring the sympathy of the 
 a soul to be saved, but performing a duty es-; Church at home — and preaching the gospel 
 pecially beneficial to those who have peculiar to those to whom such visits were few and 
 niaims on his regard. These claims arise, far between — the value of the gospel more 
 from the ties by which they are united to us.^ deeply impressed on our own hearts, and out 
 
rom Iho cir- 
 
 inly lowuril* 
 icir iluitueiit i 
 ><)ll IM. Aiui 
 fir biitli ; if 
 Hlicltcr uiul 
 ' U(l()|)ti()ii,— 
 'M |M»wnlul 
 li'iiin iitulur 
 I mIiuII \vi>, 
 I'c, iiiitl none 
 v!i(» aru ttiil 
 .-tiiicH," and 
 I'cli^iouM or- 
 is now ciiitt 
 I iiihd I No, 
 lat tliii^ tufot- 
 M in vain lor 
 tlhi! liojK' wo 
 I amply Ail- 
 iMian In-urts 
 ■♦yinpalliy in 
 form, by do- 
 ct'iid out la- 
 liif bread of 
 ivu to coin- 
 t*. But p(?r- 
 il yon of the 
 iitilication of 
 lian work of 
 jm over ano- 
 rci» of Si-ot- 
 the form of 
 Ntill c-lin^i) 
 i ati(!cti(inM. 
 'h tile very 
 etlet'l, will 
 led. I ro- 
 n llu! chair, 
 y impiestied 
 assadors for 
 liities of the 
 orious Iprm. 
 bo employ- 
 tilde to Hee 
 n respect of 
 liey are wil- 
 Hhall these 
 len Scotland 
 home and 
 i^'vo nnd I 
 lu; liiem for 
 be withheld, 
 ucate these 
 among the 
 10 other dis- 
 zifls which 
 blessed. I 
 Me who re- 
 1 be blessed 
 By proceed, 
 message — 
 thy of the 
 ; the gospel 
 ere few and 
 gospel more 
 artn, and our 
 
 f) 
 
 alTlfclion^ for the Church of Srotlund itrffneth- 
 eru'd at everv ntep ol our jKourcM, And in 
 tlie prnyr wliicli we odt.T iip Inr hnr prc-er- 
 v.ilioii and |)rof<p.'rity, oh ' Sir, thoro ure 
 many hi'iiilt joinin'f you in nnother land. 
 The wide N('a«( roll between n^* ; but they are 
 one will) 114 ill love and hUcetion to llie 
 Cliiireli of Sooilaiiil — liie 'tmreh of llieii 
 honii', t!it» C.'linrcli nl liieir fathers. Ami the 
 very feeliii^>» wliieh prompt tin' uill— tliex- 
 aru Cliii.iliiin tceliii'.'t : and the viry art ol 
 beNtiiwiiiK will tend to lieiLrhten tlit.' feeliiiuw 
 from wliii h the ^ilt proeeeiU. It is a imble 
 enlerpiise — a irreat iiiiileitiikiiitr. <>li! it 
 would b(! a lii-.'U ilistineimii t ir tin) Ciiiiicli 
 (jf Seollaiid I'l » a hi iter {"iii.n'l: — a Clmieli 
 uwnin^r ami u uryiiiu in its iil.ni :ii-iii|) to in r 
 — should biToiiit) the leadiiii; mid prdiiiiiiciit 
 Cliiiri h in Mew Sc:)t!and. And I niiv in eon- 
 ciu.-ioii, it rests with ynii to s.muI iiieii to 
 ni'eaeh tlio word nt tmlh in tii>i«i- liislant 
 lamiN, and to ditcniiiiii' whellii-r tin* ('tiiiicli 
 ol Scollaiid shall assmiie that IiIlIi and mijilf 
 position of eiiiiiieiice and ('liri-!i:iii iisdiil- 
 ness wliit'li is open to her tlicn-. 'i'lie Rev. 
 Doctor riisuined his seat amidst great a;.- 
 pianse. 
 
 Dr. JoitN M'l^Eoi) of Morvcn said, Ivudies 
 and trentleineii, in Heiidiiii; a deputation to 
 Canada, llm (ieiieral Assembly tuok a very 
 imporiarit step, but oiio wliidi, at the same 
 time that it eonlerred ii|)iiii us an liouour and 
 n privile^re, iin[)(>sed npuii us, I may say for 
 one, a Very onerous ami respeii.^iblc! duty, 
 I'ossibly suiiiu may havi- entertained doubts 
 as to tin) expediency of such a measure at 
 all, while others, as^entimj to it, may have 
 viespaired of a siiccessliil issue. For my own 
 part, bein:^ ilu. very lirst wlin aiiiet.'d to loim '. 
 one of that deputation, I may l)e permitted to 
 say that my mind was not free from doubt 
 and hesitation. I contemplated a Ioiilt voyai^e 
 ami absence tiom home, but I was not ap- 
 palled with the prospect of crossing the wide 
 ocean, for I had loiii^ been accustomed to the 
 music of the Atlantic's roar. Hut I saw a 
 field of labour, extensive and vast, and a time 
 as.-iLjiied for the labour luicessarily limited. 
 I saw, mort.'over, that the inlorination which 
 wo possessed with ivfrard to that lield, was 
 scanty, and that what we did possess was met 
 witii much of a discoura<,'iiig character, and 
 that resting uiwn evidence which, even with 
 the experience of past years, 1 at least could 
 not bring my own miml to leirard as eitlu;r ] 
 exaggerated or nuloiinded. Uut 1 diierrud to i 
 the opinion of others. And though no man ' 
 could bo more engrossed by his public duties 
 ill that obscure sphere assigned to mt;, or 
 more rivetted by domestic ties, I acted that \ 
 part which, I trust, I shall ever be able to ' 
 act, by placing my services at the disposal | 
 of our beloved Church. And I now say that 1 
 I did so the more readily and more cheerful- I 
 ly that [ anticipated much happiness and i 
 comfort from the company and co-operation | 
 of my esteemed associates — anticipations 
 which have been more than amply realised. ! 
 
 So far wn did proceed with ennnurtgmg pro«- 
 peels. \\ e enjoyed largely the couiitvnanct 
 of our Church, an. I ( think I nm this day 
 borne out in r-ayitii; that we enjoyed the coun- 
 teiiHiice of the public lartrely too. And if at 
 any time we were iKirne down by dilhcnlties, 
 I trust we knew hiw to betake ourdelves to 
 Ilim whi)>e [xiwer i* able to defend, and 
 wh()';e wi-.dom is atilo to direct. And we 
 Were permiltiHJ to diaw couiloit to our (>oula 
 at III! times, ill beiievinir thai the iilleclion- 
 ale piayer which as<"i'ndt d on the day of our 
 d»'partnic, continued day after iliiy to ascend 
 bir II-4 at the tliieiie of y;iace, 'lliiis we pro- 
 ceeded : our palli was as the path of life it- 
 se f, W'l' saw bill a ••IkkI way before us, 
 \vi' hail our eiicoiirageiueiits on the one 
 hand ami our dinciuir.i'^'eiiieiils oil the other. 
 Dill as we inUaiiced our path brightened, 
 and the cordial r.'ci.'ptioii which we mot 
 at lialdav, was in ilseif a joyliil prelude to 
 that |)ro-periiy which tliroiii.diiiiil attended 
 IIS, And now, Sir, let mi' siy. that, having 
 returned to our citiiiitry, our Church, ami our 
 fiieiids, the receplioii wliicli we have heie 
 met is a!so a comfort, animating our bouls, 
 and iu itself amply conipensatiii',' f ir all our 
 toils ami all oiii troubles. And 1 cannot pro- 
 ceed aiiollier stepe^plaiiiini^our |>ro:<'iessaiid 
 pi()ceediin,'s till 1 express our cordial and 
 uriil'diil tliaiiks to you lor your kindnees — 
 kiiiiliie-s which wi' e.-liinale not the lesa 
 highly as we consider it indicative of your at- 
 tachment tooiir veneialed Chinch. I cm. elude, 
 Sir,lliat the niemliersof this respectable ineet- 
 iiii; ar.' now sullicieiitly awaic; of the nature 
 of ihe duties which devolved upon us. Theao 
 have been already slated : — they are aware, 
 as you are, that wo were lirst callcil upon to 
 use every elloit for aciiiiiring adecji.ate infor- 
 inatiiiu as to the slate of the Colonial Church- 
 es ; — that wo were called upon again and 
 aufaiii to hold communion with our esteemed 
 breihicii iln-re, and above all to ))reach 
 the glori:)U .rospel of our Loril Jesns Christ, 
 to a people of wlioiii so many are unprovided 
 with the stated means of pa.-toral instriictiou ; 
 and also, when deniandeil,to exhibit the pre- 
 sent stale of the Church at home, it is iinne- 
 cossary h)r me to enter into minute details 
 further than has already been done by iny 
 respected friend ; such details, indeed, it is 
 not lilting that we should present here. In 
 due time these details will bo presented to 
 the proper (piaiter. As little do I hope that it 
 is expected we shall luriiish }ou with a nar- 
 rative fraught whli exciting events. But 
 holding inysell, as I hope 1 may do, as ad- 
 dressing for the greater part attached friends 
 of the Chuich, Tlrusl that the detail of our 
 ministerial labours will be listened to with 
 interest, thou'di wanting events of an exciting 
 character. We have perambulated a great 
 extent of country, and one joyful announce- 
 ment I have to make is this, that from the 
 hour in which we received the kind congra- 
 tulations of our friends at Halifax on our land- 
 ing, till the hour, I might say midnight hour, 
 
