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SUI33TANC£ OF 
 
 AN ADDEESS 
 
 EXPLANATORY AND APOLOGETIC, 
 
 IN RKPERKNCfi TO 
 
 THE LATE DISRUPTION 
 
 or run 
 
 SYNOD OF CANADA, 
 
 IN CONNEXION. WITH THE 
 
 ESTABUSHED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
 
 * II 
 
 DELIVERED TO TUB 
 
 CONGREGATION OF SAINT U.JRIEL STREET CHURCH, 
 
 ON TUE8DAY, THE Seth OF JUIY, 1844., 
 
 BY THE REV. HENRY ESSON. 
 
 MONTREAL. 
 
 »BWTgD BT J. C, BECKET, SAINT PAW, rr&IKT. 
 
 1844. 
 
 4 
 
 > ^ 
 
• • • • 
 
 • •• 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • 
 
 • • • • 
 
 • * • 
 
 • • • 
 
 
SUBSTANCE op 
 
 A^ ADDRESS 
 
 EXrUNATORY AND AP01.0(iCTI(', 
 
 -T-r-#- 
 
 My Dearly Beloved Friends, Hearers, and 
 Brethrex. 
 
 The very iiiiporlant ami* decisive step wliieli I liavc 
 
 r<">f'/-i»it1 »r tnlr< 
 
 7 
 
 
 «* «B<«ttll 'V& 
 
 brctiiieii in the mim«tiy dI ,the Gospel hi ihi.s land, in 
 sej crating ourselves from the Synod of Canada in connec- 
 tion with the Established .ClMtrch of Scotland; imposes 
 upon me the duty, which I am desirous now to dischai ge 
 with all frankness and -koiiesty, of submitting to your 
 judgment and conscience, a statement of the proceed- 
 ings, in tiiij case, as they stand recorded in the mi- 
 nutes of the Synod, published by their own authori- 
 ty. I am happy to em^brace the opjjoilunity now 
 atVorded mc of explaining, and vindicating for your satis- 
 faction, the course of action which we felt ourselves 
 constrained to pursue. While I have abstained, as much 
 as possible, fiom bringing the question into the pulpit, it 
 was due both to you and to myself, not to leave you in 
 ignorance of my own mature and decided conviction as 
 to the part which I skoidd be called to act ; and you will 
 do me the justice to own, that I freely communicated to 
 you my determination to hold fast the principles of which 
 I had made before you a public and unreserved j)rofossion ; 
 
 'M 
 
and as I had apprized you all, that the question 
 waa to h/e determined ot the yearly meeting of our 
 supreme Ecclesiastieal Judicatory, you must have been 
 prepared co receive the intelligence of my part in tho 
 eventful proceeding^:, without any suqiriic. If I am 
 aeked why I did not call a public meeting of the congre- 
 gation previously to the ni^cting ut* Synod, in order to 
 ascertain what might be .the' vi<3\vs of the majt>rity in 
 regard to the qv^stion, my prompt answer is, that I was 
 deterred from taking this st(^p,dJy the fact diatl liadgiven 
 offence) by introducing the subject into the pulpit, though 
 nothing could have been le^s^ o'ftbnsivc or exceptionable, 
 I confidently aver, than tlic spirit and matter of the very 
 tew discourses in which 1 vcritui-ed to touch upon tliis 
 
 
 T-f ix/U>i 
 
 in; 
 
 rinr <^ipr7n KPprp^cill<) anvl.iji; 
 
 1.. 
 
 rot 
 
 publio] 
 
 ^tinj 
 
 some of mv bre- 
 
 desire to have ^ 
 thren in Canada West had'done, and it is well known to 
 peverai of my confidential iribnds, that I had the matter 
 imdermy serious deliberation^. ^Biit from what I knew and 
 had actually experienced of 'tJu? sensitiveness and jealousy 
 with which the least movement or action on my part was 
 regarded, I relinquished the design, assured that I should 
 have been denounced as an agitator, as a troubler of 
 Israel j and that there was less hope of serving any good 
 end, than fear of prejudicing the cause, and bringing 
 odium upon myself. I earnestly aver, before God and all 
 the world, that my brethren and I have left nothing 
 undone which it was possible, with a good conscience, for 
 us to do or devase, for the preservation of the unity of our 
 chu'-ch ; and if we have failetl, we do believe that tlie 
 failure is to be ascribed to the over-ruling will and wisdom 
 of that Divine Providence which did not permit tho 
 attainment of the issue which we so earnestly sought. 
 I hope soon to be able to publish a detailed and 
 
 impartifl 
 with a 
 will all] 
 selves. 
 tlicir reil 
 ledg3 ol| 
 called 
 duty tf 
 chould 
 which 
 disrespc 
 accouni 
 of our 
 which 
 tempi at| 
 of tlie 
 being o\ 
 I trui 
 put yoi 
 all tlie 
 elusion 
 and in 
 • The 
 
 taslc V 
 ' self, i 
 have 
 guidet 
 
 i 
 
 facts ' 
 erron* 
 deav« 
 misc( 
 ligen 
 is gr« 
 gard 
 
the question 
 fleeting of our 
 ust liave been 
 y part in tlio 
 ^e. If I am 
 of the congrc- 
 U in order to 
 3 maji»rity in 
 ^j that I was 
 at I had given 
 •ulpit, though 
 tceptionable, 
 oC the very 
 ii upon tliis 
 
 c of my bre- 
 J known to 
 the matter 
 
 knew and 
 I J jealousy 
 y part was 
 
 I should 
 •oubler of 
 any good 
 
 bringing 
 oti and all 
 
 nothing 
 lence, for 1 
 
 ty of our j 
 
 that tlie .J 
 wisdom I 
 
 mit tho 
 sought, 
 ed and 
 
 
 impartial narrative of the proceedings of the Synod, 
 with a summary of the arguments on botli sidey, whicli 
 will allbrd all of you the means of judging for your- 
 Rclves. as to the spirit of the parties, and the merits of 
 tlieir respective views, and principles, in the clear know- 
 ledgs of what was said and done. In the meantime, I am 
 called to the immediate fulfillment of a more pressing 
 duty to you, my beloved hearers and brethren, and I 
 should be unmiridful of the highly responsible situation 
 which I hold to you as your pastor, as well as guilty of 
 disrespc' t, were 1 not to rc^n'le'' you, in such a crisis, an 
 account of what, as a meml)er ''')f the Supreme Judicatx)r>' 
 of our Church in this land, I' have done, and the reasons 
 which l\avo influenced me,'ftnd the ends which I con- 
 templated, as likely to be promoted, for the advancement 
 of tlie glory of God, the salv.i'tion of souls, and the well- 
 being of our church, temporal and spiritual. 
 
 I trust to be able, withoit, 'wearying your patience, to 
 put you in possession, in a brief and plain statement, of 
 all tlie information that is rteccsfeary to form a right con- 
 clusion, and I have only now to crave of you, a candid 
 and impartial audience. 
 
 The first, and perhaps not the least arduous part of th« 
 taslc which I have undertaken in justice to you, to my- 
 " self, and to the cause of truth, is to disabuse those who 
 have been blinded by ]>rejudice and party spirit — mis- 
 guided by ignorance of the question, whether in regard to 
 facts or principles, or wl lave been misled by partial and 
 erroneous, views or wilful misrepresentations. I shall en- 
 deavour to shew you all before I have done, that much 
 misconception is now prevailing in the minds of even intel- 
 ligent men in regard to the facts, and that, therefore, thora 
 is great need for extreme caution, and even jealousy, in re- 
 gard to opinions and statements, which are, as usual in such 
 
 A * 
 
6 
 
 cases, urged with a presumption and violence, tlie natural 
 accompaniment of ignorance, prejudice and party-past^ion. 
 I think that it will tend not a little to disi)cl in the very 
 outset, a mass of prejudice and error, which envelopes* 
 the question, if we begin by ascertaining with precision 
 the facts. What is the real amount of all that has been 
 done by the party with which I am identified 1 Have we 
 wrought any violent or ptnifous revolution] Have we 
 been guilty of forcing upoli tht3 church some bold or haz- 
 ardous innovation 1 Havo w^ repealed or ai)olished, have 
 we mutilated or altered ia .aiiy wise the Constitution ol 
 the Canadian Church'?." Not in the least — we have 
 changed nothing — touched 'nothing ! There is not one of 
 us who sought with daring profanity, like Uzzah, to touch 
 the Ark! There is not, one. of us that so much as con- 
 ceived or meditated to pyt i\ finger to one pin or nail of 
 the Tabernacle ! 
 
 Nothing can Le imagined inore harmless or inoflensive 
 tlian the action which vv^e have taken in this matter. The 
 iiead and fi-ont of our oltnJrng is neither more nor less 
 than the simple declaration of the fact, that we humbly 
 think and conscientiously believe our church in this land 
 has been, and now is absolutely and unqualifiedly free, 
 and independent, owing no fealty or submission to any 
 church in Christendom, subject to no jurisdiction or con- 
 troul fi'ora without, sovereign and absolute, having no Head 
 but Christ, and no earthly supremacy, save that of our high- 
 est ecclesiastical consistory, tiie Synod. This simple decla- 
 ration, which we believe to be the truth, to be the matter 
 of fact, with the expression of our determination to assert 
 and maintain unimpaired, the independence of which we 
 have actual and rightful possessiya,Js the head and front 
 of our oilending. If we are wrong, let them who arraign 
 UJ come and bring the evidence — th&. proof. If we are 
 
 I 
 
T 
 
 rul 
 :)n. 
 ery 
 pet* 
 iion 
 een 
 5 we 
 we 
 haz- 
 liave 
 311 ol 
 have 
 lie ot* 
 touch 
 5 con- 
 lail of 
 
 ensive 
 
 The 
 or less 
 lurably 
 is land 
 ly free, 
 to any 
 or con- 
 lo Head 
 urhigh- 
 e decla- 
 
 matter 
 to assert 
 hich we 
 md front 
 o arraign 
 
 we are 
 
 
 right, how foolish, and worse tlian foolish, is the pari 
 V. -lich they are acting, not only towards us but towards 
 the church. 
 
 I liave snid, aiul would ngain repeat it, that I fear 
 nothing in this cause — in this crisi?-, but ignorance, pre- 
 judice, and precipitation. I would ask those who blanu; 
 us, are you cognizant of the fa''t, the astounding fact, that 
 within a few weeks of die* 'time of *\\c late meeting oi 
 Synod, not fewer than twcii^) congregations of our Church, 
 in Canada West, had many of them, in opposition to the 
 opinion or example of theiiv pastors, met publicly, and 
 proclaimed their determin.i'iiou not to sutler even tlu.' 
 name or the appearance of n'^onnection with the Estab- 
 lished Church of Scotlantl, *i> laras they were concerned, 
 to be retained one day longer, declarirg at the same time, 
 tliat if the Synod, at its first, meeting, did not re])udiate tht 
 words '■'in connection with the Church of Scotland," 
 being a part of its well-known designation, they would 
 certainly separate themselves from its communion, aii/:' 
 utterly renounce its jurisdiction. And you will be 
 pleased to bear in mind, that these twenty coninxgations, 
 farming about one fourth of the whole church, were not a 
 moiety of the Presbyterian population, who held the sanur 
 views, and were prepared to act the same bold and decided 
 part. We hear a great deal of veiy grave and solemn 
 declamation against schism in the Synod, and among the 
 ministers who constitute nearly the whole of that veiT 
 reverend judicatory. But in my mind, the worst of all 
 disruptions is, when the church is deserted by the flock, 
 when the minister is left, indeed with the Parsonage 
 House or Manse, his Government salary or Residuary 
 pension, but with empty benches and bare walls, to 
 waste his preaching on the desert air. In a word, I do 
 not so much fear the disruption of ministers from one 
 another, and from their temporalities, though tliis be a 
 
6 
 
 pore evil — a bitter and painful (]ispon?ation — as I do tho 
 frightful and portentous di-ruption of a church, whcro 
 Uic people, as if summoned by a voice from heaven, go out 
 with one eon>x'nt. When all tlio living stones of tho 
 Temple depart, — it is a miserable cousolation to gazo 
 at silent and empty edillce:-:, — a goodly heritnge of u^mpor- 
 alitici^, glehes, m;uiKes, arjfl L^udowment-^, with ministers 
 whose occupation, like Otiit^lloV', i.^ g-uie, who are sine- 
 curist.-', drones, and idlers, w.hehave nothingtodo — becauso 
 tlie people will have nothing lo do with them. Be not 
 deceived, it was not the S*yr!()tl that made the disruption. 
 Tho ministers did not set the eyample, call it, as you 
 think or please, a good on a bad one. They were mera 
 imitators, not orglnal;-:-. They followed tlie Hock, and not 
 the flock them. Like faiihfwl shepherds, they followed 
 their flocks, v\ho, would.. »« loig-T almle in their old 
 ftheep-folds, or exi)atiate in their wonted pastures. 
 
