any thing ;" and is it not miserable to think that we receive letters from our own country ministers, telling us that they are the only parties in the parish who can become liable to the banker for the debt on their own places of worship? Think of a man with a wife and young children, with the small dividend which we have been able to afford from the Sustentation Fund, pressed with the idea of having subscribed an obligation to a bank which may crush both him and his children. (Hear, hear.) But more than this, the debt upon our churches is one of the greatest barriers to the success of our Schemes, whether of the Home Mission or the Sustentation Fund, and our efforts to send the gospel to other lands. So long as this incubus of debt on our churches is allowed to remain, it will operate as a drag on all our Christian enterprises. (Hear, hear.) I trust the Church will have its serious attention called to this subject, and instead of denying us a collection in the ensuing year, by means of which we will be enabled to add to the number of Free churches, I trust you will give attention to the devising of a plan by which the whole object at which we aim may be secured. The only other point is the titles; and I trust that matter will meet with attention. I could mention cases of men who have found themselves already in very awkward scrapes, and who have come to me with rather blue faces-(a laugh)— tioning what difficulty they have got themselves into by neglecting to have their titles completed. I trust that attention will be paid to this and the other matter of securing a contingent fund, by which to rebuild places of worship, and extend them. We must not imagine that these things are merely secular. They have to do with the "outward business of the house of God;" and if God did deign to give the most minute directions in regard to every pin of the tabernacle, we are not to imagine that we are wiser than He, but give the utmost heed to these matters, so that posterity may not rise up and condemn us because of our neglecting an object so very important. (Hear, hear.)

-men

Mr NIXON moved the adoption of the Report, and that the thanks of the House should be returned to the Convener (Dr Begg) and the Committee. He had great pleasure in proposing this motion, as he entirely sympathized in the views of the Committee; and also because of his high admiration of the talents and gifts of Dr Begg, which so completely fitted him for this work. (Hear, hear.) He thanked God that they had among them one so well fitted, by diversified gifts, for every part of the Church's work. Notwithstanding the amount of debt upon their Free churches which Dr Begg had specified, he had reason to believe that a comparatively large amount of it lay upon congregations comparatively able to pay it off. At the same time, it was clear that this debt must be interfering with the prosecution of Christian objects, which, but for it, they would be able to prosecute. They were under very great obligations to Dr Begg and the Committee for what they had accomplished in the way of working down debt-burdened churches. He hoped they would encourage them, by funds, to reduce the number still further. With regard to titles, he had always been of opinion that the Committee should be armed with more plenary powers. (Hear, hear.) thought that, even supposing some person were allowed a salary by the Church to act under Dr Begg in this matter, it would repay the cost to have his undivided attention devoted to the completing of their titles.

He

Mr HAWKINS, in seconding the motion, said, it was a very serious matter to a church to want titles. The minister scarcely knew the position in which it placed him. He might one day close his church, and find himself involved in a troublesome law-suit for the want of good titles; or, if

he escaped himself, he might leave these difficulties as a legacy to his suc

cessor.

Sir J. FORREST referred to the great importance of the Church-Building Fund Scheme; he also considered the suggestions of Dr Begg most judicious. It was most gratifying that so large a number of churches, through aid from the Committee, had been freed from debt; and he hoped the liberality of the Church would enable the Committee to carry out this important work still further. (Hear, hear.)

The motion was agreed to.

DEPUTATION FROM BELGIUM.

The MODERATOR then introduced the Deputation from the Belgian Protestant Evangelical Society, consisting of the Rev. L. Durand, secretary of the Belgian Evangelical Society, and the Rev. H. Carnot Auquier, representative of the same Society, with the following remarks:-We have now before us, fathers and brethren, a deputation from the Protestant Presbyterian Church of Belgium-one of the most interesting Protestant Churches now existing on the Continent, and struggling against Popery. M. Durand is to address us. He will do so in his own language, because he has not sufficient command of ours; but Mr Duncan of North Shields, who has visited their churches, will follow him, and briefly state the substance of what may drop from the lips of M. Durand.

The Rev. L. DURAND then addressed the Assembly with fluency and energy in his native tongue.