 'V^. 
 
to 
 
 I »■■ 
 
 1 i ! 
 
 i I 
 
 I I 
 
 I 1 
 
 tl 
 
 when the hand of friendship was extended to 
 greet us on our return, we did not on one oc- 
 casion meet with a single circumstance bear- 
 ing an unfavourable character on the objects 
 of our minsion. Among our friends every ear 
 was open to hear ; every eye beamed with 
 gladness; every voice spoke with kindness; 
 every hand was extended to minister to onr 
 wants. And if at any time we met with those 
 who felt it to be their conscientious duty to 
 withdraw from communion with our Cliurcii, 
 I say here and joyfully that weevperifnced a 
 deportment from them well worthy of the imi- 
 tation of their friends here. We associated 
 with all ranks of men; and while our ^nate- 
 ful thanks are due to that individual, as dis- 
 tinguished for his unobtrusive character in 
 private life as for his energy in public life, 
 who so worthily represents his Sovereign in 
 those provinces, we are not the less grateful 
 for the attentions we received from the mer- 
 chants in the cities, and from the intelligent 
 and enterprising settlers in the rural districts. 
 Now, Mr. Chairman, in communicating with 
 such, we had it in our power to acquire much 
 information as to the sti'te of the Colonial 
 Church. Th<at information will in due time 
 be submhted to the proper quarter. We had 
 it in pur power also, to commune with our es- 
 teemed brethren there. That they should 
 liave reciprocated our feelings is not at all 
 surprising. Theirs, also, had been a day 
 of trial and trouble ; which if not able 
 to remove altogether, I trust we were at 
 least under God able to alleviate. I cannot 
 remove the sorrow under which the mourner 
 grieves, yet my voice may soothe his trou- 
 ble; and that mourner may be comforted 
 in knowing that I bear at least a share of 
 his sorrow. And so it was, thtat if we 
 could not remove, we could at least mi- 
 tigate their affliction. We could impart com- 
 fort, and we could encourage ; we did encour- 
 age them to that patient endurance under trial 
 by which we have been enabled to bear up 
 under the ditficulties of our own poshion. 
 And I trust that the s^Tnpathics of this Church 
 will do good to their souls, however inade- 
 quate the medium of communicating that 
 sympathy, and that you will find them more 
 zealously intent on promoting the great ends 
 of the Christian ministry in those Provinces. 
 Our visit has also removed many misconcep- 
 tions as to the state of our Church at home. 
 In doing so, I trust we did not overlook our 
 instructions, — instructions in harmony with 
 our own feelings, — to be guided at all times 
 by Christian forbearance. We did not, by 
 engaging iri ang'v controversy, depart from 
 that Christian forbearance. But when in- 
 jquirjr was made, we did not shrink from ex- 
 hibiting the true state of our Church at home. 
 You will not be surprised to hear that much 
 misrepresentation existed as to this importan 
 suWect. Notwithstanding all tha? has been 
 Mid in our church courts and law courts, and* 
 all that has been written in pamphlets and 
 newspapers, we are all aware that innch 
 
 misconception and much delusion exist on 
 these f>iibject8 at home. Misconception ex- 
 ists even in the Highlands ; for we are not be- 
 yond the inttuenco of the delusion. It was 
 currently rejwrted there that a reverend gen 
 tleinan now on this platform, was unable to 
 administer the ordinance of baptism, without 
 an express permission from Her Majesty,— 
 that royalty dictates our very texts, — and that 
 Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham were 
 far more (X'cupird with ecclesiastical proce- 
 dure than with national diplomiicy. It is 
 not surprising that such misconception should 
 exist in those Provinces, when publications 
 on the opposite side of the question may, for 
 aiiglit I know, have reached the Indians of 
 the prairies, and maj' have made them all as 
 familiar with all the clauses of Lord Aber- 
 deen's Hill as with the passes of their own 
 Rocky Mountains. Strange to say, that the 
 press has exercised little or no influence 
 there ; anil though we did find in the Provin- 
 ces ol North America, men, not only in the 
 higher ranks of life, but in subordinate 
 spheres also, as feelingly alive to the inter- 
 ests of the Church as we are, — whose attach- 
 ment is based on a most conscientious feeling 
 of principle ; yet, at the same time, it must 
 be confessed that we diil find a considerable 
 lack of knowledL'e on the part of some ; 
 while there are others who, we found, enter- 
 tained the most strange opinions, in regard to 
 matters which had occurred at home. Of the 
 latter class, there were some who entertain- 
 ed doubts as to how they should receive ns, 
 and in what character to acknowledge us. 
 I thought they looked with particular suspi- 
 cion and dread on my friend, Dr. Simpson, 
 because they had heard that he was one of 
 the officials of the General Assembly, a Court 
 which they looked upon as akin to the In- 
 quisition. Then, as to the minister of Dal 
 keith, they looked upon him more in pity 
 than in wrath, — as a young man whose lin- 
 eage was more his misfortune than his fault, 
 and of whom better things might have been 
 expected, if he had not been placed in such 
 juxta-proximity to His Grace the Duke of 
 Bnccleuch, whom they had been led to be- 
 lieve a fearful oppressor, and in such contact 
 whh the minister of St. Stephen's. Of the 
 very humble individual who addresses you, 
 they would have known nothing, had h? not 
 once cited certain parochial teachers to at- 
 tend the Presbytery, and had not his name, in 
 consequence, blazoned in some journals as a 
 leading persecutor. But though such preju- 
 dices did exist, they were not insurmountat 
 ble; if we did not succeed in convincing them 
 that the Church of Scotland was what we be- 
 lieve it to be, we succeeded at least in con- 
 vincing them that it was not what they had 
 been led to believe it was. I think we prov- 
 ed that, unless when obstructed by recldesa 
 and cowardly mobs, our Presbyteries could 
 discharge their duties ; and that, in spite of 
 all that was said, we could exercise discip- 
 line. In short, I hope we succeeded in oonv 
 
 'i 
 
 1 
 
 I ll 
 
delusion exist on 
 klisconception ex- 
 for we are not be- 
 delueion. It wn« 
 It a reverend gen 
 fij was unable to 
 baptism, without 
 yioT Majesty, — . 
 Y texts,— and that 
 les Graham were 
 ^lesiasticai proco- 
 iplomacy. It jg 
 'onception should 
 hen publications 
 [uestion may, for 
 (I the Indians of 
 nade them all as 
 s of Lord Aber- 
 *ses of their own 
 to say, that the 
 or no inHuenoe 
 cl in the Provin- 
 not only in the 
 in subordinate 
 ive to the inter- 
 — whose attach- 
 cientious feeling 
 le time, it must 
 I a considerable 
 part of some; 
 VB found, enter- 
 )ns, in regard to 
 home. Of the 
 who entertain- 
 uld receive us, 
 ;knowledge us. 
 irticular suspi- 
 Dr. Simpson, 
 he was one of 
 iembly, a Court 
 kin to the In- 
 ninister of Dal 
 more in pity 
 lan Avhose lin- 
 than his fault, 
 ght have been 
 placed in such 
 the Duke of 
 een led to be- 
 1 such contact 
 ben's. Of the 
 addresses you, 
 g, had h^ not 
 achers to at- 
 )t his name, in 
 journals as a 
 h such preju- 
 insurmounta-* 
 ivincingthera 
 what we be- 
 least in con- 
 'hat they had 
 link we prov> 
 I by reckless 
 jrteries could 
 it, in spite of 
 ercise diicip- 
 seded in con» 
 
11 
 
 vincing them that our courts of law were not 
 for oppressing but for protecting us — that they 
 were more anxious to remind us of what we 
 had voluntarily agreed to do than to force us 
 to discharge any duty which we wore reluct- 
 ant to discharge. I trust to that extent we 
 succeeded ; and that they at all events came 
 over to the belief, that though the Church of 
 Scotland may not be able to lay claim to in- 
 fallibility, yet it is not tluit moral nui)<aiice 
 which ought to be swept oil the face of the 
 earth. I trust those our etlhrts hail a proper 
 elfect. I know they had an effect in disartn- 
 ing our opponents in some instances; but tliey 
 had a not less precious etiect in calming the 
 minds of many who liad been agitated by 
 misgivings; while they were the means of 
 securing many a w.nvering heart, and of or- 
 ganizing here and there in many districts a 
 band of zealous and attnched supporters to 
 our cause. I trust that in conducting this dis- 
 cussion, — as we did on week days in this 
 tour, — we were able to do so in a right and 
 becoming spirit. At all events, if our breth- 
 ren are of opinion that we took advantage of 
 their absence, they are much mistaken ; for I 
 may say for myself and my brethren, that we 
 observed a caution and a delicacy there, 
 which we should not be so chary in exhibit- 
 ing here. I will not dt'tain you farther in 
 speaking of the etfi'ct of this proceeding; but 
 I will say this, there was an elii^ct in c.-tab- 
 lishing, in comforting, and also in enlighten- 
 ing. And to those around me, whether mem- 
 bers of the Church of Scotland or not, I say, 
 that, as Christian men, they are called on to 
 rejoice at that issue. For no country do I more 
 fervently pray that divisions may cease than 
 for that country. Observe the circumstances 
 in which our brethren there are placed ; their 
 congregations are weak, — many of them 
 strugglinji tor existence ; and the result 
 likely to ensue is, that, if divisions prevail, 
 both parties will remain without a stated min- 
 istry. That these results are likely to occur, 
 I do not mean to say — I do no mean to say 
 that dissent does not exist ; but this I say, 
 that it has not prevailed to the extent which 
 the circumstances of the country would have 
 led us to anticipate. And if there be within 
 the pale of the Church of Scotland, one sin- 
 gle minister or probationer who hesitates to 
 proceed to these colonies under a depressing 
 impression that his efforts would be in vain 
 from the prevalence of dissension, I say he 
 labours under a most mistaken impression, 
 for there is an ample field for the labour, the 
 zeal, and energies of many a devoted minister 
 of our Church. 
 