 Will — can, any of you— ^a(.k*])5i g in view this asitoundirg 
 fact of the disruption, alreatly \\vo\ ght bcfere the Synod 
 met — between the pcople'^iud'theii' ) actors, those at least 
 who adhered to tlie connection with the Es:tablishment — 
 between the Synod, as the head, and the body of 
 Uic members of our churcli, -ijlame us for instantly 
 applying the only effectual remedy or preventive of 
 tlireatened disruption, a remedy so easy in its nature, bo 
 simple, harmless, and unexceptionable, as that of declar- 
 ing the fact of our independence, and thereby, at tliia 
 cheap price, preserving and perpetuating the unity of our 
 cJiurch ? Does any man complain of the sin of schism, 
 and of the mighty mischiefs of disruption and breach of 
 unity 1 Let that man think, that we are the men, not 
 Binning, but sinned against, for those opposed to us would 
 not sufler ua to administer the only possible remedy, 
 neither did they provide or prescribe, on their part, any 
 
 c 
 
 ti 
 
 ff 
 
 re 
 
 o\ 
 
 dij 
 
 an 
 
 aft( 
 
 Bu 
 
 no 
 
 upo 
 
 Wii 
 
 the 
 
 resD 
 
 I 
 
 ecclc 
 
 woul 
 
 tlie 
 
 pro( 
 
 denct 
 
 exterj 
 
 with( 
 
 the v^ 
 
 io sel 
 
 tho 
 
 only 
 
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 like af 
 
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 of the 
 
 whichi 
 
 has n( 
 
 instinc 
 
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other. The most fatal and certainly irreparablr, disnip- 
 tion, that of the flock from their pastors, that of the people 
 from the fold of our church, they altogether overlooked, c 
 recked not, and seemed only bent upon preventing their 
 own disruption from the temporal itiee^, from tiie connection 
 with the State, and with the Parent Establishment. The 
 disruption of the ministers from the Synod, and from one 
 another, was a matter of the least possible conse(pience, 
 after the desertion and revolt of the Christian people. 
 But our opponents cared not, it would seem for this, sought 
 no remeily for it, and when we oHered one, and pressed i 
 upon them, the only ellectual one — they would not hear. - 
 Who are the schismatics? Who are chargeable with 
 the guih of the disruption ] On whose head should tho 
 responsibility lie "J 
 
 I put the case, that if it were certain that we wert3 
 ecclesiastically dependent on the Church of Scotlanc', 
 would not such a crisis have more than justified, by 
 tlie first law of nature, the law of self-preservation, our 
 proceeding with a high hand, and witii the fearless confi- 
 dence, of an irresistible call of providence, dissolving an 
 external union, which could not be longer maintained 
 without the destruction of the internal vital union of 
 the whole body "? Would it not have been a suicidal act 
 to seek to maintain a connection with a church, at 
 tho distance of three thousand miles, when it could 
 only be done by tearing our own frame-work in pieces, 
 by shattering it into fragments, by dividing the church, 
 like a house against itself? But what in the name of 
 reason and common sense, shall be said in extenuation 
 of the folly and madness, of tho judicial blindness 
 which would set up against that necessity which 
 has no law, against the resistless claims of the natural 
 instinct, of self-preservation, the miserable argument or 
 pretence of a merely nominal connection, for, marvellous 
 
10 
 
 to U'll, tliis is all that oui" opponeiUs arc, upon tlieir own 
 sliewing aljle to make of it. It i.s an empty, worthless 
 shadow, a word without meaning, a metaphysical (luiddity 
 or nonentity, worthy only of the age, worthy only of the 
 dreams and delirations of the Schoolmen. Yes, verily, 
 \vill you believe it, we an' re(piired to look on coolly 
 and s(^e our whole church heaved froin its foundations, 
 and not one stone left upon another, in order to preserve,, 
 as flies in and)er, the precious, superstitiously venerated 
 relic of a merely ver!?al and meaningless connectiouy 
 which neither implies jurisdiction in the parent church, 
 nor dej)endence or subordination in this anomalous speci- 
 men of ecclesiastical vassalage — the Colonial church ! 
 I* is the fart, that our Synod has been from 
 the first day it was formed, practically free, altogether 
 
 hr\i\ subslantially independent, hoth in its legislative Dnd 
 judicial ca})acity, making its own laws, acting as a 
 Supreme Court or Judicatory, in all causes arising in 
 our church that were brought before it. We have 
 never had any mi^giving of our clear and perfect right 
 to legislate, to judge, to govern with absolute sway. 
 No one evei' dreamt of appealing from our decisions. 
 No one in Canaila, in Scotland, has ever called in ques- 
 tion any acts that we have done, or laws that we have 
 passed during the twelve years of our ecclesiastical exis- 
 tence. Nay moi-e, we have, in the official correspondence 
 of the GtMun"d Assembly with our Synod, the most express 
 une(jiiivocal, un([ualified, disclaimer of all jurisdiction or 
 c )nti()ul. The Parent church, have told us once and 
 ajiain, what cujfht for ever to have silenced the unmeaning 
 ciy of connection — that our relation to her is that of 
 an emancipated son, who has conie to the age of ma- 
 jority is now his own master, and is freed Irom all le- 
 gal obrgation or su])jection to his parents' will, the 
 natural and moral ties alone remaining. All this is not 
 
 L- 
 
11 
 
 [1 their own 
 ^, worthless 
 ical ([uiddity 
 only of the 
 Yes, verily, 
 X on coolly 
 foundiition.s, 
 to preserve, 
 Y venerated 
 connection? 
 ent church, 
 laloiis speci- 
 ial church ! 
 been from 
 ?, altogether 
 
 gislative and 
 acting as a 
 s arising in 
 
 We have 
 perfect right 
 )lute sway, 
 r decisions, 
 ed in ques- 
 at \Ne have 
 istical exis- 
 res})oridence 
 nost express 
 isdiction or 
 s once and 
 ' unmeaning 
 n' is that ol' 
 i age ot'ma- 
 
 "loni all le- 
 s' will, the 
 
 this is not 
 
 ",?■' 
 
 i^ 
 
 S 
 
 denied, nor attempted to be denied, by our opponents, who, 
 on the other hand, very absurdly and inconsistently urge 
 it as a reason for our conniving at the continuance of a 
 designation purely verbal and distinctive. This they say ^ 
 and would have us believe them in earnest^ while they 
 are as pertinaci iis in holding fast the shadow as if it were 
 mhstance. Are they honest — earnest in saying that 
 the connection, which they advocate is only nominal, 
 implies no jurisdiction in itself, when they would not sacri- 
 fice it, to prevent the separation of twenty congregations 
 in Canada West, and the certainty of thedeterniination of 
 as many more over all the land to follow their example, 
 and ultimately involve in ruin the whole church 1 
 
 What, I ask, iruivSt you have tho\ight of us, how could 
 we have met you, or looked you in the face, had we, 
 ^he law-givers, rulers, and guardians of the church 
 returned to inform you, that we had, for the sake of a name 
 a nothing, set at defiance the firsi law of nature, and com- 
 jnilted a suicidal act, in declining to arrest the ])rogress of 
 disruption and ruin, when means so simple and obvious 
 were offered to us? The Synod in doing so, in lawyer's 
 phrase, has become felo-de-se. It has sold the jewel of 
 the chin-ch for an empty bubble, I might here close 
 my apology or defence, and challenge any of my hearers 
 to gainsay this statement, or to meet the reasoning founded 
 upon it. The course which we hnve adopted was 
 forced upon us by the most irresistible necessity, by the 
 first law of nature — both as respects individuals and com- 
 niunities — self -preservation. It is entitled to the com- 
 mendation of being moderate, simple, conciliatoiy, of 
 being the one only effectual remedy of the evil, a remedy 
 which would have satisfied the Christian people, \\-ouId 
 have been acceptable to all parties, would have given 
 the least possible offence to the Established Church, while 
 it had the sanction of the Free. What, I demand, has 
 
12 
 
 fiich a cause as I now plead to fear? Nothing, eavo 
 from tlio lieat of passion, and the bhndness of ignorance 
 and prejudice. 
 
 Jiefore I enter upon an exposition of the proceedings of 
 the Synod in regard to the question, it is proper that I 
 yhould first deal with a challenge which you have no 
 doubt all heard r.gain and again, urged home upon us, 
 with an air of conlidence and triumph. What have w^ 
 to do with this controversy ? Why throw it into this land, 
 like another apple of discord? Are we not free to the 
 uttermost of our largest desires ? Wliy introduce disunion 
 where no greivances exist? This sounds very plausibly, 
 but it is sound without sense — words without knowledge. 
 Did the twenty congregations, who revolted from the 
 iSynod, and dissolved with their own hand, in the bold 
 and manly spirit of iheir forefathers, the odious con- 
 nection which involved them, as they believed, in the 
 guilt and dishonour and degradation of the Established 
 Church of Scotland, act by the suggestion of the 
 Synod, or the counsel of their clergy, severally or 
 collectively ? Would they not have thought and acted 
 for themselves, even had the question never been 
 mooted in the Synod; nay, even had the office-bearers 
 of the church, all conspired to ."^tifle it, to bury it in the 
 deepest silence ? Verily you might as well bid us shut 
 out the light of the sun, or stop the mighty cataract of 
 Niagara, as prevent those great movements, which are 
 propagated, like the electric or volcanic phenomena of 
 the earth and the atmosphere ? Stop the press, stop 
 the power of steam navigation, by sea and land, stop 
 the free intercourse of trade and intelligence, from con- 
 tinent to continent, from pole to pole, and you may 
 arrest such a revolution as that now passing over us, 
 and shut out such questions as t^at, of which the agita- 
 tion is now causing commotion and convulsioo in the 
 church and in society. 
 
 
 
 * 
 
13 
 
 Nothing, fiavo 
 ss of ignoranco 
 
 e proceedings of 
 3 proper that I 
 ih you have no 
 home upon us, 
 Wiiat have wo 
 ' it into this land, 
 not free to the 
 Lroduce disunion 
 ? very plausibly, 
 liout knowledge, 
 /olted from the 
 nd, in the bold 
 he odious con- 
 believed, in the 
 the Established 
 ^gestion of the 
 ;y, severally or 
 )ught and acted 
 on never been 
 he office-bearers 
 to burv it in the 
 well bid us shut 
 ghty cataract of 
 lents, which are 
 c phenomena of 
 the press, stop 
 I and land, stop 
 jence, from con- 
 f, and you may 
 passing over us, 
 which the agita- 
 )nvulsioo in tha 
 
 I go further, and affirm that the Church of Canada 
 and her Synod were not at liberty to keep out the 
 question, to suppress their sympathy with tlie Free 
 Church and her cause, or withhold tkat testimony 
 which it is the peculiar and supreme duty, and I may add, 
 the honour and privilegd of every Christian church to 
 bear, when called, in the Providence of God, to testify 
 in behalf of great truths, vital and essential principles, 
 involving the glory of God, the honour of the Red-eemer, 
 and the interest of his church and kingdom. Was it 
 not the duty of the Synod to do what it actually did in 
 1841, namely: — sympathise with the Parent Church 
 in the great and glorious struggle, in which she was 
 then engaged, or would it have been wiser and better 
 to have looked on coldly, and passed by on the other 
 side, like the Priest and the Levite in the parable of 
 the good Samaritan, while we beheld our mother 
 church, our spiritual mother, oppressed and afflicted ? 
 Is there any man, is there any Christian, who now 
 l*ears me, that will for a moment entertain such an 
 unworthy, cold-blooded, unchristian sentiment? The 
 Synod did sympathize, as it was right, and natural, and 
 morally necessary that she should, with the Mother 
 Church in the hour of her tribulation, persecution, and 
 distress. 
 
