PRESBYTERIANS. 



i-rnN i-- /:\ n at 74,401; of families, 18,870; 

 of churches, 240; of communicants, 18,082; 

 amount of stipend* promtod, $70,801 ; amount 

 dt' .slip. 'iids paid, $i;*vH0. Total amount nf 

 fluids raised, $108,818. 



The Sijtti'd of tho Presbyterian Church of 

 the Low i- r Provinces met nt Iliilifax, N. S., 

 Juno 80th. Tho Rev. P. G. McGregor wa 

 chosen moderator. 



The basis of union agreed upon by the two 

 Presbyterian Churches of Canada, and designed 

 tn include also the two of tho Lower Provinces, 

 was accepted by a unanimous vote of the Synod. 

 The Synod mot agnin in adjourned session at 

 New Glasgow, N. S. Tho returns from the 

 pr> -liytfries showed that they had all voted in 

 favor of union and of the proposed basis. Three 

 congregations had recorded their exceptions to 

 one of the resolutions appended to the basis ; 

 but no objection had been made to tho basis 

 itself, or to the union. A resolution to take 

 whatever steps were necessary to carry out the 

 union was unanimously adopted. 



Xijnod of the Church of Scotland in the 

 Maritime Province*. This body includes about 

 forty ministers. The Synod met at Halifax, 

 N. S., May 30th. The basis proposed for the 

 union of the two Presbyterian Churches of 

 Canada with tho two of the Eastern Prov- 

 inces into one body was accepted by the vote 

 of a very largo majority of the body. 



The Synod met again in adjourned session 

 later in the year at New Glasgow, N. S. All 

 the presbyteries except that of Pictou were re- 

 ported to have voted in favor of the proposed 

 union with the other Presbyterian Churches 

 and of the offered basis ; eleven congregations 

 in the Presbytery of Pictou opposed the union 

 on the ground that they feared the statu* of 

 the ministers of the Synod might be prejudiced 

 by its adoption. A resolution in favor of the 

 union upon the proposed basis was adopted by 

 a vote of 26 affirmative to 7 negative. 



The following is the basis of union, with the 

 resolutions, as finally approved by all the par- 

 ties to the measure : 



The Presbyterian Church of Canada in connec- 

 tion with the Church of Scotland, the Canada Pres- 

 byterian Church, the Church of the Maritime Prov- 

 inces in connection with tho Church of Scotland, and 

 the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces, 

 holding tap same doctrine, government, and dis- 

 cipline, believing that it would be for the glory of 

 God and advancement of the cause of Christ that 

 they should unite, and thus form one Presbyterian 

 Church in the Dominion, independent of all other 

 Churches in its jurisdiction, and under authority of 

 Christ alone, the head of his Church, and head over 

 all things to the Church, agree to unite on the fol- 

 lowing oasis, to bo subscribed by the moderators of 

 the respective presbyteries in their name and under 

 their behalf. 



J&uis.l. The Scriptures of the Old and New 

 Testaments, being the Word of God, are the only 

 infallible rule of faith and manners. 



2. The Westminster Confession of Faith shall 

 form tho subordinate standard of this Church' the 

 larger and shorter Catechisms shall be adopted by 

 the Church, and appointed to be used for the in- 

 struction of the people, it being distinctly under- 



stood that nothing contained in the aforesaid Con- 

 fession or Catechisms regarding tin- ] . , r and duty 

 of the civil magistrate shall be I.. LI t 

 principles or views incouaUtent with full liberty of 

 conscience in matters of religion. 



8. The government and worship of this < 

 hhull be in accordance with the recognized iJiiiici- 

 plos and practice of the Presbyterian Churchc-, as 

 laid down generally in tho form of Presbyterian 

 Church Government, and in the Directory : 

 Public Worship of God. 



The aforesaid Churches further agree to the follow- 

 ing resolutions : 



Relation* to other Ckurehet.l. This Church eh r- 

 ishes Christian affection toward the whole Church 

 of God. and desires to bold fraternal intercourse 

 with it m its several branches as opportunity offer*. 



j. This Church shall, under such terms and regu- 

 lations as may from time to time be agreed on, re- 

 lini-tt r> mid probationers from other Church- 

 es, and especially from Churches holding the same 

 doctrine, government, and discipline, with itself. 



Jfodf* of Worthip. With regard to modes of 

 worship, the practice presently followed by congre- 

 gations shall be allowed, and further action . 



a therewith shall be left to the legislation of 

 tho United Church. 



Fund for }Yidowt and Orphan* of Minitten. 

 Steps shall be taken at the first meeting of the Gen- 

 eral Assembly of the United Church for the equita- 

 ble establishment and administration of an efficient 

 fund for the benefit of the widows and orphans of 

 ministers. 



Collegiate Inttitutiont. The aforesaid Churches 

 shall enter the union with the theological and liter- 

 ary institutions which they now have, and applica- 

 tion shall be made to Parliament for such legiidation 

 as shall bring Queen's University and Knox College, 

 the Presbyterian College at Montreal, Morrin Col- 

 lege, and the Theological Hall at Halifax, into rela- 

 tions to the United Church, similar to those which 

 they now hold to their respective Churches, and to 

 preserve their corporate existence, government, and 

 functions, on terms and conditions Tike those under 

 which they now rest ; but the United Church shall 

 not be required to elect trustees for an art depart- 

 ment in any of the colleges above named. 



Legislation with Regard to Eight of Property. Such 

 legislation shall be sought as shall preserve undis- 

 turbed all right of property now belonging to con- 

 gregations and corporate bodies, and at the same 

 time not interfere with freedom of action on the 

 part of corporate bodies, which may find it to be 

 expedient to discontinue wholly or partially their 

 separate existence. 



ffom and Foreign Mittwnary Operation*. The 

 United Church will partially take up and prosecute 

 the Home and Foreign Missionary and benevolent 

 operations of the severaUChurches according to their 

 respective claims, and with regard to the practical 

 work of the Church and the promotion of its schemes, 

 while the General Assembly shall have the supervi- 

 sion and control of the work of the Church; yet the 

 United Church shall have due regard to such ar- 

 rangements, through the synod and local committees, 

 as shall tend most effectually to unite in Christian 

 love and sympathy the sections of the Church, and 

 at the same time to draw forth tho resources and 

 energies of the people in behalf of the work of 

 Christ in the Dominion and throughout the world. 



Government Grant* to Denominational College*. 

 In the United Church the fullest forbearence shall be 

 allowed as to any difference of opinion which may 

 exist respecting the question of state grants to educa- 

 tional establishments of a denominational character. 



Bills giving legal sanction to the measures 

 necessary to complete the union were passed 

 ^by the Legislative Council of the Province of 

 'Quebec in February, 1875. 