 But I am possibly recapitulating much that 
 has already been said by my esteemed friend, 
 or perhaps I forget you may hold me respon- 
 sible for one particular part of this undertak- 
 ing ; and, therefore, in tlie few remarks with 
 which I shall detain you, I will restrict my- 
 self to the state and condition of the High- 
 land population of Canada. I need not ob- 
 eerve; that emigration from the Highlands of 
 
 Scotland to America commenced at a very 
 early ])eriod. I am not going to inquire (that 
 is foroiyn to my purpose here) why so many 
 resorted to that land ; I am not going to in- 
 cpiire whether there is anything enterprising 
 or erratic in their own disposition ; whether 
 they were driven forth by oppression at home 
 or attracted by the prospect of wealth abroad. 
 With that I have nothing to do; but so it is, 
 emigrution to tiiose countries did commence 
 at a very early period. You will lind many 
 of the hardy sons of the North there locatetl. 
 The cliie'f Hitrhhtud settlements are those of 
 Pictmi, the Island of Cape Breton, Prince Ed- 
 ward's Island, (;icn;i>;ury, near Toronto, and 
 London. I did not visit Ciipe Ureton, as such a 
 visit miirlit have interfered with others of 
 greater importance. I recollect being asked 
 by a riienibtM- of my own parish settled 
 in Canatia, how I'ar we intended to proceed, 
 and he observed that he presumed we meant 
 to ^1) as far as there was any Christiainty. I 
 told him, that Ihongli that was a limit which 
 we had not lixed, yet my desire was to go as 
 far as there was any (iaeiic. I do not say wo 
 dill so, but we followed the great leading out- 
 line of the Highland settlements — having visit- 
 ed Nova Scotia, Prince iMlward's Island, Lake 
 Simcoe. We received a hearty welcome in 
 a detached parish in the Forest of William, 
 where I found I was within ten miles of the 
 millhly Lake Huron. In reference to this inter- 
 esting people I may remark, that they are out 
 anil out lliurhlauders ui their appearance, in 
 their disposition, in their language, in their 
 habits, and in their general character ; sa 
 much so, that it was diliicult for mo to realise 
 the idea that I was in any other place than in 
 my own country. It was only on seeing a 
 swarthy Indian paddlinirhis canoe across the 
 lake, that I thoupjht of the blue mountains and 
 the wood-covered crags of my own native land. 
 In my intercourse with these people, I met 
 with young and old who in everything, in ap- 
 pearance, in laufruage, in accent, and in all 
 their tastes andliiJjits, were out and out High- 
 landers, as if they had never removed from the 
 interior of Inverness-shire. It was also diffi- 
 cult for me to realise the idea that they were 
 otherwise than people accustomed to gloomi- 
 ness, dejection, and sorrow. I had seen much, 
 and I had heard nmch more of the sadness, 
 sorrow, and anguish which these people en- 
 dured when about to part from their native 
 home. Why did they part ? It was just as 
 if they were parting in death hself. They 
 were departing to another world, and their 
 only hope was that those friends to whom 
 they were bidding a last farewell, would be 
 met again in another world, when they would 
 meet to part no more I had heard of an aged 
 clansman who belonged to my own parish, 
 who, when about to depart, proceeded to 
 the grave of his beloved chief; where, after 
 bedewing the turf with his tears, he pour- 
 ed forth an affecting lament, and then, 
 dashing on the gravestone his bag-pipes, 
 the gift of his departed friend and chiefs 
 
12 
 
 nished in tho frenzy of despair to the 
 boat that was to cfmvey him lar from the 
 spot which ho so di'aiiy lovod. I was woli 
 aware of the gloom that pervaded the parish 
 when tiie emigrant ship cast aiiciior in the , 
 bay that was to can y them off. I remembered ; 
 hearimx of tiieir sorrow — of their anguish of 
 80.ll ; I remembered the jjhiintive, simple, ' 
 an 1 p.itlictic laments that were composed for ' 
 thj occasion; I remond)eretl of liearing of; 
 th .'ir last visit to the house of (Jod to receive 
 thj partiiig benediction of the revered miiuster, [ 
 and of their last visit to the gravt-s of their ' 
 
 — from the land to which he clings with 
 affection, and around which his soul is closely 
 entwined. No doubt, when these Highlanders 
 were removed to a distant land, even though 
 their removal had been more tender than it 
 was, they could not but for a season droop 
 and languish, initil another generation, like 
 the tender saplings, having shot np on every 
 side, protected them from the hardships and 
 the solitude of a strange land ; so that now 
 they are prosperous and llourishing, just as it 
 hajipened to my transplanted tree. Do not 
 aliow me to forget that I in a special manner 
 
 friends, and of the convulsive grasp with '< iini called on to inform you of the spiritual 
 
 wi'.iL-ii tiiey giilaered the last bi.witiiof liea1i;er 
 
 from the crag, or the last stone Irum the shingly 
 
 beach, and ot the heail-rendiuir sadness of 
 
 the wail which they sent forth to their friends 
 
 on shore when the ship unfurled her sails and 
 
 gradually bore them from the shores which 
 
 they had so long known aufl so dearly loved. 
 
 With a knowledge of all this, and with all ' observe, that the engrossing character of their 
 
 pursuits may have had an etfijct in this matter. 
 
 The want of the intluence requisite fororgan- 
 but sa<lness and sorrow was the mdiappy lot ' ising the machinery, may have led to this 
 
 eiiiiiition of tlio.-e people. I am not going to 
 lai d them i\>r llicir CAerlious in inaintainmg 
 ministers. I did not laud them in thtdr own 
 l)reseuee, and I do not laud tht;m here. At 
 ti.e same time, I am bound to stat(3 li.at, in 
 this respect, ihey are not far behind their 
 neighbours. I would also call upon you to 
 
 these associations struggling in my mind, 1 
 could not divest mvself of the idea that nothing 
 
 of the Higliland emigiant. Hut it is not so, 
 It is, however, foreign to my purpose to refer 
 
 ; result, and also the unsettled state of the pop- 
 ' nlalion, the con- tant changes of property, and 
 
 at any length to their temporal condition. I '. lastly, the absence of coin among those peo- 
 
 tell you, however, and that thankfully, that pie, notwithstanding their j)ossession of the 
 
 they appear to enjoy much comfort — that they ; comforts of life. But I will say, aid our 
 
 have now taken root in the soil, and beuin to " 
 
 flojiish upon it. There is mucli that is akin, 
 
 in ihe tiansplanting of luimau beings from 
 
 tht ir native land, to the process ol trans- 
 
 phaitation in the vegtitahie world. I remem- 
 
 I, on a 
 
 brethren there in setting thi;ir Church pro- 
 perly in ni'ition, and one of the very best 
 elii^cts rcsuhing from our visit will be that 
 tho people will see that it is incumbent on 
 them to make greater elforts for this important 
 end. But tln-y have been, I am happy to 
 say, very instrumental in erecting suitable 
 and respectabie places of worship in almost 
 every district that 1 visited. In Pictou alone, 
 the lirst of those we visited, and perhaps the 
 most important of them all, (liiere are eight 
 moving one of these from a nei;.hb mring ; or ten parishes around the town,) they have 
 copse, I was asked by a shrewd Hignlander ; suitable and respectable places of worship. 
 
 VViiynot i said I ; > And when 1 say that selaom have we seen 
 places of worship resorted to with greater 
 eagerness by seemingly willing worshippers 
 of God, I will add that possibly my brethren 
 
 bar when in early life, endeavouriu; 
 very limited scale, to ornament the remote 
 spot on wliich my humble dwelling stood, 
 that, not content whh taking young iie^*, I 
 also transplanted more advanceil trees, and 
 that on one occasion, when eiigag. d in re- 
 
 soil to one 
 
 if I thought it would grow. 
 1 ain removing it from a sterile 
 that is rich, from a shaded to a sunny spot. 
 True, said he, but this is its native soil. And 
 it was its native soil. There it had entwined 
 all hs Hbres round the rugged rock. We pro- 
 ceeded to remove it with the greatest tender- 
 ness ; to use the words of a chaste and elegant 
 writer, we removed it "as you would a child 
 asleep." And I placed the plant in a sunny 
 sitnaliuii and in a fertile soil. It did nut die, 
 but It languished ; it cast a melancholy sliade 
 on every side ; the very birds ttiat warbled 
 sweetly around seemed to avoid its branches. 
 
 and myself never did experience higher ele- 
 
 ; vatiou of soul or a greater degree ol comfort 
 
 ' of heart than when ministering among them. 
 