 The following resolutions were passed unanimously, 
 in the Synod, which met at Kingston, in 1841 : 
 
 The Synod called for the Report of the Committee appointed to 
 prepare an Expression of Sympathy wiih the Parent Church 
 which was given in by Mr. M'Gill, and read. After reasoning* 
 the following resolutions, drawn up by tlic Committee were unanil 
 mously adopted by the Synod : — 
 
 1. That this Synod, in view of the trials through which the 
 Established Church of Scoiland is passing, and the eventful crisw 
 at which these have arrived, do record our most aft'ectionate sym: 
 pathy with her, and our earnest prayer for her success in her strug.' 
 gle against every encroachment of the civil power on her spiritual 
 mdependence and jurisdiction, and that she may be a faithfui 
 
 B 
 
14 
 
 witness to all Christian nations of the true principles accordinjr to 
 which the civil magistrate should support the visible kingdbm of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 2. That the Synod, enjoying, as we do, peculiar opportunities 
 for witnessing the great evils that befall a nation when the true 
 rdigion is not duly countenanced and maintained by the civil au- 
 thorities, evils which have long in the Divine goodness been aver, 
 ted from Scotland, regard it as a great calamity, that collision has 
 occurred between the ecclesiastical and civil tribunals in Scotland, 
 and record our fervent hope that such steps may be taken as shall 
 restore the interrupted harmony, so that the Church may be sup- 
 jwrted in her labours in her own sphere, and the state, as hereto- 
 fore may have increasing evidence that the Church is the best 
 bulwark of order, improvement, and happiness among the 
 people. 
 
 3. That this Synod experience the highest gratification in oh- 
 serving the enlightened and holy spirit that animates the Parent 
 Church, her advancing internal purity and zeal, the removal of 
 hindrances which stood in the way of the return of such of her 
 children as had seceded from her communion ; and we do sin- 
 cerely trust that the Scottish National Church, adhering to her 
 primitive and scriptural standards will ere long exhibit to Chris- 
 t random such a spectacle of unity in the faith, and such an exam- 
 ple of scriptural connexion with the state, as shall give assurance, 
 that the Lord Jesus Christ for whose Crown and Sovereignty she 
 is contending will make the land an heritage that the Lord has 
 blessed. 
 
 4. That this Synod petition Her Majesty the Queen, and the 
 Imperial Parliament, in support of all the just rights and claims 
 of the Church of Scotland, and in particular that the wishes of 
 the people be duly regarded in the settlement of their Ministers, 
 and that the secular courts be prevented from all interference with 
 the spiritual concerns of the Church. 
 
 By order of the Synod, a letter from the pen of the 
 Moderator, Mr. George, was addressed to the General 
 Assembly of the United States, from which the following 
 paragiaph, bearing upon these resolutions, is extracted. 
 
 It is dated July, 1841 :— 
 
 At a crisis like the present in the history of the Church of Scot- 
 land when we are looking with anxious solicitude for the develop- 
 ment of the divine pm-poses regarding her, we cannot but be 
 deeply affected with the expressions of your kind sympathy in her 
 behalf. In her assertion of spiritual independence, in her struggles 
 a^inst injurious usurpations of secular power, she is once more 
 j)f»vi?ed to the spirit which actuated her in the best periods of her 
 )|uAory. But when we consider the principles which govern those 
 who desire to retain her in bondage, and the power which they 
 can wield to accomplish their endj and when we look at the 
 
 % 
 
 y'Se 
 
16 
 
 >le8 accordinjr to 
 jible kingdbm of 
 
 iar opportunities 
 n when the true 
 I by the civil au- 
 idness been aver, 
 that collision has 
 inals in Scotland, 
 be taken as shall 
 rch may be sup- 
 state, as hereto- 
 lurch is the best 
 less among the 
 
 atification in ob- 
 natea the Parent 
 1, the removal of 
 
 I of such of her 
 and we do sin- 
 adhering to her 
 exhibit to Chris. 
 
 d such an exam- 
 
 II give assurance, 
 [ Sovereignty she 
 lat the Lord has 
 
 Queen, and the 
 ■ights and claims 
 at the wishes of 
 jf their Ministers, 
 interference with 
 
 the pen of the 
 to the General 
 h the following 
 Ls, is extracted. 
 
 c Church of Scot- 
 ie for the develop- 
 re cannot but be 
 I sympathy in her 
 ;e, in her struggles 
 she is once more 
 est periods of her 
 liich govern th(%e 
 ower which they 
 1 we look at the 
 
 ropisii and scmi-infidol liberalism so eagerly combining with th(; 
 Erastianism of the State to work her overthrow, we cannot Hltogc* 
 ther suppress the apprehension that momentous changes will result 
 in some of her external relations. But for her suffering in such a 
 f cause and its issue we give Way, no not for a moment, either t<i 
 fear or despondency ! 1 1 Ou the contrary, we cherish the hope that 
 she will come out of the trial as gold purified by the fire, and that 
 her martyr-testimony will awaken a reforming spirit in those land? 
 wh'^re the domination of the civil power has Lng subverted the 
 liberty arid corrupted the purity of the Church of Christ. 
 
 These sentiments were confirmed by the Synod at 
 Montreal, in 1842, in the words of the following reso- 
 lution : — 
 
 That the Synod, continuing to cherish the sentiments recorded 
 by them during last Session respecting the struggle which the Pa- 
 rent Church is at present maintaining against the encroachments 
 of the Civil power, and cordially concurring in the great principles 
 asserted in the resolutions passed by the Commission of the General 
 Assembly, at their meeting held on the 25th of August, 1841, and 
 communicated to this Synod, instruct the Committee of Cor- 
 respondence to give unequivocal expression to the views of the 
 Synod in this respect in tlie letter which is now to be transmitted 
 to the Colonial Committee of the General Assembly of the 
 Church of Scotland. 
 
 Sympathizing, a3 you perceive we had so ardently 
 and unanimously done with the cause of the majority 
 of the General Assembly before the separation, when 
 a separation was made, and two several churches stood 
 forth in the father land, each claiming to be the 
 true Church of Scotland, and of our fathers, another 
 question was unavoidably raised, which of these 
 churches shall we acknowledge? With which hold 
 communion? or enter into connection? The new 
 church, that issued out of the disruption, dis-establishedi 
 cast off from state connection and patronage, despoiled 
 of temporal endowments, was the undoubted successor 
 and true representative of the pure faith an<' primitive 
 order of the ancient constitutional scriptural church 
 of our fathers. 
 
 This is not my statement, but the unanimous, une- 
 quivocal decision of the Synod of Canada, including the 
 
16 
 
 f 
 
 ^ i 
 
 yerj ministers, and elders, wlio are now acting in prac- 
 tical contradiction to their proj'eb.^ions and pledgt«. 
 Could we, a3 triw men, faithful to our principles, to our 
 God, and to our cause, feel or*e moments hesitation in 
 deciding between these two churches? Was not the 
 choice already made, predetermined before the disrupt 
 tion by the resolutions of I84'l and ISi^" which I have 
 just read? If we are to hold i*ny communion or con- 
 nection with any church on earth, one would have sup- 
 posed that there was n,o room for t'eliberation. Our 
 purpose must be as fixed and immu^taWe as our princi- 
 ples — not to admpt even of a nominal aUd apparent 
 connection with the church which we had distinctly 
 denounced in our holy and generous indignation, as 
 the antagonist of these principles and of their martyr 
 spirited ehampicms, di^ the betrayer of the prerogatives 
 and crown rights of the Redeemer, of the constitutional 
 privileges of the people, and the dear bought liberties of 
 Scotland's church. In. a word, how preposterous, how 
 mean, how dishonest must it seem to all the world, that 
 p-ro-fessing ourselves to be one in principle with the Free 
 Church, as the Synod, without all question, has once 
 and again done, we should suffer our church, to be 
 identified in name, and designation, and, as many think, 
 in more than mere name, with a church whose actings 
 and principles we have so solemnly and emphatically 
 denounced and abjured? 
 
 Now, let me put it to you all to judge what was the 
 simple and obvious course which the Synod ought to 
 have pursued, in which they would have done all that 
 truth and conscience required, without giving any 
 great cause of offence to the Established Church. 
 They had onlj to declare — what we have done since 
 we came out — their independence. This, to all prac- 
 
 tice 
 
17 
 
 icting In f)raic- 
 
 ani pledge', 
 nciples, to our 
 
 hesitation m 
 Was not the 
 re the disrup*" 
 whieh I have 
 inion or con- 
 uld have sup- 
 oration. Our 
 as our princi- 
 afid apparent 
 lad distinctly 
 rfignation, a» 
 their martyr 
 
 prerogatives 
 :onstitutional 
 it liberties of 
 )stcrous, how 
 e world, that 
 vhh the Free 
 •n, has once 
 lurch to be 
 
 many think, 
 liose actings 
 emphatically 
 
 hat was the 
 3d ought to 
 one all that 
 giving any 
 ed Church, 
 done since 
 to all prac- 
 
 tical intents, our antagonists admit that we have en- 
 joyed all along, yea and exercised. In taking this step, 
 we have done only what was absolutely necessary to 
 prevent our making shipwreck of character, principle, 
 and good faith. Had the opposite party concurred in 
 this .iew, and united in taking with us this course, as 
 we besouglit them, I am well persuaded that we should 
 not have had any collision with any authority, civil or 
 ecclesiastical. Our church would not have been un- 
 settled from her foundations, and driven violently from 
 her moorings. To these principles the Synod again 
 bore their testimony in 1843 by an overwhelming 
 majority. 
 
 *' It was also moved by Dr. Cook, and seconded by Mr. 
 M'Gill, that the Paper on the Table of the Synod, sub- 
 mitted by Mrc Gale, be adopted; the tenor whereof 
 follows:" — 
 
 The Synod having maturely considered the overture from 
 tho Presbytery of Hamilton, respecting a testimony by this 
 Church concerning the great questions which have been recently 
 agitating the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, and the rights 
 and privileges of the Church of Christ involved therein, and the 
 bearing which the recent determination of these questions in 
 Scotland may have on the condition and relations of this Church, 
 Resolved, — 
 
 1 . That this Synod record their solemn testimony on behalf of 
 the Supreme Headship of Christ over His Church — the rights 
 which he has conferred on its duly-constituted office-bearers to rule 
 and minister in it independently of all external control — and the 
 privileges he has bestowed on his people of exercising a free con- 
 currence in the appointment of such officebearers ; as these vari- 
 ous principles have recently been contended for by the Church of 
 Scotland ; — The Synod having heretofore entertained an assured 
 conviction that these rights and privileges were substantially re- 
 cognized in the Constitution of the Church of Scotland, as well as 
 in those Acts of the Civil Government by which she has enjoyed 
 the advantages of an Establishment, and firmly believing that 
 they have full warrant in tho Word of God, and that the main, 
 taining them in their integrity is essential to the well-being of the 
 Church, and so far from bemg incompatible with, is indispensable 
 to a right and salutary aUiance between the Church ar.d the 
 State, , 
 
 B 
 
 * 
 
18 
 
 2. That this Synod regard with the utmost pain and alarm ihe 
 conduct of the supreme authoruies in the State, in rojcctm';; tho 
 claims recently made by the Ciiurch of Scotland for a more dis- 
 tinct recognition of the •piritual independence of her Judicatories 
 and tlio privileges of her members, and in refusing her the protec- 
 ticn she has been constrained to demand against recer.L encroach, 
 nicnts of tho civil courts on that spiritual province so distinctly 
 recognized in the Word of Tod, as belonging to His Church, and 
 for the maintenance of which many of tho Scottish Reformers 
 and Confcpsors in diftt ren* ages, and of all ranks have testified 
 unto the death. And the Synod record their earnest prayer to 
 Almighty God, that lie would of Ilis grace, and by His good 
 Spirit so turn the hearts of all concerned, that tho deep wouni 
 which,, through these encroachments has been inllictcd on tho 
 venerable and honoured Church of our Fathers, and the grievous 
 breaches which have tiiereby been occasioned, may bo healed and 
 repaired, and that the full benefits of a National Establishment 
 constituted and administered on Scriptural principles, may ever be 
 enjoyed by the people of Scotland. 
 
 3. That holding the aforesaid principles and views, — feeling 
 specially called in present circumstances to renew their former 
 testimonies in regard to them, — and trusting that they Bhall ever 
 be enabled at all hazards faithfully to maintain them, even if called 
 to resist any actual encroachment on them, in their own eccle- 
 siastical administration ; this Synod have yet to record their gra. 
 titudc to God that He in His good Providence does not call on 
 them to enter on the discussion or decision for themselves of tho 
 practical bearings of those principles in respect either to any in- 
 fringement of the spiritual independence of this Church, or of the 
 privileges of its members, or to the connection which subsists be- 
 tween the Church of Scotland and this Synod,— that connection 
 neither implying a spiritual jurisdiction on the part of the former 
 ever the latter, nor involving the latter in a responsibility for any 
 acting of the former. And this Syn( ' do now, as always, recog- 
 nizc the imperious obligations laid on them o*" seeking the 
 peaco and well-being of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, 
 at the expense of any sacrifice, save that of consistency and 
 principle. 
 