The Rev. GEORGE J. Č. DUNCAN, of North Shields, said, In order to spare the time of the Assembly, that he would confine his remarks to a statement of facts which had come under his own cognizance, during a visit paid by him to Belgium last winter. It would not be necessary to describe the intense Popery of that land, abounding as it does with priests and the monuments of gross idolatry. But, degraded as its condition is, no vigorous or successful attempt was made to oppose the evil influences prevailing there until within the last few years. In 1835, the British and Foreign Bible So ciety established an agency in Brussels, by means of which the Word of God was spread to a great extent over the land. This, by God's blessing, took root; and, in 1837, the friends of the gospel in Brussels found it necessary to establish a Society for the purpose of sending preachers to those districts where the interest had thus been excited. (Applause.) Their first agent was M. Girod, who was ultimately settled at Liege, where he continued to exercise a diligent ministry, till last summer, when he was removed by death. Liege thus became a centre of influence, and from it the gospel spread to the neighbouring villages; so that there are now five churches in that neighbourhood. (Applause.) Another centre of influence is Charleroi, about sixty miles farther west; and there also, under M. Anet and his successor, the gospel has flourished so, that there are in this neighbourhood already other five congregations. All of them have sprung up as the fruits of Bible reading; but some of them have been favoured by peculiar circumstances in providence. (Applause.) Thus, the church at Verviers is endowed by an excellent countryman-John Henderson, Esq., of Glasgow; who, in addition to his other liberalities, pays all the charges of that station. Another spot has a church built, and a ministry permanently endowed by the Marquis D'Aoust, himself a converted Romanist, and owing his conversion to the Society. (Applause.) Another church owes its origin to the preaching of the gospel in the cemetery of the Commune; for in Belgium

there is perfect liberty for Protestants to conduct the funeral services according to their own rites. In that case, an attempt had been made to prevent the Protestant services; but that having been defeated, and two vigorous sermons having been preached on the occasion, and a number of tracts having been distributed, the effect was, that in the course of ten days a petition was addressed to the minister to return and preach to them the same gospel. This occurred in May 1848; and last November Mr Duncan had worshipped with that interesting flock, numbering about 300. (Applause.) The work is essentially missionary in its character; for the people are all zealous in spreading the gospel among their neighbours. It is a solid work, not only arising out of Bible reading, but carried on by the same means. One of the members of the deputation, M. Auquier, a converted Romanist, tells us that his conversion arose out of this. He went to mass with the Bible in his hand; and, when he returned to the house, he consulted the Bible, and compared it with the doctrine of the priests; and the result was his renouncing Popery, and ultimately studying at Geneva for the ministry. He is the first native of Belgium ordained to the ministry since the days of the Duke of Alva, but he is not the only one. Three others have, in like manner, been set apart to the same office; and three more are at this moment prosecuting their studies with the same view. (Applause.) The work is also devotional in its character. Many prayer-meetings are held; and the elders of these flocks-plain, simple, and venerable men-lead the worship of their fellow-Christians with great and edifying solemnity. It is, moreover, fruitful in good works. The converts there are remarkably exemplary; and it would be considered peculiarly singular were one of them to be found in the public-house. (Applause.) Then, as to their polity, the adoption of this infant Church, about two years since, of the Confession of Faith of the Synod of Dort-a Confession approved by so many important and valuable authorities, would be perfectly satisfactory to this Assembly. (Hear.) Besides, their Presbyterian principles are in gradual course of development, and give the best assurance of a vigorous and well-organized Church arising out of this state of things. They hold with this Church the importance of schools, of which they contemplate one at least for every congregation; and they have, and desire ever to have, a learned ministry. M. Durand, one of the deputation, for example, is master of four languages, and is conversant with the literature and theology of Germany and England, as well as of France; and most of the pastors have studied eight years at Geneva. (Applause.) There are many difficulties opposing their work, but there are also great facilities-more especially in the marvellous freedom of the political state of Belgium, which gives them a great advantage over their brethren in France, whereby they are entitled to preach, publish, and write what they please, and even to use the public national cemeteries for the preaching of the gospel—a liberty which, in England, would not be allowed to Dissenters. There the prospects are extremely flattering for the future. Between Liege and Charleroi, the two centres of Protestant influence, distant about sixty miles, stretching the valley of the Sambre and Meuse, where, within the last few months, it has been ascertained that the gospel is gradually taking root; so that we have reason to hope soon to have a change of stations joining these Mr Duncan concluded by calling on the Assembly to take up the case of this infant struggling Church, and to enter in by a door so widely opened for opposing Popery, while others were closing. (Applause.)

two towns.

Dr CANDLISH, in moving that the Assembly acknowledge the kindness of the deputation and of the Church which they represented, and the warm.

sympathy which they entertained towards that interesting Church, regretted his inability to follow his friend's speech, though he could gather enough to conjecture that he was giving a graphic and interesting sketch of the former cruel persecution that had extinguished the cause of true religion in Belgium, and its recent revival. And the very simple and very lucid statement of Mr Duncan must have put the whole Assembly in possession of the various points of interest that should call forth their sympathies in favour of the Belgian Protestant Church. It could not but be gratifying to receive a deputation from a body of men, so many of whom were so recently themselves under the bondage of Rome, and who were now lifting up a testimony for the pure gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it could not but be looked upon as the duty of the Free Church to stretch forth a helping hand. They might not be able to do a great deal, but this was undoubtedly one of the strongest appeals that could be made upon them in connection with the cause of Christianity on the Continent of Europe. The circumstances to which Mr Duncan had referred made it plain and obvious that there was no external hindrance to the progress of truth in Belgium. A door was opened to them, and they had already traces of the work of God having begun, and being rapidly progressing there; and they could not listen to the statements of Mr Duncan without at once perceiving that it bore evident traces of being no ordinary work of God. The reverend Doctor concluded by moving, that the Assembly express its acknowledgments for this kind visit from their friends, and their resolution to aid them with their prayers. He would leave it to the Moderator to address the Deputation in their native tongue, or in his own, as he might think fit. (Laughter.)