 Possibly my friends might have been more 
 
 alive than 1 was to the scene of which my 
 
 reverend brother spoke. It was a scene for 
 
 the poet or the painter to depict. But it was 
 
 a scene we were able to contemplate as L'hi'is- 
 
 ; tian men and as Christian ministers. My 
 
 i brethren may possibly have been more struck 
 
 and if perchance a solitary thrush alighted on ; with that scene than I. Field-preaching, 
 its boughs, melhought that its notes sounded —whatever its attractions, anil it is not devoid 
 unusually sad. And yet h did not die. The ; of thjse,— whatever charm it possesses,— has 
 young saplings shooted up around to give it ! not at least for me the charm of novelty. I have 
 protection, and now there is not a tree in the \ long known what it was to place the rude 
 forest that gives earlier indication of the ap- | tent on the shingly beach. I know what it 
 proachofrenewhig spring, or offers a stronger j is to sit under the covert of the impending 
 resistance to the chilling storms of winter. ] rock,— I know what it is to be exposed to the 
 Andjustsoisthecase with the Highlander. It ■ burning sun ofsummer and the chilling snows 
 may be said that he cannot be removed from ! of winter,— so that I may well say that lield- 
 his own sterile to a richer soil ; that it is un- | preaching, whatever charms it may have, has 
 wise to transplant him from his native heath not for me the charm of novelty. And vet I 
 
IS 
 
 again repeat, that never did 1 enjoy hight-r 
 elevation of soul than wlien thu tnuusuuds 
 of Pictou assembled on the gruon knoll be- 
 fore me. It was a chuijiiny, u coinf()itiiii| 
 sight. The stillness uf the cunnnunion Sab- 
 bath prevuiluti ; and as the mini?tL'r(ji' (lud, ni 
 mich weakness but in (ioptindenceon Divine 
 grace, endeavoured to addrus-s tiie words ol 
 Christian admonition tuthof^c! there as^end)led, 
 acknowledging the groat Creator as a (Jod not 
 dwelling in ti m,)les made with hands, the 
 very Providence of God, and the veiy dispen- 
 sations of (lod, seemed toeoinbine in impres- 
 sing liie tiiitli upon its he.uei'-^. The wiile 
 ocean extending imderneath typified, though 
 but feebly, the uidwuudede.xti'nt and the un- 
 fathomable depth ot that love which we were 
 that day commemorating. The slow stream 
 gilding beneath, remimied us that we were 
 Inus carried down in the lapse of years to the 
 ocean of eternity. The green .-ward on which 
 reclined so many thousands, seemed to res- 
 pond to the plaintive strains then sung, tliat 
 " All flesh is gra^s" The green shade under 
 which we sat — soon to wither before the blast 
 of winter — proclaimed that we were soon to 
 fade as the leaf. And the emiueuces around, 
 gradually crumbling away under the wasting 
 influence of time, remiiideil us of our doom, 
 that to dust we shall return. Autl the very 
 Bun which shone in the heavens, seemed to 
 cast a look upon us, and as tin? great monitor 
 of a thought. ess world, to proclaim to us that 
 the day is drawing to its cto.se, and that the 
 night IS at fumil in which no man can work. 
 That was a day of the Lord to be hail in re- 
 membrance ; and when, with weariness of 
 bjdy, we betook our.selves to re.^t, I trust we 
 were al.so able to do .so with gratitude of soul, 
 — gratefal to God that we had been able, how- 
 ever feebly, to minister to such a multitude of 
 his willing worshippers. At Prince Edward's 
 Island we witnessed the same anxiety to 
 hear the preaching of God's word, and lliat, 
 let me say, not solely among those who had 
 professed them.-elves members of the Presby- 
 terian Synod, but of those who had in a great 
 degree withdrawn from communion with our 
 Church. I trust that the stilled calmness and 
 composure of mind which we witnessed 
 among these Highlanders indicates a better 
 state of things; and by the aid which I hope 
 this church m time to come will render, that 
 they wlio now avow themseive.5 alUa'liud to 
 that cliurchwill make "logress, step by step, 
 in the Christian path, i^erhaps a more inter- 
 esting or numerous congregation than that 
 whicfi assembled at Belfast under Mr. Mac- 
 lennan, I seldom had the honour of addres- 
 sing. But I must pass on. There are High- 
 land churches at Miramichi, the Bay of Cha- 
 leur, and at Restigouche which I was unable 
 to visit. I refer to them, as thereby I am en- 
 abled to explain the reason why 1 was not 
 able to visit Cape Breton, and to thank those 
 who, in my aflliction, ministered so very 
 largely to my comfort. I come to the settle- 
 ment of Glengarry. The Highland districts 
 
 of Canada were visited up to Dundee, wher* 
 various congregations exist avowedly attach- 
 ed to the in.-«titutions of our church. I joined 
 my respected iViend.s at Dundee. Then we 
 crossed the St. Lawrence and found ourselves 
 in the ilislrict of (ilcngarry. Yon know the 
 liiiihiaud jiopulatiou of Glengarry have occu- 
 pied a protuineiit place in the annals of JJri- 
 tisli North America. A considerable number of 
 them are mtnnbers of the Uonian Catholic 
 Church; ami though no man can lament more 
 than I do the I'rnjrs of'their belief, I am bound 
 to bear leMimouy that no animosity, no un- 
 .-eemly strife existed between them and their 
 Pio1e:4aut nttghbours. At ail uvenl.-., tluy 
 are di.stingui.-«hed, as 1 tru,st Highlanders al- 
 ways will be, at home and abroad, as a loyal 
 people. During the recent struggle the High- 
 landers of (Glengarry iuvariuijiy maintained 
 the Highland characti'rf'or bravery and fideli- 
 ty. The ministers in this di.slrict have receiv- 
 ed thanks from the proper (juarter lor the ser- 
 vices they have remlered to the government. 
 Let it be recorded to the honcjur of this body, 
 that in the Presbyterian Church of Canada 
 not a single individual was to be found among 
 them tinged with disloyalty. 1 trust that 
 they will always continue to be thus char- 
 acterised. In leference to spiritual matters, 
 I may .say of this district that it is as regu- 
 larly divided into parishes as into townships. 
 You have three parishes with territorial boun- 
 daries, at least as under.stood by the minis- 
 ters, and the churches in all of them, so far 
 as we observed during our stay, were uni- 
 form ly resorted to by very willing worshippers. 
 I shall pass on to Toronto, where is Vatghan 
 and other towns around Lake Simcoe. But I 
 may state while the people congregated from 
 many quarters to hear the woril in Gaelic, yet 
 1 could not devote so much time as I could 
 liave desired among them. I next proceeded 
 to the district Ijiug between Hamilton and 
 London. That is a settlement of compara- 
 tively recent origin. In 1818 you might see 
 theie a dark atliletic Highlander wno had 
 shared in the glories of Waterloo, with his 
 hatchet and one attendant penetrating the 
 deep forest, till having got a spot to locate 
 himself on, he retraced his steps, cleared the 
 ground with his own hands, and conducted 
 his wife and children tMther. You wid still 
 that same per.son there m the enjoyment of as 
 iarge a share of happiness as has ever fallen 
 to the lot of mortal man. He is not only sur- 
 rounded whh a particularly fertile and rich 
 tract of country, but enjoying the society of 
 his nearest kindretl and friemls. It is pleas- 
 ing to be able to say that he has been instru- 
 mentally aided by zealous friends of the 
 church m London, m erecting a place of wor- 
 .ship in his own district. Another phurch is 
 rJso about being completed in London, which 
 may vie some day or other with the thriving 
 and flourishing town of Toronto. I shall be 
 sorry indeed, if the attempts to wrest that 
 church from that interesting people should 
 succeed. I am aware that they will not sue- 
 