 4. That this Synod, while viewing with humble thankfulness the 
 favourable circumstances in which the members, office-bearers, 
 and Judicatories of this Church are placed in regard to their per- 
 feet exemption from secular interference with their spiritual 
 privileges or functions, and the absence of the temptations which 
 such interference might occasior, to discord and disunion in the 
 Church do yet regard with the deepest concern the present 
 condition and prospects of the Church of Scotland ; and do 
 hereby record their deep and aflTectionale sympathy with those of 
 her rulers and members, who, leaving the Establishment at the 
 bidding of conscience, have thereby sacrificed teuporal interests 
 and personal feelings to an extent that must ever command the 
 respect and admiiation oi' the Christian Church. 
 
 prayl 
 Fird( 
 bell 
 10; 
 
 TI 
 that! 
 for 
 bclc 
 
 TI 
 
 lliOSd 
 
 Mr. " 
 
 dccll 
 
 T 
 
 who 
 
 wl 
 
 i 
 
19 
 
 nd alarm the 
 rojcctiiT^ tlio 
 r a more dis- 
 r Judicatories 
 cr tlie protec- 
 enC encroach. 
 E5 so distinctly 
 Church, and 
 sh Reformers 
 have testified 
 icst prayer to 
 by His good 
 deep wouni 
 lictcd on the 
 i the grievous 
 be licaled and 
 Establishment 
 3, may over be 
 
 iesvs, — feeling' 
 their former 
 cy Bhall ever 
 , even if called 
 cir own ecclo- 
 ord their gra- 
 5s not call on 
 iselvcs of tho 
 cr to any in- 
 rch, or of the 
 subsists be- 
 lt connection 
 of the former 
 bility for any 
 Ivvays, recog- 
 ccking the 
 of Canada, 
 isistcncy and 
 
 mkfulncss the 
 ofEce-bearers, 
 to their per. 
 heir spiritual 
 utions which 
 union in the 
 the present 
 nd; and do 
 vith those of 
 hment at the 
 joral interests 
 oramand tlie 
 
 The Synod had long reasoning, and after having engaged in 
 prayer for the Divine Blessing and direction, the vote was taken, 
 First, on the Resolution of Mr. Gale and those of Profetsor Camp- 
 hell ;— and there voted for Mr. Gale's, 29 ; for Mr. Campbell's, 
 10 ; when Mr. Campbell's were declared lost. 
 
 The vote was next taken on the Resolutions of Mr. Gale and 
 that of Dr. Liddcll ; when there voted for Mr. Gale's, 20; and 
 for Dr. Liddell's 13. Dr. Liddel/s wos accordingly declared to 
 
 be lost. 
 
 The vote was next taken on the resolution of Mr. Gale, and 
 tliosc of Mr. Stark ; when there voted for Mr. Gale's, 24 ; and for 
 Mr. Stark's 11 ; five not voting. Mr. Stark's were accordingly 
 declared to be lost. 
 
 The vote was taken on Mr. Gale's Resolutions, Aye or No. 
 when ther'^ voted A.yc, 28 ; Noa 11. Mr. Gale's Resolutions were 
 accordingly adopt* i. 
 
 Against this decuon Professor Campbell gave in his dissent, in 
 his own name and for as many as might adhere to hun, for reasons 
 to be given in ; when there adhered to this dissent Dr. Mathieson, 
 Mr. Mann, Mr. Reid, Mr. M'Naughton, Mr. M'Murchy, and 
 Mr. Lambic, ministers; and Mr. Archibald Brown, elder. 
 
 Those principles my brethren are I believe to be 
 what the late united Synod unanimously held them, 
 worthy of all acceptation, worthy to be sustained at all 
 sacrifices, at all hazards, and we have no surer or better 
 plea to urge in our defence, if we are to be the party 
 tliat must, stand arraigned at the bar of the public, than tlio 
 testimony of our opponents, sent forth in deliberate, 
 solemn, and reiterated utterance from the mouth of tho 
 Synod, as the oracle of our Church, and bearing all tho 
 weight and force of her most authoritative judgments. 
 They have left us to act out practically, what they havo 
 strongly and unanimously professed. But in sanctioning 
 the principles as cardinal and fundamental, as grounded on 
 tlic word of God, and lying at the foundation ciu' >• 'Ecclesi- 
 astical polity, according to the soundest vie. , and tho 
 most approved practice of our church, they have put into 
 our hands the most unexceptionable and triumphant 
 answer to all who may presume to impugn our principles 
 or our proceedings ; for the latter are nothing more or less 
 than the practical embodiment, and working out in action of 
 
J J 
 
 I 
 I' 
 
 1. 1 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 If 
 
 1 •» 
 
 20 
 
 the principles which wc were taiiglit — of the lessons 
 which we learnt in the school, and at the feet of the ver}' 
 Gamaliel'-', of whom alas ! we must complain in the words 
 of our I ' " Tiiey say and do not ;" or, rather, " They 
 say one ti)i.i^' to-day, and jusst do the contrary to-morrow." 
 And am I now before you to plead my cause as if I were 
 tlie offending party ? Is it possible that I, and those who 
 acted with me, are put upon our defence, because we 
 have been honest, consistent, true to our pledges, princi- 
 ples, professions ; because we have not flinched nor faul- 
 tered in the day of trial, though assailed by strong temp- 
 tations, those subtle and insidious influences of the world, 
 before which human weakness and frailty are so prone to 
 fall ? Are we verily indicted as guilty, or even as sus- 
 pected, for no other cause than sustaining our lip and 
 tongue profession, i?i deed, in truth, in pixictice ? How 
 should 1 have appeared before you at this moment, had I 
 gone to the other side, had I given the lie to all my past 
 professions in this pulpit, as well as in the Synod, had I 
 perfidiously deserted the cause which I had proclaimed 
 to be the cause of God, and of vital truth, after I had 
 lauded its champions to the skies, and sworn unalterable 
 sympathy and devotedness to both it and them — how, I 
 demand, hearers and brethren, should I have found cour- 
 age, or rather, to call it by its proper name, audacity^ this 
 day, to look you in the face, or by what sophistry, or 
 Jesuitical casuistry, persuade you to applaud my base 
 desertion of the friends of God, and of his truth, to whom 
 I had vowed, in his name, and, as it were, at his altar, a 
 holy and inviolable attachment, or the still baser desertion 
 of that testimony for God's truth, when it is imperilled by 
 the powers of this present evil world, which it is the most 
 supreme duty, as it is the most glorious privilege of the min- 
 isters of the Gospel and of the churches of Christ to exhibit 
 
 I 
 
21 
 
 the lessons 
 
 of the very 
 n the words 
 ler, " They 
 >morrovv." 
 as if I were 
 
 those who 
 ecause we 
 ges, princi- 
 'd nor faul- 
 rong temp- 
 
 the world, 
 ^o prone to 
 /en as sus- 
 tr lip and 
 :e ? How 
 lent, had I 
 II my past 
 lod, had I 
 )roclaimed 
 fter I had 
 Hialterable 
 — how, I 
 und cour- 
 acity^ this 
 )histry, or 
 my base 
 to whom 
 s altar, a 
 desertion 
 erilled by 
 the most 
 "the min- 
 :o exhibit 
 
 J 
 
 to tlie world, and to sustain even to the death, if tlie will of 
 God be so? We are not only innocent of the guilt of 
 schism, we are not only pure from all blame in regard to 
 tlie recent disruption, but wc boldly and confidently claim 
 the credit of having done all that in us lay, all tliat o\ir 
 opponents would suffer us, to provide a remedy, yea, tho 
 only suitable and sufficient remedy for the fatal breach 
 which had been made in the real vital unity of om* church 
 before the Synod met — the disruption of the great body of 
 the laity from the Synod, and from their Pastors, who were 
 known to be adhesionists. So far from being chargeable 
 with the reproach of being schismatists, we have left 
 nothing undone, which God put in our power, both to 
 prevent and to heal to the uttermost^ the rent. 
 
 If schism and disruption be words used in their proper 
 and only legitimate sense, to signify a rent of the unity and 
 integrity of the body of the church, an internal and vital 
 breach, in which the living members and organs of the 
 body of Christ are torn away from the communion and 
 fellowship of the visible church and not merely a dissev- 
 erance of the ministers and pastore from their congrega- 
 tions, the latter remaining entire and unbroken ; or a dis- 
 severance of congregations and ministers from an eccles- 
 iastical connexion with existing judicatories, whether 
 Synods or Presbyteries, which by no means implies a 
 necessary violation, or even a temporary interruption of 
 the unity or integrity of the body of Christ — then are w6 
 entitled to ah the commendation of the healers of the 
 breach, of the true guardians and defenders of the vital 
 unity of the Church. 
 
 To contend for connexion with the State, or witli th3 
 State Church, as a unity necessary to maintain an exter- ^ 
 nal Establishment, and a temporal provision for the 
 ministers, is a very improper and unsciiptural definition 
 
il 
 
 22 
 
 of unity religious or ecclesiastical. It is as far as the 
 poles asunder from the true idea of scriptural unity — as 
 far as heaven from earth, as God from Mammon. But 
 this, as far as I can perceive, is the amount of all that 
 forms the ground of their boasting, and the burden of the 
 reproach vvliich they throw upon us. If they gloiy thus 
 in their shame, let us not be ashamed of our glory. Let 
 us strive, and we cannot long strive in vain, to dispel the 
 transient cloud which a shallow and contemptible sophis* 
 tiy, arising out of an abuse of words, has created* Let 
 us disabuse the public mind of ihe false impressions 
 which have been propagated to the disparagement of our 
 cause, and of the character and spirit of our proceedings. 
 Let us demonstrate, as it is most easy to do, that we are 
 the faithful advocates and assertors of the only true and 
 
 scriptural idea of unity — for the sake of which we have 
 placed in jeopardy great temporal advantages, while those 
 with whom we are at issue, it is to be feared, have been 
 contending for a merely spurious \mity, mistaking a bond 
 of connection with the world, and with powers, and 
 interests, that are of the earth, earthy, for that spiritual 
 and heavenly bond, which unites the hearts of believers — 
 in the communion of the visible church — to God, and to 
 one another. What a striking example have we in this 
 of the more than magic power with which words influence 
 the judgments, and even pervert the moral and religious 
 sentiments of the wisest and most learned men. No 
 wonder then that the multitude, who are not conversant 
 with ecclesiastical and theological questions, should have 
 their minds bewildered and befooled, when the most 
 learned clerks have been duped and stultified before them 
 bi/ the magic of a name ! 
 
 The great Locke has said, and time and experience 
 have been daily adding new evidence and illustration of 
 
 the 
 
 whel 
 
 and 
 
 the 
 
 thinl 
 
 scar(| 
 
 Ihal 
 
 Ji 
 
 first, 
 mov 
 lega 
 we 
 
 1 
 
23 
 
 s far as the 
 •al unity — aa 
 nmon. But 
 ^t of all that 
 urden of the 
 y gloiy thus 
 glory. Let 
 to dispel the 
 tible sophis* 
 eated* Lat 
 impressions 
 ment of our 
 )roceedings. 
 hat we are 
 y true and 
 h we have 
 while those 
 have been 
 :ing a bond 
 )vvers, and 
 at spiritual 
 relievers — 
 od, and to 
 we in this 
 s influence 
 d religious 
 nen. No 
 
 'onversant 
 
 3iild have 
 
 t/ie most 
 
 ifore them 
 
 xpenence 
 tration of 
 
 i 
 
 the important truth, that most of our controversies arc, 
 when traced to tlioir prime source, no better than disputes 
 and blunderings about the meaning of words. On this, 
 the main part of the question, I have no more that I 
 think needful for me to advance. Indeed it would 
 scarcely be possible to add anything to the force of wliat 
 I have stated in the premises. 
 
 Just bear in view then these leading points of my plea ; 
 first, that we have changed nothing, touched nothing, 
 moved nothing out of its place or bearings as respects our 
 legal, constitutional, civil, ecclesiastical status and relations, 
 we have simply declared that our church is free, abso-- 
 lutely, and in all senses independant, and that we shall 
 liold her so. in all future time, so help us God j and then 
 add to this, secondly, what I have now stated, and 
 as I believe proved incontrovertibly^ that we could not 
 have acted otherwise without violating our conscience, 
 and breaking our solemnly pledged faith, not only aa 
 Christian ministers, but what is more, as a church which 
 is represented in, and by the Synod, as her supreme judi- 
 catory — and, thirdly, in conclusion — that we should havQ 
 been chargeable with all the guilt of schism and disrup- 
 tion, in the most aggravated form, had vfe hesitated one 
 moment even to dissolve the most strict and intimate 
 connection with the Parent Church, had that been ner 
 cessary ; how much more then a merely nominal, and 
 aliadowy one, implying no spiritual jurisdiction, as it is 
 acknowledged by our opponents to be, or as we view 
 it, one altogether ideal or illusoiy, having no real existence, 
 save in the name, arbitrarily assumed, as a purely distinc-? 
 tive designation. 
 
