PRESBYTERIANS. 



373 



ber, 1875, in St. Andrew's Oharch, Toronto, 

 tit which he expressed views at variance with 

 tli- doctrines of the Church on the aubject of 

 everlasting punishment. He had been called 

 to account by the lower courts of the Church, 

 and examined by committees, but failed to 

 satisfy his examiners, avowing that he held 

 " that there was ground to hope that God 

 would eventually remove sin and suffering en- 

 tirely from every part of his dominions." Mr. 

 Macdonnell spoke in the discussions on his 

 case, and explained that his position was one 

 of doubt. Ho was reudy to believe the truth 

 of (iod on the doctrine in question, but had 

 not been able to satisfy his mind as to what 

 the truth actually was. The Assembly adopted 

 the following action on the case: 



That this Assembly, sustaining the reference for 

 judgment, find that, in the statement made before 

 this Assembly, Mr. Macdonnell has declared that 

 he does not bold the doctrine of everlasting punish- 

 ment in the sense held by the Church and formulat- 

 ed in the Confession of Faith ; nevertheless, that 

 he has adopted no doctrinal views contrary to the 

 Confession of Faith: Therefore, Resohed } first, That 

 the above twofold statement is not satisfactory to 

 this Assembly ; second, that a committee be ap- 

 pointed to confer with Mr. Macdonnell, in the hope 

 that they muy he able to bring in a report as to Mr. 

 Macdonnell's views which may be satisfactory to 

 this Assembly. 



The committee subsequently reported that 

 Mr. Macdonnell had met with them and stated 

 that, while ho was desirous to meet the wishes 

 of the Assembly in regard to conference with 

 the committee, he respectfully referred them to 

 the statement he had already made before the 

 General Assembly, as clearly defining his posi- 

 tion, and that the report of that statement, 

 which was published in the Daily Mail of 

 June 16th, was substantially correct. The 

 committee offered the following minute relat- 

 ing to the case, which was adopted by the As- 

 sembly : 



Considering 1. That this General Assembly has 

 declared that the statement of his views made by 

 Mr. Macdonnell before it was not satisfactory : 

 2. That, on meeting with the committee appointed 

 by the Assembly to confer with him, he signi- 

 fied that he had Ht present no further statement 

 to make, by which his position toward the doctrine 

 in question might be modified ; 8. That the doc- 

 trine of the eternity or endless duration of the pun- 

 ishment of the wicked, as taught in the Confession of 

 Faith, is a doctrine of Scripture which every min- 

 ister of this Church must hold and teach the Gen- 

 eral Assembly feels under obligation to continue its 

 care in this matter : but, inasmuch as Mr. Macdonnell 

 expresses his regret for having preached the sermon 

 which gave occasion to these proceedings, has in- 

 timated that his mind is at present in an undecided 

 state as regards the doctrine in question, and has 

 engaged, wnile seeking for the light, not to contra- 

 vene the traditions of the Church, the Assembly, 

 in the hope that Mr. Macdonnell may find his views 

 in accord with the standard on the subject in ques- 

 tion : Sesnlved, That further time be given him 

 carefully to consider the matter; and that he be re- 

 quested to report through his presbytery, to the next 

 General Assembly, whether he accepts the teaching 

 of the Church on the subject. The Assemhly would 

 commend their brother to the guidance of the Spirit 

 VOL. xvi. IS A. 



of Truth, praying that, with the Divine blowing 

 upon the further study of the Word of God, all diffi- 

 culties as to the Scriptural evidence of the UK m< u- 

 touB doctrine incurred may speedily cease to perplex 

 bin mind. 



(b.) A number of ministers of the Presby- 

 terian Church of Canada in connection with 

 the Church of Scotland refused to enter into 

 the union with the Canada Presbyterian 

 Church, and, after the union was consum- 

 mated, declared themselves to constitute the 

 synod in connection with the Church of Scot- 

 land. This synod met in Montreal in June. 

 The Rev. David Watson was appointed mod- 

 erator. Trustees were appointed for the vari- 

 ous funds of the synod, and the usual com- 

 mittees were also appointed. A petition was 

 presented from the congregation of West King, 

 praying for ordinances in connection with the 

 Church of Scotland, and complaining of the 

 proceedings which had resulted in their being 

 deprived of their church property. A list was 

 presented of congregations in similar circum- 

 stances. It was agreed that a commission, 

 with synodical powers, be appointed to watch 

 such cases, and, if that were called for, to ap- 

 point a deputation to proceed to Edinburgh 

 and attend the next General Assembly, or the 

 meetings at any time of the Colonial Com- 

 mittee of the Church of Scotland. 



VI. PHKSBYTKRIANS IN SCOTLAND, (a.*) The 

 Church of Scotland. The General Assem- 

 bly of the Established Church of Scotland met 

 in Edinburgh, May 18th, and was opened cere- 

 monially by the Earl of Galloway as her 

 Majesty's Lord High Commissioner. The Rev. 

 Dr. Cook, of Borgue, was elected moderator. 

 The statistical report stated that the total 

 revenue of the Church for its various agencies 

 and schemes had been 350,621, as against 

 282,834 in 1875. The income for the colonial 

 scheme had been 17,138, and that for the 

 Jewish mission 6,035. The income for home 

 missions had been 11,857. 



The report of the Endowment Committee 

 showed that 25 churches had been endowed 

 during the year, making a total of 240 churches 

 endowed since the scheme was projected. The 

 total number of charges, parishes, unendowed 

 chapels, etc., now in possession of the Church, 

 was 1,473. The income for home missions had 

 been 11.857, showing a considerable increase 

 over the income of the previous year. The in- 

 come for the Jewish missions had been 6,035. 

 The missions were established at Constantino- 

 ple, Alexandria, Bey rout. Salonica, and Monas- 

 tir. The income for foreign missions had been 

 12,940, and the expenditures for the same had 

 been 8,679. An overture, declaring clergy- 

 men of the Church oi England, among others, 

 eligible for admission into the Scottish Church, 

 was rejected, and an amendment was adopted 

 declaring Presbyterian ministers alone eligible. 

 A case of approach to ritualism in the church 

 of Dunse was decided by the Assembly. An 

 altar-cloth and cross had been introduced into 