14 
 
 ened. Being disappointed at not gettinc to St. 
 Thomas and other places in tlie neighbour- 
 hood, after preaching in the township of Wil- 
 liams, I turned my i'aco homewards and re- 
 joined my associates at the miglity and ma- 
 jestic Niagara. And now may I be allowed 
 to give a practical application ? The question 
 just remains, what is to be done ? Tiiere are 
 other important (pinstions. Possibly I may 
 bo asketi how are these people provided with 
 ministers ? Alas ! it is one that is very easily 
 answered. Tlicre are many districts that are 
 not provided witli ministers at all. In Pictou, 
 where there are thousands of willing worship- 
 pers of (Jod, we lind that nine or ten congre- 
 gations are this year under the charge of one 
 ordained minister in communion with our 
 church. When I refer to that person, Mr. 
 M'Gillivray, I must say that to him not only 
 are the people at Pictou, but the church of 
 Scotland is under deep obligation. I need 
 not refer at length to other di.-tricts placed in 
 a similar condition. At Prince Edward's Is- 
 land there is only one minister, while at Mir- 
 amichi vacancies exist on every side. As to 
 vacancies in the districts, I may mention tliat 
 in the remote ami interestinirdi.-trict of Glen- 
 garry, there is a sutlitimcnt called Finch, com- 
 I)Osed almost exclusively of Highlanders who 
 lave erected a very elegant church, but, not- 
 withstanding most strenuous efforts to obtain 
 a minister, they have been unsuccessful for 
 the last twenty-five years. Taking the pro- 
 vinces of Lower and Upper Canada, there are 
 about forty vacancies. You cannot have any 
 idea of the destitution till 30U remember that 
 the ministers have had to preach at two and 
 possibly three or more stations. If you keep 
 this in view you will be able to form some 
 estimate of the extent of their destitution. — 
 Then you may perhaps ask if they cannot 
 avail themselves of some other means of in- 
 struction ? I am not going to enter upon that 
 question. I do not wish to undervalue the 
 services of evangelical Dissenters; but let me 
 remind you of the peculiar character of High- 
 landers, that, suppose that in these churches 
 instruction were imparted in language known 
 to them, still they are not available to them, 
 inasmuch as they are so closely attached to 
 each other by the ties of kindred. The next 
 question which arises is, to what extent is a 
 knowledge of the Gaelic language indispensa- 
 ble ? Now that question is also easily answer- 
 ed. For my own part I believe that almost 
 every minister that proceeds to that country 
 would find Gaelic not a very great incum- 
 brance ; at the same time I would say that 
 two-thirds at least is the number required, 
 and I think in fixing it at this proportion I 
 will have the concurrence of my brothers in 
 the deputation. I know that some of my 
 Highland friends may deem the demand un- 
 reasonable. Others may be unreasonable 
 too. The Highlanders may ask Gaelic, when 
 Gaelic is not indispensably requisite, while 
 others may maintain that the preaching of 
 Gaelic disqualifies wholly from being able to 
 
 preach in English. I am hot competent to 
 ; judge of these objections; but this Ido say, 
 I that two-thirds of Gaelic preachers may safe- 
 [ ly be held as indispensable. What, then, is 
 I to be done ? I hope that some interim inea- 
 I sure will be proposed and carried into effect. 
 At the same time we must begin at the very 
 beginning : and in no way that I am ac- 
 quainted with can you more materially aid the 
 Church of Scotland here, or more materially 
 aid the advance of religion there, than by aid- 
 ing young men for the study of the ministry. 
 Wo are not now called upon to devise the 
 nature of the remedy ; the General Assembly 
 has already done so ; and I am here now 
 merely to remind you of, and to call upon 
 you to aid us in carrying the scheme which 
 It has inslitufed into full effect. Yes, the 
 nature of the remedy has been devised ; and 
 sure I am tluvt, if I were at this moment told 
 that over all bioad Scotland we should fail to 
 receive full and adequate support to that 
 scheme, I might be humbled uiuler the care 
 and anxiety which I feel for the Church ; but 
 I know that within the walls of this house 
 there are those who would willingly come 
 forward and support this momentous scheme. 
 I ask you to do so, and I am sure we may rely 
 upon your support. I rejoice to know that 
 a greater number of young men have come 
 forward this year to study for the Highlands 
 than there hiisbeen at any other period ; and, 
 judging from what I have heard and also 
 from my own personal knowledge, I must 
 say that almost all of them are talented, and 
 every one highly respectable, so that the 
 most sanguine hopes may be entertained aa 
 to the future career of these young men. 
 And, now, will you damp their ardour in the 
 opening of their youthful career, anxious as 
 tliey are to spread the gospel on the earth ? 
 Does it become the members of the Church, 
 does it become the ministers of the Church, 
 to refuse to extend to them the baud of help ? 
 Let us beware of relying unduly on the prm- 
 ciples of an Established Church. For that 
 we are thankful. I am no advocate for 
 voluntaryism ; I never was, even without the 
 experience of the last two or tliree years, and 
 I am not more so now. But let us not rely 
 unduly on the advantages of an Establish- 
 ment. If, by the blessing of God, its advan- 
 tages have been extended to us, let us know 
 our responsibility to God, tllat we are the 
 more imperatively called upon to administer 
 to the wants of others. The Church of Scot- 
 land does not follow you with increasing im- 
 portunity from day to day for the support of 
 its own ministers at home ; but the Church of 
 Scotland does follow you and will follow you 
 from day to day to impress upon its members 
 the obligation of coming forward and aiding 
 those great and important measures to extend 
 Christ^s kingdom to the uttermost parts of 
 the earth. It is not my object to elevate one 
 of the benign schemes of the Church at the 
 expense of others. I trust that to the un- 
 speakable value of each of them you are all 
 
15 
 
 sufficiently alive. I trust that I pray to God, 
 that his blessing may attend tliat scheme 
 which aims at the conversion of the idolatrous 
 heathen, and of the benighted Jews in the 
 East, as well as I do most earnestly pray for 
 the extension of His kingdom in the Western 
 World. My firm belief is, that when we aid 
 one scheme, we are in a manner aiding the 
 whole. By contributing to the Education 
 Scheme, you are promotmg the aim wu have 
 so much in view, — fitting and preparing 
 young men to enter the University, if con- 
 tributing to the Home Mission, you promote 
 the cause in the same way as if you were 
 aiding that scheme to which you are this day 
 more immediately directed. I do, then, in 
 all earnestness and sincerity of soul, call 
 upon you to come forward and aid us in this 
 important matter. I cannot conclude without 
 expressing unfeigned satisfaction on this day, 
 wlien we are assembled here to have our at- 
 tention directed tu tlie atl'airs of the Canadian 
 Church, — I cannot but express my gratitude 
 to God at seeing you, the venerable lather of 
 this scheme, enabled, by the blessing of God, 
 to occupy the position you now hold ; and al- 
 so that, in the decline of life, you have been 
 preserved to witness the duties which you 
 have so long and so successfully discharged, 
 devolved upon others who are animated by 
 the same zeal in carrying out the great and 
 important ends of that scheme with which 
 your name is associated. And now, after de- 
 scribing what we have heard and seen in our 
 pilgrimage, may I add, that your own name 
 and those of your associates here, are warm- 
 ly cherished and venerated by thousands in 
 those lands which our kimlly reception will 
 ever prevent us from forgetting. — (The reve- 
 rend gentleman, who was occupied one hour 
 and a quarter in delivering his long ai.d able 
 address, resumed his seat amid great cheer- 
 ing-) 
 
 Mr. Norman M'Leod next came forward, 
 and said, Ladies and Gentlemen, considering 
 the long addresses which you have lieard, 1 
 doubt very much whether it would be right 
 for me to detain you with any remarks of 
 mine. So far as my own feelings are con- 
 cerned, I can assure you that I lind myself 
 placed in a somewhat ditficult position, be- 
 cause I feel that ui entering upon this subject 
 there is no medium ; that if I say anything at 
 all I will be allured to say a trreat deal ; that, 
 in short, I can easily keep out of it, but that 
 if I do enter upon the question, I will find it very 
 difRcult to stop ; that it is somewhat like the 
 rapids in the St. Lawrence, which must either 
 be avoided altogether, or, if you risk yourself at 
 all, there is no alternative but to shoot boldly 
 over till you reach the calmness of the shal- 
 lows. I tell you frankly, then, that I will 
 keep out if you like, but if you permit me to 
 go on I do not know when I may stop, there 
 are so many points upon which I must address 
 you. When I reflect upon my rapid transpo- 
 sition from the forests of Canada to the Music 
 Hall of Edinburgh — that within a few days I 
 