 There are a few who profess to hold a middle ground, 
 disapproving of those who have felt it their duty to take 
 immediately the decisive step of separation from the 
 
i ( 
 
 24 
 
 1 
 
 Synod, and remaining in connection, witli the hope that 
 the great object for which we have been contending, 
 nanriely : a full, decided, unequivocal testimony may yet 
 b3 obtained from that body, in vindication of the great 
 truths and principles to the support of which it stands 
 solemnly pledged. This I conceive to be a position 
 utterly untenable — worse almost than that of our ex- 
 tremest antagonists. It seems to me a real, though I am 
 far from characterising it as a wilful or intentional 
 betrayal of the cause. After the practical denial and 
 renunciation of the principles of the Resolutions, by the 
 bona Jide adhesionists, it is passing strange that any 
 enlightened and conscientious thinker should be so weak 
 and inconsistent as to conclude that, while this violation 
 of the resolutions, in defiance of all Presbyterial orderi 
 remains unchallenged, unrebuked by the ecclesiastical 
 authorities, any other mode of action on their part, would 
 be satisfactory, or entitled to the credit of truth and con- 
 sistency. It is astonishing that able and upright minds, 
 alter the actings of the Presbyteries of Bathurst and 
 Montreal, and especially with the certain knowledge that 
 salaries had been received by no inconsiderable number 
 of our ministers, on the express consideration of bona 
 Jide adherence to the Establishment, should for a moment 
 give way to such a miserable delusion, to such a palpable 
 iophistry, as that of putting mere professions, protesta- 
 tions, or even a verbal change of the designation of the 
 Synod, as a sufficient counterbalance, as a trustworthy 
 and unsuspicious testimony, which would absolve us, in 
 the judgment of the world, of all further necessity or obli- 
 gation of action in the matter. Let such of our brethren 
 as are of this mind, just reflect on the reception and 
 treatment of the Free Church deputation by some of our 
 ministers and their congregations, and compare or rather 
 
)e that 
 nding, 
 ay yet 
 
 great 
 stands 
 osition 
 ir ex- 
 
 I am 
 ntional 
 jI and 
 hy the 
 at any 
 ) weak 
 iolation 
 
 order, 
 liastical 
 I, would 
 nd con- 
 : minds, 
 rst and 
 dge that 
 number 
 o(bona 
 noment 
 )alpablo 
 >rote8la- 
 1 of the 
 tworthy 
 e us, in 
 or obli- 
 brethren 
 ion and 
 e of our 
 )r rather 
 
 25 
 
 contrast this practical action with the fervidness of our 
 sympathizings, and the cordial welcome which these 
 delegates must have confidently reckoned upon, merely 
 looking before hand at our resoluUons^ and then ask 
 themselves what less could be required to set the Cana- 
 dian Church right with the world, and to redeem its 
 character and its violated pledge than the immediate de- 
 claration of independence ? After all this had happened, 
 to procrastinate for a single day the adoption of this step, 
 the most moderate that could possibly have been con- 
 ceived to be at all sufficient for the vindication of truth 
 and principle, and for the wiping olT the injurious suspi- 
 cions that had s risen in the public mind, alTecting the 
 character of the clergy, and of the church, would, in my 
 raind, be a most egregious departure from the sound 
 wisdom and high loned sense of integrity and honour, of 
 which a church cannot be too scrupulously jealous. 
 
 After all that has been done during the past yeai; by 
 Presbyteries and Ministers under the jurisdiction of the 
 Synod, it is impossible for me to comprehend how any' 
 reflecting and upright minded man can permit himself 
 even to deliberate on any measure or course of action, that 
 is not most perfectly unambiguous, and such as to vindi- 
 cate triumphantly oiu* own character, and the principles 
 for which we have so often testified, and which we have 
 pronounced to be fundamental and essential. There 
 can be no neutrality^ there can be no compromise in this 
 warfare. The action that is indecisive, and leaves even 
 a shadow of doubt, whether we be sincere and con '^-tent, 
 is almost as much to be condemned as doing nothing at 
 
 all. The idea of retaining any connection whatever 
 
 nominal or real — with the church, against whose practice 
 and proceedings we have so solemnly protested, is utterly 
 
 C 
 

 2G 
 
 Pi 
 
 
 lif 
 
 inconsistent with what we owe, not only to the cause of 
 U-uth, but to the church with which we sympathized, 
 with which, if our professions may be trusted, we are one 
 in principle and heart. It is, in my mind, an insult to 
 tlie common sense of mankind, to say that we hold tho 
 principles of the Free Church, and are in true sympathy 
 with her, so long as we allow the name of the adversary 
 ;uid betrayer of the cause for which she contended, and 
 for which she suffers, to be named upon us ; so long aa 
 we allow it to be said, or even suspected, that there is 
 any ecclesiastical connection between us. 
 
 The least violation of a great principle or command- 
 ment is as real a wi'ong to the cause of truth and of God 
 as the greatest — for in the breach of the least command- 
 ment the law, and the Lawgiver are dishonoured. When a 
 great principle is not consistently supported, it is, in effect, 
 i*eiiounced. A hollow and halting testimony to c great 
 truth is like the sacrifice of the lame and blind, it is an 
 abomination to the Lord. There is profound wisdom in 
 the law of the great Athenian legislator, Solon, who made 
 it a capital offence for any citizen of Athens, to remain 
 neutral in those great popular contentions which divided 
 the commonwealth. He felt the necessity of providing in 
 this manner against the most imminent of all perils that 
 cold-blooded, cautious, and fatal indecision, which will 
 suffer all to be lost, rather than incur personal responsi- 
 bility, and expose our own credit or interests to the 
 hazard of damage or detraction. To how much danger 
 and damage are great causes always obnoxious, from the 
 vaccination and timidity of double-minded men, of un-^ 
 stable Reubens, whose wavering does more mischief to 
 their friends, and more service to their enemies, than thd 
 moat open and strenuous opposition ! 
 
 int( 
 
 inc( 
 
 the 
 
 and! 
 
 can 
 
 parti 
 
27 
 
 jause of 
 lathized, 
 J are one 
 insult to 
 lold tho 
 empathy 
 dversary 
 led, and 
 I long aa 
 there is 
 
 jmmand- 
 d of God 
 )mmand- 
 When a 
 in effect, 
 L great 
 it is an 
 isdom in 
 ^ho made 
 ;o remain 
 li divided 
 Dviding in 
 lerils that 
 hich will 
 rcsponsi- 
 its to the 
 ;h danger 
 from the 
 n, of UQ" 
 ischief to 
 than the 
 
 In the facta and evidences now submitted, jou have. 
 my dearly beloved friends and hearers, a statement of all 
 that I think necessary to enable you to form a decisive 
 and righteous judgment of the case, and I only ask of you 
 to be faithful to the cause of truth, of conscience, and of 
 God, in forming your conclusion, and determining tht^ 
 part which vou ought to act in the present crisis. I shall 
 now close this apology with a few remarks on the mani- 
 fold and invaluable benefits that may he expected to 
 result to our church, and to the cause of religion gener- 
 ally, from the new order of things growing out of the dis- 
 ruption. 
 
 First then, I am persuaded that a powerful and salu- 
 tary renovation will be wrought probably in both the 
 branches into w^hich the Presbyterian church is now 
 divided. That such a revival was needed will not be 
 questioned by any who are aware of the stagnation and 
 lethargy which so generally prevailed before the late revo- 
 lution. It is not easy to imagine a more effectual procee-s 
 for both quickening and purifying a church than that 
 through which we have just passed. Temporal interests 
 and influences have been placed before us, on the one 
 hand, and truth and principle, and the spiritual good of 
 our church, have been set over against them on the other. 
 The separation has taken place in consequence of this 
 sifting, of this two-fold and opposite attraction, and out of 
 the decomposition of the constituent elements of the oM 
 Synod, two rival churches are now brought, not only 
 into the same sphere of action, but are so bound up and 
 incorporated, that in the conflict which must Ci..3ue, in 
 the emulous contention of antagonistic elements, so near 
 and so intimate, the most vigorous and universal activity 
 cannot fail to be communicated to the whole and to every 
 part, extending from the centre to the circumference, 
 
I 
 
 28 
 
 irom the heart to the extremities. Whatever may be the 
 partial and transient evils of the recent disorganization of 
 our ecclesiastical body, they will be much more than 
 compensated by the ultimate g«>od, which must result 
 from drawing forth all the powers and energies of both, 
 giving them their highest tone and their perfect work. 
 Both in their parochial and missionary operations the one 
 church will give a most powerful impulse to the other, 
 and so long as both are rivals in the field, will that im- 
 pu^^'e be sustained and perpetuated. The new church 
 will derive an immense accession of freedom and power 
 from her new organization, and from the connections 
 which »he will be enabled to form with all the other 
 evangelical denominations, within and without the colo- 
 ny. This will tend to correct that narrow, selfish, secta- 
 rian spirit which has been the great bane and reproach of 
 the Christian world since the Reformation. By producing 
 a Catholic spirit, and a comprehensive charity, it will 
 serve to promote the great interests of our common 
 Christianity. Evangelical union and missionary enter- 
 prise seem to be the great ends for which we are sum- 
 moned in this our day, as it were by the call of Provi- 
 dence to strive together, and the great antagonist of this 
 cause, the cause of God and of his church,is the spirit of 
 sect. This lies as a rottenness in the hones of the church, 
 it is a poison infecting the body of Christ, as His church 
 is denominated in Scripture, dissolving the vital union, 
 and disturbing the harmonious action and co-operative 
 sympathy of the parts. Another happy result of the 
 recent revolution is that we have formed an independent 
 Colonial church, Catholic in its name and in its design, 
 as I trust it will prove, in its spirit and action, repre- 
 ijenting not one race or nation, not one form or modifi- 
 cation of Presbyterianism, but embracing all its section* 
 
 rea( 
 
 and 
 
 cou 
 
 and 
 
 wor 
 
 and 
 
 strei 
 
 h 
 
29 
 
 be the 
 ion of 
 than 
 result 
 fbolh, 
 work, 
 he one 
 other, 
 lat im- 
 church 
 power 
 lections 
 le other 
 le colo- 
 , secta- 
 •oach of 
 oducing 
 , it will 
 jommon 
 y enter- 
 re sum- 
 >f Provi- 
 t of this 
 spirit of 
 church, 
 s church 
 xl union, 
 operative 
 It of the 
 ependent 
 ts design, 
 >n, repre- 
 3r modifi- 
 ,8 section* 
 
 I 
 
 and varieties, and opening a common and equal home in 
 her ample bo!?om, in which all will meet on equal terms, 
 all will be one, Scotch, Irish, Englinh, Americans, Swiss. 
 German, Dutch, French. So long as we retained ev^cn 
 a nominal connection exclusively with one sect of 
 Presbyterians, the Church of Scotland, a wall of partition 
 was fell to be interposed between us and other denomi- 
 nations, we thereby shut ourselves out, in some degree, 
 from the equal confidence and communion of other 
 sections of the same church, and this single impediment 
 proved of no small prejudice to the usefulness of the 
 ministry, and to the growth and prosperity of the church. 
 The disruption in separating those who had no real vit;jl 
 unity, no heart sympathy, will bring together and urite 
 those who are one in spirit and principle. Thc.e is 
 every prospect of an immediate enlargement and exten- 
 sion of this branch of the church, by the accession of 
 many ministers and congregations, differing from us ii. 
 nothing save name and designation. She is thus, in a 
 a favourable position to become what her name implies, 
 the church not of a part, bat of the whole Presbyterian 
 population of this country. And while she is called in 
 the Providence of God to go in and possess the v^hole 
 land, so' far as her mission extends, like the Free Church 
 of Scotland she has cast olf all the trammels which em- 
 barrassed and hindered her freedom and progress — and i<i 
 ready to adopt that organization, ami to take that crurse 
 and method of action, which the circumstances of the 
 country, and the varying exigencies of time and place, 
 and successive changes in the political and religious 
 world may demand. By the necessity of this bold, free 
 and adventurous action she will acquire cournge, skill, 
 strength and confidence. 
 
 It would be easy to enlarge on this intcreatinu: sub- 
 
■ .( 
 
 30 
 
 i| 
 
 ject, of the results propitious to the interests of the 
 church, and of religion generally, whicli may be expect- 
 ed as the ultimate fruit of the disruption — but having 
 been obliged to trespass already so long upon your time 
 and patience I sliall conclude tiiis general viev of 
 the question with the fervent prayer that Almighty 
 God of his infinite mercy, may so overrule the present 
 unhappy di>tractions, that they may finally issue in the 
 advancement of his own glory and of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom. Amen. 
 