Dr BROWN seconded the motion. He was sure it must be most interesting to them all to receive a deputation from a Church in such circumstances. They all knew that the land from which the deputation had come was a land of darkness,-not by hundreds or by thousands, but by tens of thousands,—a land associated with the name of the Duke of Alva, who had persecuted and massacred Christians to such an extent that his name had become associated with every thing that was barbarous and bloody. It had been the scene of terrible contests between Popery and Protestantism; but as their interesting friend remarked, when Belgium and Protestant Holland had become united, it might be expected that God had some good in store for his cause in Belgium. They had also been informed how the Dutch Government had neglected their opportunity, and had therefore been deprived of their power. This fact should be laid to heart. The people of this country should remember that God, in his providence, had raised them up to extensive power and influence in many lands. But if they neglected their duties and responsibilities, more especially with respect to such a land as that whose claims had been brought under their consideration, God would deprive them of their power; and as the Dutch Government had, through neglecting their opportunity, lost it, so God would deprive them of their power, and they might soon find that the Lord would withdraw from them the distinc tion and the influence they had been permitted to attain. (Applause.) He had great pleasure in seconding the motion of Dr Candlish, concurring, as he did, in all that the reverend Doctor had stated.

Mr THOMSON of Paisley expressed his entire concurrence in the statements of the two preceding speakers, and expressed his strong conviction, in common, he was sure, with many in the Free Church, that they had not yet, as a Church, sufficiently directed their attention and efforts to the spreading of the gospel, and the assistance of Protestantism on the Continent of Europe.

The other night, in listening to the statements of M. Monod, he experienced something like a feeling of shame in hearing that only ninety-five of their congregations had contributed towards Protestantism in France, and that only some £300 had been raised for that important object. He begged to suggest that they should resolve, as a Church, to do far more for spreading Protestant gospel truth both in France and Belgium,-the seat of the beast, than they had ever yet done. (Applause.)

Dr CUNNINGHAM bore personal testimony to the excellency of the gifts and training of one of the missionary ministers of the Belgian Church. The motion having been passed by acclamation,

The MODERATOR, addressing the Deputation, said,-Dear Brethren, Mem. bers of the Deputation from the Protestant Presbyterian Church of Belgium, -It affords me very high gratification indeed to be called upon, so heartily and unanimously by this great Assembly, to return you the thanks of this house for the important and impressive statements you have furnished to us respecting the rise, the progress, and the future prospects of your deeply interesting branch of the true Protestant Church. With reference to one of your number, Mr Duncan of North Shields, we have to thank him for having so fully unfolded to us his own experience of the state of things among you. In connection with this subject, as it has not been referred to by himself, I may state, that there has been put into my hands a small pamphlet written and published by Mr Duncan, conveying a distinct account of what he saw and heard during his recent visitation, and his remarks and observations thereupon. It is a small and interesting pamphlet,-one of the most deeply interesting which I have seen for many a day; and I beg leave, in passing, to recommend it very earnestly to the attention of this house,-as it is fraught with materials of a very suggestive character. One statement you made was, that your number is very small compared with other Churches. It is, however, declared in this pamphlet, that, within the last few years, four thousand souls have been brought out of the very morasses of Popery through the medium of your Society-four thousand souls constituting now a living, struggling Protestant Church in Belgium. And with reference to these living souls I find it further said here, that, amongst them, "the most ardent zeal is often manifested to extend the influence of that truth by which they have themselves been blessed, and who are, from time to time, bringing in the joyful report of its new conquests. Thanks be to God, all our converts are misssionaries!" that is, they are instant in season and out of season in commending the blessed Gospel to their neighbours all around. Ah! when the day comes that all the members of the Free Church of Scotland are missionaries, we shall have comparatively little to do with such festering masses as are now so likely soon to swallow us up, unless we swallow them up as you have done in some of the Popish villages of Belgium-by drawing them within the Christian fold. There are many things in this pamphlet, as I have said, of interest. At the conclusion of this little tract, there is an exceedingly graphic notice that introduces us into the internal domestic economy of the pastors of Belgium. I am sorry I cannot address you in your own language, but as the substance of what you have said has been unfolded to us publicly, the substance of what I now say will be made known to you. We are here, I say, introduced to the domestic economy of the pastors of your Church, "Nothing, to my mind," says Mr Duncan, "is more remarkable than the union of extreme primitive simplicity in their mode of living with that love of learning which ought always to distinguish the Christian ministry, and which, seconding an ardent and judi