 have travelled between both ends of a chain 
 thousands of miles in length — a chain con- 
 necting distant multitudes together by links 
 of couunun language, common patriotism, 
 common faith, and by attachment to a com- 
 mon and beloved church, I confess that 1 feel 
 my mind quite overcome and utterly unfit to 
 express tlie thoughts which crowd upon it. — 
 I tiiink I hear the Niagara still thundering in 
 my ears, and the dash of the Atlantic wave ;. 
 but I also still remember the vacant churcheM 
 and still hear the fervent prayers of the elder» 
 and people, their urgent entreaties and in- 
 creasing prayers for your sympathy and as- 
 sistance ; and remembering these I am re- 
 miiuled of my duty, and feel happy in ad- 
 dressing you in this place upon the affairs of 
 our national Ziou. I need not recapitulate to 
 you the purpose for which we were sent out 
 to Arnerii-a, neither need 1 repeat, at any 
 length, what ban already been so well said by 
 my two reverend friends, that we undertook 
 this mission with a lively sense of its many 
 attendant difiicnities. We knew, however, 
 that we had embarked in a good cause — that 
 we had (uilisted under the banner of righteous- 
 ness and of swiial order, anil hence we confi- 
 dontly put our trust in God and took courage. 
 When I remember the happiness which I have 
 enjoyed with my brethren in the mission — 
 that the love which subsisted between us was 
 not broken for one moment ; when 1 remem- 
 ber the kind looks, the more than kind words, 
 and the tender greetings which we received 
 in every place we set our foot, and when I re- 
 member how God preserved us throughout all 
 the dangers of sea and laud, I cannot recall 
 all these and a thousand such others that rush 
 into my mind, without publicly acknowledg- 
 ing my gratitude to Almighty God, and say- 
 ing with all reverence and fervour, " that 
 hitherto the Lord hath helped us." With 
 your permission I shall offer a few random re- 
 marks upon the condition of the people of these 
 colonies. Let me remind you of tfie peculiar 
 character of our brethren in the Northern pro- 
 vinces — of those who have adhered to the Sy- 
 nod of Canada. They are Scotch, and there- 
 fore they have been religiously educated, and 
 they possess all that industry, that foresight, 
 that sagacity and skill, by which Scotchmen 
 are characterized. These are points worth 
 remembering, when you contemplate the 
 moral well-being of a church which depends 
 solely upon the state of its people for support. 
 There is another feature which ought to be 
 kept in view, in reference to the Canadians, 
 and that is, love of coiuitry. They have 
 taken with them to tfie distant regions which 
 they now inhabit, a love of their country; 
 they have transplanted the feelings, the 
 habits and the associations of Scotland to 
 another land. Nay, they have transplanted 
 even its dialect, and insteael of calling their 
 towns by such classical and high sounding 
 names as Syracuse, Athens, or Iroy, or after 
 the more modern and fashionable cities of 
 Paris or Vienna, they choose rather such 
 
18 
 
 names an Purth, Lanark, and Dundee, lihow- 
 iiiif lliat, thouf'h far away from lh(3ir native 
 clirne, they still fondly cherLsh its reinoin- 
 branne, and love to accord to it every honour. 
 But there are parts which cannot be trans- 
 
 Elanted; for I remember that at Halifax, I 
 elieve it was a shepherd, when I spoke to 
 him alwut the comfoits ho enjoyed, and the 
 beauties of the laud of his adoption; "Ah," 
 said he, ♦* It's very true, Sir ; but there's nae 
 linties i' the woodsand nae braes like Yarrow." 
 But they have not only a peculiar attat^hment 
 to Scotland, they have also an undyin;^ at- 
 tachment to the Church of their fathers. — 
 When I say so I do not mean to assert that 
 they have been all attached to the Cliurcli of 
 Scotland. Being Scotch, there are many 
 who liave belonged to ilisseutiug congrega- 
 tions at home ; but then tiiose jiarticular 
 Eointson which churches separate in Scollaiid 
 ave no existence in Canada; and hence all 
 differences are merged in the love which 
 they retain, if not for the Church of Scotland, 
 at least for Presbyterian ism. 'I'hey love un- 
 swervingly the forms of the Presbyterian 
 Church ; and this is the reason why they 
 never can be sutticieutly supplied in religious 
 ordinances by any of those other denomina- 
 tions, which they have more at hand, and 
 which are not Presbyterian. If we say to 
 them, you have Episcopalians and Methoilists 
 and other Protestants at your command, they 
 answer, but we love Prcsbyterianism so much 
 that we cannot be satislied with any other ; 
 we like its form, we like its doctrines, for we 
 were tJiught them at home ; we like in par- 
 ticular its method of teaching ; we like its 
 version of the psalms, and we like best to 
 hear these psalms sung to the same old tunes ; 
 we like a minister thai knows ahout Scotland, 
 that has come from Scotland, wiio loves Scot- 
 land, that can speaK about Scotland, and tell 
 us what is doing in Scotland ; and therefore 
 it is that we cannot be pleased unless we have 
 a minister from our dear old native country. 
 This remarkable attachment to Scotland dis- 
 covered itself to me on many occasions, and 
 by nothing more than by a ciuious fact which 
 delighted me much where I observed it ; I 
 mean the intense interest taken by them in 
 all our home disputes. So great and preva- 
 lent is that interest, that it is no uncommon 
 thing to see a forester chopping down a branch 
 of a tree with his axe, and at the same moment 
 chopping down the arguments of an opponent 
 in regard to some of the leading questions 
 debated in our General Assembly. Some 
 people might regret that the same bitterness 
 and the same disputes that prevail here, should 
 be transported to a wide wilderness among 
 people who have nothing to do with them, 
 yet, surely it would be no compliment to the 
 Church, if the people were quite indifferent 
 and took no interest in her disputes and trials. 
 I felt rather flattered to find so far from home, 
 men so keenly alive to ail that passed at 
 Jiome concerumg our venerable Church. — 
 Now, if these remarks apply to the Lowland 
 
 settlers, you may easily imagine that they 
 apply with double force to the Highland set- 
 tlers. Will they, at all times famed for thoir 
 attachment to their native sterile hills, not 
 feel all these associations still more vividly? 
 Will they not, in the enthusiasm of thoir re- 
 collection, be excited to exclaim : 
 
 From the dim slicelini; on the misty island, 
 Moiiiitnins divido u*, ond a world of Keni, 
 
 But gtill our lieartB ore true, our lienrtn ore tli({hlaiid, 
 And we ill droatiis behold tlio Hebrides. 
 
 Yes, they have a peculiar and lasting at- 
 tachment to the Church of Scotland, and to 
 J'lvsbyterianism in tht; abstract, and simply 
 because when they left Scotland, the cry of 
 Cliuichisin had not been heard in their glens; 
 tliey knew none of those controversies, and 
 tlicir attendant aspersions which have since 
 unhappily reigned in this land. No, they 
 knew notliiiig about these things ; and if 
 there was one spot more hallowed on earth 
 than iUKjtlier, it was the parish church in 
 which they had so long listened to words 
 which gavfjthem comfort — that parish church 
 in the yard around which reposed all that re- 
 mained of those who in this world they most 
 tenderly loved. Thus it is that they not only 
 love Prcsbyterianism, but they love the 
 Church of Scotland ; yes, they love her still, 
 and they love her devotedly — they love her 
 with a devotedness which all the host of 
 tracts and pamphlets, that, like snow flakes, 
 were showered upon them, has been unable 
 to remove. But there is another fact con- 
 nected with these Highland settlers which 
 ought not to be forgot. They cling with af- 
 fection to their native language. Not only is 
 it spoken by the emigrants, but by those also 
 lorn and grown up in that country. This 
 shows the idisolute necessity of the Canadian 
 provinces being supplied with ministers from 
 home. All these scattered facts which I 
 have thrown out bear upon one given point, 
 namely, the attachment of the inhabitants of 
 these colonies to the Presbyterian form of re- 
 ligion, — of the great mass of the Highlanders 
 to the Church of Scotland. They require, 
 then, a supply from home, nay, they must 
 have a stipply from this country, and I hope 
 it will be of ministers from the good " Old 
 Kirk." I shall next allude shortly to their 
 means of supply. You will observe that in 
 the whole of Nova Scotia and New Bruns- 
 wick, they have no regular supply whatever 
 for the clergy. A small sum is given in Ca- 
 nada from Government lands. But, notwith- 
 standing that grant, the fact remains, that 
 they chiefly depend upon the contributions of 
 the people. I may be allowed here to ob- 
 serve that I do not think the people there con- 
 tribute so largely as they might or ought to 
 do : but then, what is the reason ? It is not 
 owing to the Canadians being largely posses- 
 sed with the quality, so often alleged of their 
 countrymen at home — being too much ac- 
 customed to worship the idol of covetousness* 
 It is not at least wholly owing to that. It is 
 
It 
 
 to b« auceunted for, partly by the circuin- 
 Btaiice ol'there bciii^ littio niouuy in circula- 
 tion in that quarter, thoir property conHifttiiiij 
 more of stock ; partly from thuir bi'iii;' sctat- 
 tered over the country, so as to reuJer the 
 collection of what they have exceedingly dif- 
 ficult and inconvenient ; and partly in con^^e- 
 quence of the want of proper organization for 
 collectin^f. Uut let mo do justice to our bre- 
 thren abroad. While it is tiue that they are 
 not giving so much as they might give, yet 
 they do a great deal: in every parish you 
 will find a clnuch, and, though some of the 
 ministers are but indilltiently provided for, 
 all of them are so paid as to bo enabled to 
 live. Now, before we begin to correct them, 
 and to tell them that they do not do enough, 
 wo must, in the lirst place, give them a les- 
 son ourselves. Let every congregalion at 
 home, on average, raise as mucii money as 
 woukl build a cliurch ami support a minister, 
 and then we may, with due ])ropriety, and all 
 consistency and iorce, call on our brethn-n 
 there to exert themselves more liberally for 
 the maintenance of their ministry. Uut, 
 as it is, I am afraid we cannot justly com- 
 plain ; we must look to ourselves and confess 
 that they are doing more, — that they are doing 
 sixty times better than ourselves. It is im- 
 possible forme to tell you all that they have. 
 But I can tell you easily what they luive not. 
 It appears there are upwartls of forty vacan- 
 cies in the provinces. What do 1 mean by a 
 vacancy ? ilow few of you have an idea of 
 what a vacancy theri- really is. Oh that I could 
 realize the scene in your imagination ; but ol 
 that I despair ; it were a task too difficult. 
 If I could just form a proper picture of one 
 of these churches, it would be more eloquent 
 than ten thousand speeches about vacancies. 
 Suppose that, after a long journey, you come 
 to a house built on some green nook, singled 
 out from the surrounding wilderness ; the 
 people gradually collect before the door, 
 some from the neighbouring woiuls, some from 
 the distant hamlets, and some have from an 
 early hour been in their waggons, trudging 
 along through heavy swamps. They are all 
 assembled, you enter, and at a single glance 
 from the pulpit you are sensib e that you are 
 addressing fellow-countrymen ; the psalm is 
 given out", you hear Bangor or old Dundee 
 sung, you feel a thrill as each joins his homely 
 voice to the plaintive measure, and then you 
 think yourself in a Highland glen. You 
 preach, you rebuke, you exhort, you admon- 
 ish, you comfort, and then quickly comes the 
 hour that you must part, the time when is 
 heard the solemn amen; and the thought 
 strikes you that the church door will not be 
 opened again for many a Sabbath — that the 
 autumn leaves may fall and rustle at its 
 threshold — that the snow of winter may 
 vtrreathe itself there — but no passing foot will 
 clear it away. When you see that, oh, it is 
 then that you fully know what a vacancy is. 
 Formerly, all you knew about this or that 
 •hurch was, that in some obscure part of 
 