 Having now discussed the question in its general views 
 and bearing^?, as it respects the whole chiu'ch, I proceed 
 next to consider the case of this particular congregation. 
 How will St. Gabriel Street Church be alTected by what 
 has come to pass at the late Session of the Synod ] If it 
 be the fact, as I have stated, that no change has been 
 wrought in the Constitution of the Colonial Presbyterian 
 Church, or in the Civil and Ecclesiastical relations, then 
 it follows that all things still are as they were. If it bo 
 objected that I, the Minister of the congregation, have 
 made myself a party to the forming of a new Synod, and — 
 separating myself from the old connection — have entered 
 into a new one, my reply is, that in so doing, I have noit 
 gone beyond the just limits of my freedom and power, as 
 a minister of the Church, or as a subject of the Civil 
 Government. I have transgressed no law civil or ecclesi- 
 astical. For let me advise you all, that the Title Deed 
 of the Churchy the rides and regulations framed by the 
 proprietors for its government in its temporal concerns, 
 and more especially in the election of its pastors, and mi/ 
 ordination voivs, are all that I know, as describing and 
 determining my duties and obligations, and the conditions 
 
 u 
 
31 
 
 the 
 lect- 
 ving 
 time 
 v of 
 ighty 
 esent 
 n the 
 mer's 
 
 views 
 
 roceed 
 
 gation. 
 
 J what 
 
 1 Kit 
 
 xs been 
 
 )ytcrian 
 
 IS. then 
 
 If it be 
 
 n, have 
 5 and — 
 entered 
 
 lave not 
 lower, aa 
 he Civil 
 •recclesi- 
 \itle Deed 
 1 by the 
 concerns, 
 , and my 
 :ibing and 
 conditions 
 
 on whicli I hold my rights and emohmients, my status 
 and oflice- as pastor of St. Gabriel Street Church. 
 
 There is nothing in any — or all of these put together — - 
 which prescribes to me any rule or condition, linii'ing 
 my perfect liberty of will or action in regard to forming 
 or dissolving, renewing or renouncing such connections* 
 I am under no obligation in any wise to connect myself, 
 as your minister, with any church or Ecclesiastical Court 
 in or out of the colony. Neither am I hindered so to do, 
 if I please. There is nothing in the bond between us to 
 put any restraint on your perfect freedom, or mine, in 
 regard to such connection. I was for more than twelve 
 years a minister of St. Gabriel Street Church, when it 
 was much more upon the footing of an Independent or 
 Congregational, than of a Presbyterian Church. During 
 all tliis time we had no connection whatever with any 
 other Ecclesiastical body save what in the looseness 
 of common speech is called such, namely a friendly 
 and free-will interchange of counsel, sympathy and 
 succour, all which we received from the Church of our 
 Fathers, and especially from that section of it which is 
 now dis-established. But this, as I have said, is a 
 connection like that of a father v^rith his son, who is 
 come of age. It touches not the independence and 
 free will, and free action of the latter, as defined by 
 tliQ civil law. This distinction it is extremely necessary 
 to bear in mind, as ignorance or inadvertency in this 
 point has, I fear, given rise to much mis-apprehension 
 and blundering, both in and out of the Synod, and a due 
 attention to i;, may prove of some efficacy to preservG 
 peace and unity. 
 
 That this church was not in connection, or even in 
 communion with the Established Church of Scotland 
 
32 
 
 Ix'fore I hocamo one of it^ pastors, i.-> doinoiistrated by tlio 
 fad, that ihen, for the first time^ an applii-ation was made, 
 by the roriolution of a g.Mieral ineeliiig of the proprietors, 
 to have such connection recognized })y tlie Parent Cliurcli. 
 To secure, if possible, tlie success of tliis aj)plication, I 
 went up, after my ordination liy t!ie Presliytery of Aber- 
 deen, to the meeting of the General Assembly in 1817. 
 Tli3 apj)ncation give rise to a short discuivsion, in which, I 
 reinember well, tlielate Rev. Sir IIoiht IMoncreilf, witli his 
 cliaracteristic penetration and sagacity, put sonic questions 
 to tiio.^e ^\\\•^ supported the petition, and finding that the 
 late Mr. Som.n'ville, my pred.?f'essoi', was a Licentiate of 
 the R.jlief Church, lie declared his opinion, in which 
 the Assembly appeared to acq-fesce, tliat t!io Church 
 could scarcely be received into coniiuun'on, much less 
 into connection, so that it was ralh^' a stretch of their 
 authority, and an act of courte.-y an! i.idu'gence, on the 
 pait of the Assembly, when they passed a declaration, of 
 which I myself was the bearer to Canada, that St. Gabriel 
 Street Church, having now a regularly ordained minister 
 of the Establishment, would be held to be /«/)<// cow - 
 mnnion with the Mother Church. They are ([uite mis- 
 taken, therefore, as can easily be proved by reference to 
 the Title Deed and Rules o^ i\\2 Church — who contend 
 that the Minister is required to be in connection, or even 
 in communion with the Church of Scotland. — We have, 
 more than negativ^e proof of this — the positive fact of the 
 failure of the application in 1817, and nothing has taken 
 place since that date to alter in any way our position. 
 Looking to the 7th Rule, which describes and determines 
 the qualifications of those who are eligible Xoihe pastoral 
 cure^ according to the present laws, or "-^til they are 
 amended or repealed by the proprietors ut a general 
 
 *M 
 
33 
 
 riel 
 
 meeting ; it is evident that a minister of the Church 
 of Scotland, or even in communion with it, is not desig- 
 nated in this regulation. This will be manifest from the 
 following extract, including the 1st 6th and 7th Regula- 
 tions : — 
 
 1. Every person having purchased a Pew or Pews in the said 
 Church, and paid for the same, and who sliall produce a deed 
 deemed sufficient by the Committee of the Church, is a Proprietor, 
 and shall be qualified to vote for and be chosen a Member of tho 
 Committee, or appointed to any other office relative to the direction 
 or government of the Church. 
 
 6. In case of a vacancy in the Church by the death of a Minister 
 or otherwise, in the election of a person to supply tlic said vacancy, 
 the Proprietors shall vote in conformity to the regulations spcafied 
 in the fifth article. 
 
 7. To prevent anything like mistake respecting the electing of a 
 Minister, it is hereby provided ^'nd always to be understood, that 
 no Proprietor, as is pointed out in the fifth article, upon any pre- 
 tence whatever, shall give his vote to any person, but to one who 
 shall have been regularly bred to the Ministry, and who shall have 
 been licensed by some regular Presbytery in the British Dominions, 
 he pfoduciog credentials to ascertain the same, and who shall pro. 
 fess to be of the persuasion, and who shall adhere to the laws, 
 government, and mode of worship of the EstaMi»hed Church of 
 Scotland, properly so called and denominated and known to bo 
 euch, and also a natural born subject of His Majesty. 
 
 Here it is stated as a condition, a qualification of the 
 candidate or nominee, that he must be regularly bred to 
 the ministry^ a clause altogether superfluous and absurd, 
 as you well know, had it been the mind of the framers to 
 shut out from the pulpit, all but licentiates of the Estab- 
 lished Church. But the next clause puts this altogether 
 beyond doubt, for it expressly states that he shall be 
 licensed by some regular Presbytery in the British 
 dominions^ and be a natural born subject of the British 
 Crown, so that any probationer of any Presbyterian 
 Church, not being an alien, and having received license 
 from some regular Presbytery in the British dominions ia 
 eligible to fill the pulpit of St. Gabriel Street Church. Ho 
 may be of the Relief, as was the late Mr. Somerville, or 
 
34 
 
 l! 
 
 .If 
 
 ho may be a Burgher or Anti-burglier, or of the Synod of 
 Ulster, or in communion with any section of the Presby- 
 terian Church, not only in the British Em[)ire, but 
 throughout Christendom, provided only that he be a 
 British born subject, and licensed by son? regular Pres- 
 bytery in the British dominions. 
 
 . The description, in this regulation, of the qualifications 
 and conditions required to constitute the eligibility of a can- 
 didate or nominee for the pastoral charge of St. Gabriel 
 Street Church, would indeed be strange, unaccountable, 
 yea ridiculous, had the object been to exclude all, who 
 were not licensed by the Established Church of Scotland, 
 and such only are capable by the Ecclesiastical law, as 
 it then was, or as it now is, to be received i'lto connec- 
 tion of even into communion with her ; but it becomes 
 perfectly intelligible and reasonable, if you bear in mind, 
 that, in those days, there was scarcely a possibility of 
 obtaining a minister of the Establishment, and they thought 
 tiiemselves happy, when, as on occasion of the framing 
 of this law, they could obtain the services of any Presby- 
 terian clergyman, producing sufficient testimonials of 
 character, education, and loyalty to the British Crown. 
 
 There is all manner of evidence, notonl} direct and posi- 
 tive, but also circumstantial and presumptive, that this is the 
 true interpretation of the Rule, for it was framed to obvl- 
 rAQ the difficulties in which this church was then involved. 
 At the time when the late incumbent, Mr. Somerville, waa 
 a candidate for the vacant pulpit there were two can- 
 didates, and, as usual, two pailics in the congregation. 
 Mr. Somerville's rival was a Mr, FoiTest, who had come 
 in from the United States, and was not, therefore, a 
 British Presbyterian, or a natural born subject of the 
 Brit'-sh Crown. This will Bet tlie design and meaning of 
 
35 
 
 )wn. 
 
 e» 
 
 
 the regulation in the clearest light, and unfold at onr€ tho 
 reason and tlic extent of the restrictions and conditions 
 therein specified. 
 
 It is, therefoi-e, indultituhly ascertained hy tliesc facta 
 and circunirstances, that all that is required by the rule 
 is that the minister adhere to the same E( cletisiastical 
 law and order, which are recognized by the Established 
 Church of Scotland, and by which criterion she is con- 
 tradistinguished from all the numerous and diversified 
 forms and modes of Presbyterianism in tlin Parent 
 Land, in the colonies, or on the Continent of Eurojx; 
 or America. This is equally the standard of the Free 
 Protesting Church of Scotland ; and were St. Gabriel 
 Street Church and her minister to become connected 
 with that body, it would be no departure from the consti- 
 tution on which I am commenting. So long as the minis- 
 ters of the Free Church adhere to their ordination vows, 
 they fulfil and answer to all the conditions and cjualifi- 
 cations rightly understood of the seventh Rule, so that had 
 I, as many erroneou.^ly conceived, entered into connexion 
 with the Free Church, it would not have invalidated, 
 or at all affected my rights as pastor of this church. It 
 is very important here to understand and bear in mind the 
 undoubted fact that the difference between the Estab- 
 lished and the Free Church is a difference, not in faith 
 or principle, but in practice ; not in regard to the 
 standards Theological or Ecclesiastical, but in regard to 
 a law of the Civil or Municipal code of Scotland, 
 and its intej)retati()n and application, as it affects the 
 constitution and polity of the Church. The law of 
 Patronage is not an ecclesiastical law, on the other hand, 
 the Established Church has again and again condemned 
 and protested against it, as an infringement of her 
 spiritual independence, and of her constitutional rights 
 
36 
 
 and libortif.sas they have been guaranteed by the Union, 
 and as a palpable and violent encroachment and 
 tisurpation of the Civil power upon the Ecclesiastical* 
 Now the law and governircnt referred to in the 
 Seventh Regulation, can, it is manifest, be no other 
 than the law of the Church, the Ecclesiastical law. 
 Any other view is quite absurd, and untenable. Nay, 
 the law of Patronage, and indeed all the laws which 
 have created the disruption in Scotland, have not, 
 and cannot have any application to the Church of 
 Canada, which is not connected with the State in 
 any wise, and has obtained r»o legal establishment. 
 All this trouble, therefore, and confusion of ideas 
 have grown out of sheer ignorance and blundering; 
 have been occasioned by the absurd transference to 
 Canada of a Civil law (i. e. the Scottish Law of Patron- 
 age) which could not by possibility have any appli- 
 ea'ion. 
 
 Whatever may be the difTcrence between the Free 
 and Established Churches in Scotland, they utterly 
 vanish in Canada. As an independant church, con- 
 nected ecclesiastically neither with the Established nor 
 with the Free, we hold tlie same standards of faith, 
 worship and government with botii ; but we are not called 
 to look to their interpretation, much less to adopt or ap- 
 prove of their practice, or that of any other Presby- 
 terian Church. We interpret and apply the law for 
 ourselves, according to our own judgment and conscience, 
 and are accountable to no tribunal or judicatory on earth 
 for our interpretation or practice. It is easy to conceive 
 that two countries like England and the United States, 
 may adopt one and the same code of civil jurisprudence, 
 a3 most nations of Europe have adopted the Roman 
 law. But these nations interpret and apply the law for 
 
87 
 
 themselves ; an<5, as we all know, the interpretation and 
 the practical administration of the law vary, with the 
 various courts and judges whicli are authorised to inter- 
 pret and dispense it. 
 