 Canada there was a vacancy, at a place you 
 had, up to within a few days, never heard of 
 before, and of which you never could lind a 
 trace in the map. But now you have met 
 the people, you have seen that reverential 
 face, this prominent brow, and those hoary 
 locks; yon have watched this inquiring coun- 
 tenance, and symiialhi^ed with that look so 
 ilevoted and piouH ; vou ii>lniinistercomfoit to 
 groups, and there are many clad in the som- 
 bre garb of mourning; you sing psalms, you 
 exhort, and yon join in fervent praise, and 
 now the shailes of tsvening throw a serenity 
 on all around, the fresh breeze springs up, 
 ; and the hour is come that youiimst part ; you 
 , clasp alli.'ctionate hands on every side, and 
 ■ while you bid them farewell in the little 
 ; chinch-yard ; and even when yon have torn 
 ' yourself from them, their last entreaty is, 
 ; " Oh, don't fcjrget to send us ministers." 
 ' Now when we consider that there are forty 
 ' such vacancies, do you woniler though these 
 ! people, with all tlu-ir associations, should 
 ; cease to love the church of their lathers, if 
 \ we, calling ourselves a Christian Church, 
 j shall become indiU'erent to such a spectacle? 
 ; They say, we cast ourselves upon you for 
 ; protection ; we Hy to you as our refuge ; we 
 ; have heard statement after statement made 
 ; against you in this place, but still we feel 
 \ certai i you will protect us. What is your 
 ; reply — We camiot protect you ; do not eup- 
 ; pose we care for you ; we are altogether in- 
 \ different about you ; we are content to have 
 'i testimony of your adherence to the Church of 
 ; Scotland, and that is all we desire ; we are 
 \ pleased if we have but empty monuments of 
 J your fellowship, instead of well lilled church- 
 es. Is that the way we are to reply to them ? 
 Certainly not. We said to them, that when 
 it was declared that the Church of Scotland 
 was indillerent to its Colonial Churches, that 
 statement was not true ; that when it was de- 
 ; clared that its ministers were indillerent about 
 \ anything but stipend, it was not true ; that 
 I when it was declared that the Church of 
 ; Scotland never stirred herself to make the 
 j smallest sacntice for other churches, that was 
 < not true. We said also to them, that we 
 \ would report these things to the people at 
 i home ; and that, unless we had mistaken the 
 ; character of our people, they would assuredly 
 ! come forward and do something for them. 
 When we said all that, we undertook a se- 
 rious responsibility. I know that the people 
 there have sense enough to see and understand 
 whether or not we are acting in downright 
 earnest with them ; that they will watch our 
 proceedings, and put a right estimate on all 
 that we do; and when they see that we are in- 
 deed in earnest, then they will sympathise 
 with our diriiculties, and wait patiently till 
 we be able to send them effectual assistance. 
 But if they do not see any such signs, they 
 will either altogether neglect the ordinances 
 of religion, or be absorbed in other churches. 
 With regard to these forty vacancies, I think^ 
 and I have no doubt my brethren of the d«- 
 
It 
 
 pulatiun will ogres with mt», that ttiere an* ) laml liits dune. On this point you will adnift 
 kix, eight, or ten vucanoiMS in ccutiul oitim- | tliut it iH |X)riNible theru niuy be great diversi- 
 tions, to fill up which would bo uf the great- | ty of Hentiinuut. Some of thetn concur out 
 «at possible importance. This, then, pre- i and out with what the Church has done, while 
 ■ents an ap|)eal, lirst to the preachers of the i Home do not concur in several pointrt ; but 
 Church, OMking them, for the love of the Co- j there is one iioint upon which thev are all 
 
 u^recil, that the Church of Scotland has done 
 noiiiini; to induce them to separate from her 
 coiTimunion. They say to those who ask 
 
 lonial brethren, for the love of the ('hurch, 
 for the love of having souls, to come forward, 
 for however short a pericKl of years, and de- 
 vote themselves to the work : and secondly, it 
 furnishes an ap|M)al to the couKregat ions here 
 to supply the treasury of the Colonial Sc-liume 
 with the fumls necosMary to planting cleriry- 
 mon in the.to vacant churches. If we could 
 say to the Syncxi of Canada, here is u sum ot 
 money, you know the country, tell us how it 
 woulu be best lli^|p(l^<lMl of, would you doiilit 
 that they would immetliatfly scoop out niiniy 
 channels through which y«)ur bonevolfiict; 
 could liow? But anotlicr way in to scud lurili 
 ministers to ottcupy these diuiciu's. 'I'iicy 
 would receive a hearty wcicoiuo, tlicy would 
 smmdraw a numerous Ihicik aiduiiil llicin. — 
 Wliy your colonics are as .sound as ever tlicy 
 were. All they want is niiiiistors ; and 1 atu 
 happy to Icaiii that so many youniriiuMi iiave 
 come forward to Icani iiiiclic. Ibolicvcllial 
 in one of our universities llicrc arc this year 
 more learning that laiif.niage lliau there have 
 been for many years back. But let no man 
 taunt us that we have not ministers to spare. 
 We are sorry that it shouid be so, but on this 
 we share in the sulierin-^ ol our blessed Lord. 
 He saiil to his disciples. " The b'irvcst truly 
 is plenteous, but the labourers fire few." — 
 
 ; thcni to sc|Kinile from us, *' why it is only a 
 ' fev y -ars a<ro, and Presbyteriunism did not 
 exi.^t in America; it was onlv after great dif- 
 liculty that we were enabled to put together 
 a well formed Ixsly in connection with the 
 ' Cliiirch of Scotland. We had great ditiicul- 
 tics to struggle with. It took all aminister's 
 ; cueririfs to keep his head above water. Ha 
 i was in continual dun<rer of sinking below the 
 \ surface, — a single inch and he was under 
 ; it. Now what are yon going to do ? Will 
 ; you throw up the counteiniuce and sup- 
 j port wliich you receive Irom (Government, 
 i and e.xconuniniicate a whole Christian 
 ! church, and all for doing what? for doins 
 tlial which we have nothing more to do with 
 ] than we have with the inhabitants of the 
 nioou. Why sacritice the end for the means ? 
 ; why risk the whole existence of Presbyte- 
 I riauisni in the Colony, on account of i^ome 
 i abstract principle, before which every man 
 I must bow ilown." The ministers in Canada 
 j have numy ditiicultics to contend againest, 
 j arising from the nature and extent of the 
 j country. So ill oil are they in some districts 
 • that diU'erent Christian bodies are obliged to 
 That was acomplaint of liu' want of labourers; I preach in the same church. An Episcopa- 
 and what He said to His disciples was, ' lian preaches in the morning, a Methodist in 
 ** Pray ye to the Lord of the harvest to seiul I the forenoon, a minister of another body in 
 forth labourers to the harvest." That was a 1 the afternoon, and at night comes the Presby- 
 marvellous command. Ho was the Lord ofjterian. There is quite a competition of see- 
 the harvest himself. He luul only to speak | tarics, one overturning what the other iias 
 the word, and forthwith a host of labourers ' said. Again, the Presbyterian ministers re- 
 would have appeared. Ihit lie says, " Pray j side at a distance from tlieir fellow-Presbyte- 
 ye to the Lord of the harvest." Undoubtedly j rians. They cannot get counsel with each 
 the disciples did pray, for we immediately j other, and yet all these faithful men, (and 
 read of " the seventy" being sent forth. — i some of them especially who have a greater 
 There is a real connection between prayers amount of dilliculties to overcome, I do not 
 for ministers and the supply ofminisfers. It give you their names, for that would boinde- 
 is not a picture ; it is a reality. We have the ! licate ;) but all these men go about their pious 
 authority :;f Christ himself for this ; so the ' work in a manner and whh a zeal that would 
 poorest member of the Church of Scotland in ' adorn any church on earth. Tiue, they are 
 his humble hut may assist the Church, in j not known by their speeches ; their names are 
 bringing forth worthy labourers for the harvest j not bla/oned forth in newspapers; no, their 
 of the Lord, by the tcrvent and repeated out- 
 pouring of his soul to Him who is the Lord of 
 the harvest, that He might send forth labour- 
 ers unto His vineyard. But when 1 say all 
 this, — when I tell you of the great lack of 
 