 Again the rule in question has reference to the law of 
 the Church of Scotland,as it stood,at the date of the meet- 
 ing, when it was passed,before the present unhappy differ- 
 ences had arisen. It does not by any means follow, 
 according to my understanding of the rule, that we are 
 thereby obliged to go along with all the subsequent 
 changes of the law, or as it may be, with all the errors, 
 defections, and corruptions which, in progress of time, 
 may grow up and prevail in the Established Church ; 
 for then our constitution would impose upon us things 
 that are self-contradictory, impossible to be done, which 
 18 absurd. The obligation of an independant church 
 to obey the same law, to conform to the same stand- 
 ards, does not involve any necessity to imitate the prac- 
 tice, right or wrong, or to adopt the var}Mng inter- 
 pretations of the law and standards, as understood 
 by any other church. Were the Church of Scotland 
 to become Socinian, Prelatic, Popish, should we be 
 bound constitutionally and legally, as in such a case, it 
 must be, to receive at her mouth a law contradictory to 
 that which w^as originally meant and intended. I humbly 
 conceive we should not. And if we are not obliged to 
 follow her in such extreme changes, by what consistent 
 plea or principle of reasoning can it be made out, that we 
 are not at perfect liberty, to protest against her Erastian- 
 ism, Arminianism, or Puseyism, should she become 
 infected with any of these heresies? 
 
 It is quite certain that St. Gabriel Street Church 
 it not in connection with the Established Church ofScot- 
 Ittikd. We are, therefore, the interpreters andadminifl- 
 
3 
 
 !Si 
 
 38 
 
 tralors of the ecclesiastical law and constitution which 
 we have chosen for ourselves. There is no appeal but 
 to the Civil Courts of the country, and — until it is 
 proved before them, that we have by some overt act, 
 renounced in principle, or transgressed in practice, our 
 
 constitution, as defined by our rules and regulations we 
 
 cannot, I am persuaded, be deprived of any Civil right 
 or temporality which we possess on the condition of 
 adherence to the laws of the Church of Scotland. In 
 like manner, until it is proved that the ministers who have 
 seceded from the Synod of Canada in connection with 
 the Churcli of Scotland, have been in error in asserting 
 their belief of the independence of the Colonial Church, 
 they cannot be condemned, or adjudged to have forfeited 
 any rights or property whatever. This is just the cause 
 to be tried, and a fair trial must precede a righteous 
 decision. 
 
 If we are, and all along have been, as we believe, in- 
 dependent, civilly and ecclesiastically, our declaration 
 of that independence can infer no offence, involve no 
 change, no consequences good or bad. 
 
 If in any wise we have made ourselves obnoxious to 
 the displeasure of the Established Church, it must assur- 
 edlybeintheunanimousresolutionsofl841 and 1842, and 
 the all but unanimous resolutions of 1843, in which her 
 proceedings and practice have been solemnly and most 
 decisively condemned, and which still stand upon our 
 put)lished minutes uncancelled and unrevoked. These 
 are the original and only source and cause of all the 
 offence and trouble, But this original sin lies as heavy 
 upon the heads of those, from whom we have separated 
 as on ours, and it does not yet appear that they have 
 expiated the offence by any shew of penitence, or by any 
 ct^ei^ of apology. On the other hand it is understood 
 
39 
 
 which 
 jal but 
 1 it is 
 ert act, 
 ce, our 
 IS — we 
 il right 
 tion of 
 id. In 
 10 have 
 >n with 
 sserting 
 yhurch, 
 brfeited 
 e cause 
 ghteous 
 
 1 
 ve, in- 
 
 aration 
 
 )lve no 
 
 iou9 to 
 assur- 
 42, and 
 ch her 
 d most 
 on our 
 These 
 all the 
 ; heavy 
 )arated 
 [y have 
 by any 
 lerstood 
 
 i 
 
 that it was proposed after the disruption, in the Synod 
 of adhesionists, to write a letter of rebuke, or remon- 
 strance, to the Parent Church, anent her defections and 
 backslidings. Now thismode of dealing with her,vvhile 
 it certainly does honour, in some degree to the sincerity 
 and consistency of principle in those who advocate it, 
 seems to me far more ungraceful and ungracious, while 
 it is far less unambiguous and decisive thanthat which 
 we have embraced, namely : — a simple declaration of 
 independence. 
 
 I have entered at greater length than may appear 
 reasonable upon the case of St. Gabriel Street Church, 
 because, though to any competent judge, nothmg can be 
 clearer or more simple, it is very generally misunder- 
 stood or misrepresented, partly in consequence of the 
 lieat and excitement, and still more from the total un- 
 icquaintance with ecclesiastical matters under which 
 the parties labour. I feel not the least shadow of a 
 doubt, far less of fear, as to my right to be still the pas- 
 tor thereof. In expounding my views so much at 
 length, I have been actuated by an earnest desire 
 to promote the peace and unity of the congregation, 
 by setting right all those who are honest and un- 
 prejudiced, and to do justice to myself, und still more to 
 a righteous cause, which needs no other defence than a 
 fair and full exposition of the facts and principles. I 
 solemnly declare that I, for my part, would desire no 
 more than a jury of twelve sensible and honest men to be 
 the judges lii this cause, and would with the utmost con- 
 fidence of a triumphant issue commit the final decision of 
 it to their judgment and conscience. I have no doubt 
 that time, by gradually allaying passion, and giving the 
 light of truth free entrance into the minds of men, will 
 goon bring out a unanimous and unqualified verdict of 
 
40 
 
 public opinion in our favour. Till this not far distant 
 day, I shall wait with patient hope, having a good con- 
 science, and a full persuasion that truth and right are on 
 our side. 
 
 P 
 
 l 
 
 || ) 
 
jtant 
 con- 
 e on 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I, 
 
 Since I wrote this address I have been much pleaded 
 t'j find my views expounded and enforced with hi« 
 characteristic eloquence, and power of reasoning by the 
 Rev. Alexander Duff, D. D in the following extracts, 
 which I have copied from the Edinburgh Witness of 
 6th July last, from his " Explanatory statement to the 
 friends of the Indian Mission of, the Church of Scot- 
 land, as it existed previous to the Disruption in 
 May 184.3." 
 
 The Editor introduces the Extracts from this publi- 
 cation with the following remarks : — 
 
 Dr. Duff, displays an acquaintance with the leadinor featurtsof 
 the controvcjj'j m\ accurate, a judtfemont so cnlijrhtcncd, and a 
 spirit so evidently candid and f'nir, as must vory throughiy expose 
 the futility and hollowncss of the attempts made to explain the 
 conduct of our missionaries in so unanimously abandonm^r the 
 Establishment, on the jjround of ignorance, or prejudice, or dis- 
 tance from the scene of conflict. Dr DutF made no formal avowftl 
 or communication of his sentiments on the question till after the 
 disruption. He states th at, " not regarding himself as the mission, 
 ary agent of tho Moderate soclioi, or the missionary agent of the 
 Evangelical section of the Church, but the i.iissionary agent of thr 
 yet undivided, and, as regarded him, the unanimous Church of 
 Scotland, he would have felt it to be incongruous and incompati- 
 ble on his part, by any overt act whatsoever, publicly or officially 
 to identify himself either with the Moderate or Evangelical sec- 
 tion as such." But when necessitated by the disruption to make 
 his choice between the two bodies, he did so without the slightest 
 hesitancy. He says : — 
 
 •♦ Was there any hesitation when the hour of trial came ? No 
 whatsoever. So far as concerned my own mind, the simple truth 
 is, that as regards the great principles contended for by thf 
 Jriends and champions of the Free Church, I never was ivouhled 
 with the crossing of a doubt, or the shadow of a suspicion. la 
 
 D* 
 
i 
 
 fi! 
 
 42 
 
 oarliest youlli these principles were imbibed from the ' Clond of 
 Witness,' and other kindred works. And time and mature reflec- 
 tion, wholly undisturbed by the heats and collisions of party war- 
 fare, only tended to strengthen my conviction of their scriptural 
 character, and to rivet the persuasion of their paramount impor- 
 tance to the spiritual interests of man." 
 
 And again : — 
 
 " Doubtless, had I yielded to those allurinjgr worldly temptations', 
 which were chiefly on one side ; or had I allowed carnal consi- 
 derations of any kind to prevail against the sense of duty, and the 
 clear dictates of conscience, there were many plausible, ready- 
 made, pretexts on which I might fall back, — many open-gatcd 
 refuges into which I might retire, in order to palliate my tergiver- 
 sation, screen my inconsistency from public view, conceal from 
 other;*, and perhaps from myself, the secret actuating motives, and 
 operate as a soporific on the troublesome mementoes of the inward 
 monitor. But however convenient such a course might be for a 
 season, — however soothing and flattering to the cravings of tho 
 natural man, how could it elude tiic piercing scrutiny of the all- 
 seeing eye, or stand in arrest of judgment at the bar of the Great 
 Assize ?" 
 
 The following pointed passage I recommend to those 
 
 among our adhesionist brefciiren whoseem to think that 
 
 connexion with the Established Church docs not involve 
 
 the guilt of conformity and compromise of piincipie. 
 
 It seems as if the passage had been written >vith the 
 
 express intention of being ap/piied to the case, and to the 
 
 consciences of the<c brethren. 
 
 Onci of the j.'^rourids, it •T'ly bo remembered, on which the 
 Rysiduary (jominitieo endeavoured to convmce them that they 
 ought to remain in connection with tho Establishment was, that 
 tlic'ir post being a peculiar one — one in which they were not prac- 
 tically called on to engage in perpetrating acts of intrusion, or in 
 submitting to decrees and decisions of the Civil Courts in spiritual 
 matters, their consciences could not bo violated in remaining. 
 On this Dr Duff remarks : — 
 
 •' What is this but a wretched evasion, worthy of being forged 
 in the mint of self-interest or carnal expediency. Not practically 
 implicated in such acts of perpetration and submisiuon ! What of 
 that, — if, as corporate members we are and must bo potentially 
 implicated,— is it not morally the same thing ? Take an extreme 
 case, merely for the sake of illustration. In India there is a ter. 
 rible association of professional murderers called Thugs, afliliated 
 by the religious and social relations which constitute the atrocious 
 syfltem of Thuggee. Now, suppose a conscience-smitten Thug to 
 doolare that he now utterly recoils from the principles and tho 
 
 *'• 
 
 -.i 
 
43 
 
 .1 
 
 4i 
 
 *t 
 
 practices of the fraternity, of which he \s?i. sworn constituent mrm- 
 bcr, and that he must consequently sever his connection Ihercwilli. 
 Suppose hia associates, unwillinor that h<^ should forsake them, to 
 reply, 'Very fjood ; do you continue to retain your own individual 
 convictions ; we sliall not disturb you in the maintciance of them ; 
 only remain silent ; slay where you are ; still adhere to us ; and 
 we shall assiijn you a special post, mnectcd with a department in 
 our scheme of operation:^, in whie.. you shall not be nctually call- 
 ed on to cngajTo in pcrjietratinff acts of Thuf^gee.' Now, supposo 
 the reclaiming Thujr quietly to consent to such au arrannrcmcnl, 
 would he not be regarded by all men as virtually and construc- 
 tively a partaker of the crimes of his felonious confederates, and 
 morally a partaker of their guilt,as much as if actually engaged in 
 their deeds of blood ? The application is ohvious. A peculiar 
 post may be assigned to us in a heathen land, in which we are not 
 directly summoned to commit Erastian acts ; but hy remaining 
 corporate members of a '^' dy that has hceome Erastian to the very 
 Cure, would we not be vh-tually and constructively partakers of 
 their Erastianism, and morally partakers of their guilt, as niiieh 
 as if actually engaged along with them in directly perpetraLin;; 
 Erastian deeds ? 
 
 Nor is the application Ics'S ohvious or st''i''''^'i» ^^ ^'^^ 
 foliowng passing: ; — 
 
 " t^,'v..u nas ht'on adJuecd m\v sihTice to open up a t!;linipsc of 
 the pi"Cfti;,arncnt In which rouformity would p!ue«:' ui^, in relation 
 to tho Church at li >inc, to the heaLhcn arou'.id us, and to our own 
 con-'cicneea. Strongly uK-antaining Free Church principles, as 
 a!o:v^ consistent with the tenor of Scripture, and the original con- 
 Btituuon and standards of the Church of Scotland, wc must either 
 proclaim these or be silent. If we proclaim them, might not tho 
 Church at home justly charge us with treachery and unfaithfnl- 
 ncss towards her ; might not the heathen upbraid us on account 
 of the dishonour and dishonesty of the proceduic; and would 
 not our own consciences be sure to second and envenom the united 
 Bcntence of disapprohation, and would not the frown of heaven 
 rest upon us, in our career of inconsistency ? If, on the other hand 
 wc remained silent, would not conscience secretly sting us, would 
 not the heathen penetrate through our mercenary selfishness, would 
 not the Church at home be additionally discredited, by supporting 
 a set of dumb hirelings that bartered away their own convictiona 
 of truth and duty for a morsel of broad, and would not the God 
 of heaven effectually mark His displeasure.through the rebukes of 
 His providence, the blighting of our hopes, and the Icunnciia and 
 barrenness of our labours ? " , 
 
 I give also the following extract from the last Report of 
 the General Assembly of the Established Church of Scot- 
 
44 
 
 land, for promoting the ReIigiou3 Inlsroitsof the Scottish 
 Presbyterians in the British Colonies. 
 
 •* Unabli^, from clrcuin^tannps, to r ly t'lc Colonics with ad- 
 ditional ministcra, tlio C'ornuiitlec havL: not only fulfilled to exist- 
 \ng ministers tiia hv^'avy cutra^rcm'.'nla tlioy iiid formerly com'o 
 under to them, Imt, havi; nurlc various f»ranis of from X2J toX'50 
 each, to des rvin;:^ and laborious pastor?, chioily in the North Am- 
 erican Colonics, who were in iicccssitoas cli"cumstances, and whose 
 fl:)cks, som^of thorn atanv period, an J ;)tliors I'rom the recent jh'cs. 
 fiurc of the tijn.js. arc unable fully, or at ail, to provide for their 
 comfort. Tin se ;rranl3 have been confined toth sj ministers who 
 have declar ;(1 Jh-nr firm pnrpisj of main^aininir tljcir connection 
 with tiie parent Church, and have boca ino:st thankfully received 
 by tii-'^m, and tho Conunittce ar.j d;.'vis:ii'.;- more liberal things in 
 tiicir behalf. 
 
 The Gen'ral A.wS.'mbly could not have failed lo anticipate t'lat 
 the divisions, which have rtcenlly rent t!io C/hurc!i at homo, 
 wnuld ni')re or les.s extend to the Colonial Churches, and the an- 
 ticipation h;..s been reilizcd. Tin s^n:; i,«i of discord and division 
 have been induptiioiifi'y sown thi re, .'ind l!;:;ir hilt rr fruits are now 
 fioMi,:^ jr.-.n_ncd. The Committee have us -d every lej^itimatc means 
 in their power i^ -•"•••.MMct the uiilnenee ( iaj.'ljyed to mduco 
 ministers and people to forsaXe t?.- ^^.iiareh of their fathers, and 
 tliey arc thankful lo say, with a Iar.;e i.....-....^ f^f gijccess 
 insomuch that the ^rcat bodj'-, bv)ih of the ministers and 
 their flo.dts, arc, tliey are jjersuaded, ])repared to adiicre to the 
 Establishment. Not a fc.v, however, they have reason to believe 
 arc prcparinjr to renounce tlieir connection wiiii it, especially in 
 the North American C donics. An cxtraordiuarv mcetin'/ of tho 
 Synod of Canada is to be held tins ni ont'i, at which a division ia 
 likely to take place. Tliis is, in many views, to bo lamented, bul 
 the Commiltee wait the issue with perfect calmness. They regret 
 that the aftections and the confidence of any shoiild have been 
 alienated fram the ELitablished Church, but it is well that such if, 
 any there be, should leave her pale. They have shunned even 
 tiie appearance of bribing any to remain, but they will not fail to 
 support and encourage all whj on principle do so, and to them 
 tliey must of ncces'-^ity confine that support and encouragement, 
 Crom the very terms of trust committed to them. 
 
 There are several topics here referred to, which it is 
 impossible to pass over without the severest animadver- 
 Blon, and indeed without real astonishment at the cool- 
 ness and seeming self complacency with which Dr. 
 MacFarlane and Dr. Grant, who subscribe the Report, 
 havo introduced matter too perilous, one would havo 
 
 .1 
 
 T 
 
<s» 
 
 
 46 
 
 thought, for their handd to touch, which they should 
 have been the last men to have stirred. These are the 
 identical writers of the circular letter which was addres- 
 sed, not to the Moderator of the Synod, as that of Dr. 
 Welsh on behalf of the Free Church, but to our Minis- 
 ters individually, holding forth the inducement of sala- 
 ries to such as would give the pledge of bona fide ad- 
 herence to the establishment. Let it be borne in mind 
 that this was done with the full knowledge and certainty 
 of the unanimous expression of the mind of our Synod, 
 Bnd,thereby,if any regard is to be had to Presbyterial or- 
 der, of the whole Canadian Church, in reference to the 
 questions that had caused the Disruption of the Parent 
 Church. The Report states " that they have shunned 
 even the appearance o^ bribing any to remain — but they 
 will not fail to support and encourage all who in princi- 
 ciple do so" and it is added very significantly " to those 
 they must of necessity confine that support and encou- 
 ragement from the very terms of the trust committed to 
 them !" I would just ask, was it or was it not, tamper- 
 ing with principle and integrity when such a circular 
 was addressed to men, known very well by the writers 
 to be solemnly pledged by their own spontaneous act, 
 long before the disruption of the Parent Church to the 
 cause of the Free Church? Was it or was it not an act, 
 bearing the strongest likeness of bribery and corruption, 
 when very needy Ministers in the backwoods of Canada 
 were honoured with a letter, containing such an alluring 
 promise, with a condition of which, if the fulfilment had 
 only been as innocent and honorable, as it was easy, 
 would have left all the credit of a pious and generous 
 and well applied liberality to the Established Church t 
 As it is we hesitate not to brand this deed, as most cri- 
 
46 
 
 tninal in its character and most mischievous in its effect**. 
 It has been the source of all the evil that has since be- 
 fallen the Churches In British North America. This is 
 the apple of discord thrown into the midst of a united 
 Church by paternal hands ! And from the ill-omened 
 hour when this circular was brought to our shores, the 
 work of disruption began and advanced with rapid strides, 
 until it has been consummated in Canada and Nova- 
 Scotia. It is a fact, unquestionable, that not one shilling 
 of money has been received, or, so far as I know, pro- 
 mised on the part of the Free Church to any of our Min- 
 isters. Indeed it is only very recently that there was 
 any considerable fund at her disposal for the benefit of the 
 Colonial Churches. 
 
 The Report states that " The seeds of discord and di- 
 vision have been industriousry sown there and their 
 bitter fruits are now being reaped." And by whom havo 
 they been sown if not by the authors of the circular let- 
 ter? It is impossible to fasten even the shadow of suspi- 
 cion on the colonial agents or official correspondents of 
 the Free Church, whose letters hold out no promise of sala- 
 ries, nothing but a general assurance of aid and patronage. 
 Indeed most of their letters are anything but flattering 
 or complimentary to the Colonial Clergy. They are re- 
 markable for plain-dealing and speak the language of a/J- 
 monition and rebuke. I wish that those who are always 
 liberal in vague and general accusations against the vio- 
 lence and uncharitableness of the Free Church would 
 look a little more into the facts and proceedings of the two 
 parties. It would soon sing the requiem of their reckless 
 and ill advised objurgations against the unoffending and 
 point their erring shafts at the really guilty heads. Tho 
 following extract from the same Report is extremely val- 
 
 m 
 
41 
 
 1 
 
 < i^ 
 
 i^ 
 
 "v 
 
 Tiable and has just come in good season to set the most 
 authentic and surest of all seals to the wisdom of those 
 who have contended for the Independence of our Colo- 
 nial Church, and have resolved to achieve it at any price. 
 There is no unambiguous intimation hce, no uncertain 
 sound, in the warning or almost t/ireat held out, that tha 
 connexion with the Parent Church shall no longer be suf- 
 fered to be purely nominal. Let the Canadian Church 
 once bow her nock to the yoke, now for the first timo 
 Bought to be imposed upon lier, let her suffer herself to 
 be saddled, bridled, and mounted, she will soon prove to 
 her cost, like the steed in the Fable of Esop, that the 
 rider will laugh to scorn all her claims of liberty, and will 
 mock at all her remonstrances. 
 
 The most wise and liberal measure that was ever brought 
 before the Legislature of Canada, namely the Reformation 
 of our Universities, which together with the Temporalities 
 Bill were pet measures of the adhesionist party, are here 
 coupled together, and both mo.4 pitilessly condemned and 
 anathmatised as Rebellion and insult to the Maje ty of 
 the Paramount Church ! 
 
 An effort, it is nndorsfood, is to be made, or rather is now bcinv 
 m;idc, in the Colonial Lcjjislaturc of Canada, to procure the incor. 
 poration of the Presbyterian ministers — heretofore ernnectod with 
 the Scottish e&tabUshmcnt — as a separate Presbyterian Church, 
 adhering simply to Westminister standards, and to the Presbyteri- 
 an form of worship, and the vestin;^ in them of the property en- 
 dowment?, and intcrist in the Clergy Reserve's Fund, now se. 
 cured by law to the recognized branch of the Church of Scotland 
 there. Such a measure tlic Committee will, with the approbation 
 of the General Assembly, steadily resist as a gross invasion of our 
 Church Rights, and of tliosc of her faithful and adhering brethren 
 and children in that colony ; and if such an act should pass iho 
 local legislature, they contemplate qsing every means in their 
 power to have it disallowed by the Government at home. At the 
 same time, the Committee cannot recommend to the Assembly to 
 comply with the request of some of their transatlantic brethren, by 
 assuming a direct appellate jurisdiction over the Colonial Churchea. 
 The Assembly has formerly distinctly declined this, and th« Conj. 
 
48 
 
 milter nrn flntiHficd Uuit they hive done bo, on good and tufficieni 
 prounds. And thouirli tl\o n hition Ix.tsvecn tlic Parrnt and Col- 
 onial CfiurcljcH, as ri'jjards thosn m.^mhors of the l:ittrr especially 
 wfio h ivo not rt'ccivcd eitlu'r ordination or license from the parent 
 Cliurcti, rn ly be some what anomalous, tlioy conceive that tha 
 marks of a ('olonial Cliurch, in honn fide ci^mmnninn with tho 
 Scottish E!<tablislun(>nt, admit of bilnjr defined with sufficient 
 precision, and woidd not be ex!ii!)it('d by a churcli constituted, ua 
 ills proposed, llio new Presbyterian Church of Canada should bo. 
 As to the University of t^tiecn's CoUcfre, at Kinjjston, Upper 
 Canada, in t!ie estiii)!isbin''nt of wii eli tliis Church took so lively 
 an inte.rest, and incurred so heavy an expense, the C'jmmittec havo 
 little t ) rc.poit in addition to tho informati(ni communicated by 
 th<Mn to form t ,\ss(>m!)lics. Tiiey rr^ret to say, that they are 
 without any inform ition, direcly and officially conununicatcd to 
 them, durinnf fie past year. They are unwillinjr to {five expres. 
 fiion to any disc()uranrin!i;' views, tliougfh an iniprcission may be jrain- 
 in«r (Trounu in their mind, that, as re<r;irds the scale on which it 
 was established the establslimcnt of it may have teen premature, as 
 certainly its snce.ss hitlierlo has fallen short of the sanjjuincexDccta- 
 tions that were entevtair.eil. IJut they are constrained to complain, 
 that willioul (.'illier ohtaliiin<r or askiufr tiuir sanotiou, those in tha 
 imtnediate manas^ement of the institution have forrmlly proposed, 
 and endeavoured to procure an incorporation of it with the (.Tniversi- 
 ty of 'Toronto, and otlier m ''as'ures rc<^ardin<r it, to say the 'iiiast, very 
 d liiblfid in tlieir policy, and which would materially weaken if not 
 altosrither destroy, the inducnce of this Church in its manajrcment. 
 in th(! piesent state of their views and information, the Commit- 
 toe are not |)repared to recomiii ;nd any particular measure, as pro- 
 per to be adopted by the Assembly, with refi;rence to this subject; 
 but ttjey hope, that if the Asseml)iy shall renew the trust of the 
 Commitee, they will invest them with lartre and liberal powers to 
 act according; t ) circumstances, in rejjard to ihii College, and th« 
 ajlowunccs hith rto made for its support.