 ministers, do not for one moment think that \ pioneers of the everlasting gospel, as uphold 
 the whole of this colony is a bare wilderness, ers of that righteousness which alone can ex- 
 You form a wrong idea of Canada if you think alt a nation. I have partaken of their hum- 
 there is nothing but destitution. On the con- ble cheer, — I have marked the power of their 
 trary, the great majorityofthe people, the great heads, and experienced the kindness of their 
 majorityr of the ministers have .idhered to the i hearts, — and I rejoice at this opportunity of 
 Synod in connection with the Church of Scot- 1 expressing thus publicly the respect and af- 
 land. I do not wish to misinterpret my breth- I fection which I entertain for them. Suppose 
 ren in Canada. I do not mean to say that they that you were able to do these men some good 
 agree in every thing that the Chiurch of Scot- ' — that you enabled a poor clergyman to add 
 
 labour is not of words, it is one of deeds. It 
 is to be seen in their exposure to the rigours of 
 a Canadian winter, in their exposure to the 
 burning rays in summer of a Canadian sun ; 
 it is to be seen in their doings as faitliful 
 
!• 
 
 to hu little library— tliat you put within liiti j 
 power a littlu moru uf the comtorls tu»l luv- .' 
 urieH uf lite — or that by your coittrilMitioni) Kt- 
 should be enabled to ^ive his funiily a Ix-tter , 
 education. The last ih what mm near to Kl^ j 
 heart, and thankful would he be did y<>u , 
 place him in circuini«tanceN to gratify in tlun [ 
 reH|iect hiH imternal m)licitudH fur his chililrcn. | 
 Surely you would nut grutlge to givu hitn ; 
 thut ; surely you would regard it a plutwure ) 
 to meet such demands. I have spoken thu« 
 brieriy on certain things, and yet there are 
 many others on which I would readily say 
 something, but time will nut permit. 1 can- 
 not retire from this nluce, however, without 
 expressing publicly tiie sense I have uf the 
 kindness ol thu American churches. We 
 were unable on our return to visit some 
 churches which we wished. At Boston we 
 were waited upon by an Episcopalian clergy- 
 man, who said that he was only speaking the 
 feelings of his uwn brethren, as well as of him- 
 self, when he told us how gratified they would 
 be if we would preach in one of their pulpits. 
 This was on a Saturday night, and we wearied 
 with a lung journey, and so wo said we would 
 rather wish tu hear some of themselves. Well, 
 next day we entered into a beautiful church to 
 hear our friend, where we bad not long re- 
 mained when we were deeply affected to hear 
 an impressive and fervent prayer offered up to 
 God, that he might bless the pious work in 
 which we had been engaged. The American 
 Board of Missions also had friendly intercourse 
 with us, through their secretaries, especially 
 Dr. Anderson. They requested communica- 
 tions with US, informing them what we were 
 about, and they would m return send reports 
 to us. Before we parted also they sent us a 
 beautiful letter, expressing the interest they 
 had taken in oar prcufress, and encouraging us to 
 go on in our laudable work. All this fills my 
 heart with confidence, because I feel that all we 
 want as an argument to meet every church in 
 ChriBtendom is to do the work which the Lord 
 has opened up for us. We have need of no 
 more Acts of Parliament or Acts of Assembly ; 
 we require no more papers and parchments, — 
 we have got enough of that, — all that we want 
 is the exercise of the liberty we enjoy; of 
 entering boldly on the field that lies before 
 
 Of, and while we have words in our mouth>', 
 li t us also have work* at uur feet. Let thv 
 H|iirit of Oud be uuured out upon u< to exciiu 
 us tu do what is laid to our charge, and when 
 t\'H tia\e done that, it will be time enough for 
 u» to 1 y that we cannot do more. T)ther 
 reliK '>u>- denominations are bestirring them- 
 fakivoM, «!i'l if we want to maintain ourselves 
 m the r ^k which we by right should hold, 
 wo mutJ ')t, we dare not, allow ourselves to 
 «ink into repose. The word of an fistablish- 
 meat is not worth a farthing without the work 
 of an Establishment. Let us, therefore, put 
 our trust in God ; betake ourselves zealously 
 
 to the work, and all will be well The 
 
 reverend gentleman resumed his seat amid 
 repeated acclainatiuns. 
 
 Dr. Clark said— Ladies and Gentlemen, 1 
 rise to propose a vote of thanks to the Depu- 
 tation, and I am sure it will be agreed to una- 
 nimously. After the very arduous duties they 
 have so ably and satisfactorily discharged'; 
 the great service which they have rendered 
 to the Church and the country; and after the 
 eloquent and interesting appeals which they 
 have made to the public this day, I think we 
 cannot do less than oflbr td them our cordial 
 thanks. 
 
 The motion was carried with acclamation ; 
 which continued while the reverend gentle- 
 men of the Deputation bowed in acknowledg. 
 ment. 
 
 John Bowie, Esq., W. S., moved a vote of 
 thanks to the Ctiairman. 
 
 The Chairman said— I certainly cannot ac- 
 knowledge with too much gratitude the com- 
 pliment paid to me. I can assure you that I 
 take the deepest interest that it is possible 
 the human heart can take in all that comes 
 under the notice of the Committee of the Co- 
 lonial Scheme ; and when we are met, as to- 
 day, to hear the Deputation to our American 
 Colonies, I esteem it a high honour indeed to 
 occupy this position,— to preside over so large 
 a meeting in the metropolis of the ancient 
 country of Scotland,— to promote one of the 
 most benevolent, most patriotic, and most 
 Scottish objects. 
 
 The Very Rev. Principal then dismissed 
 the meeting with the customary benediction. 
 
 I 1 fi'./' 
 
OFFICERS OF THE LAY ASSOCIATION [^ SITPOUT OF THE 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHlKCIf (H- CAN ADA, 
 
 IN CONNECTION WITH THR CHUHCir OF SCOTLAND, 
 CLBOTBb '2Shu Oct. Itilfi. 
 
 PPICSIDENT, 
 HONHLK. PKTKIl McfiFLL. 
 
 VICE PRESIDENTS, 
 THOMAS WILSON, I ROHKRT ARMOUR. 
 
 JOHN FISHKR, 
 
 ANDREW 8IIAW. 
 
 TREASURER, 
 ANDREW II. ARMOUR. 
 
 REOORDINO SECRETARY, 
 WILLIAM EDMONSTONE. 
 
 OORRESPONDINQ SECRETARY, 
 HEW RAMSAY. 
 
 MANAOEI^S, 
 D. STEWART, 
 JOHN ARMOUR, 
 JAMES YOITNO, 
 NEIL .MACINTOSH, 
 JAMES SCOTT, 
 WM. DOW, 
 JOHN FROTHINGHAM, 
 
 JOHN C.REENSHIELD8, 
 
 JOHN SMITIL 
 
 J. <i. MACKENZIE, 
 
 A. COW4N, 
 
 JOHN lilllBS, 
 
 II. E. MONTGOMERIE. 
 
 CHAPLAINS, 
 REV. A. MATHIESON, D.D. | REV. R. M'GILL. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE LAY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 .•i<l 
 
 '* WiiKiiEAs numerous obHtacles have, in times past, been interpoHccl to t£e progress of Prctby- 
 turianiara in tliis Province, particularly in Country Dutriuttt, from the i'nability,j6f many Congregations 
 to provide means adequate to the support either of their Pastors or Cliiinthcs, for tlie worship of 
 Almighty God ; And Whkueah also, much ignorance and misapiircheii^on exists respecting the 
 Constitution and Government of the Presbyterian Church of Cunadii, slid the Venerable Parent 
 Church of Scotland, as by law established — uf their progreM in MiMsioniiry and Educational labours, 
 and of their position relative to otlier religious bodies ; Now Wr, wii6se names are hereunto sub- 
 scribed, considering it not only u duty, but a high privilege, to obviate these evils, as much m in us 
 lies, have resolved to form ourselves mto an Association, for the purnose, principdlv, of affording 
 atsistance to poor or small congregations in the payment of their Clergy, and in the erection of 
 Churches, ana for widely disseminating, in the form of Missionary Records, Pamphlets, or Magasines, 
 useful and instructive information respecting the Church of Scotland, and the Presbyterian Church 
 of Canada, in connection therewith." 
 
 Extract from Article XV. 
 The Funds of the Association, being for two several purposes, shall be kept distinct : the one 
 to be entitled "The Relief Fund", and the other " The Publication Fund". The Subscription Lists 
 of the Association shall be kept in the following form : — 
 
 
 8VBS0BIBBR8. 
 
 KELIBr FUKD. 
 
 PUBLIOATIOR FUND. 
 
 Donations. 
 
 Annual 
 Subscriptions 
 
 Donations. 
 
 Subaoriptionfl 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 An Annual Subscription of Fire Shillings to either of the two Funds, oonatitatea a Membar.