in the land, says M'Corkle, should give instant warning of the present and the coming perils. The Westminster Standards must anew be held forth as the rallying ground, not only for Presbyterians in Scotland, or in Ulster, but for all the friends of the Protestant Reformation in Great Britain and Ireland. The national character of Scottish Presbyterianism must be more strongly than ever asserted, and held fast in our day. The Divine right of Presbytery must be re-asserted and adhered to, as in the purest times of the Scottish Reformation. The Scriptural purity and simplicity of Presbyterian discipline and worship must at the same time be maintained and exemplified. The former contendings of the Scottish Church and nation with Scotch Prelacy, supported by civil despotism, should anew be presented to public view; and the union of British Protestants should be re-constituted on the basis of the Solemn League and Covenant. "This is the true ground on which to meet and answer the public appeals that have been made in Scotland for a re-union of the Church in Great Britain on the principles of Episcopalians, and for uniformity in Church government throughout the United Kingdom. This is the tried and chosen battle-field on which we may expect again, by the help of the strong and outstretched arm of Jehovah, successfully to encounter the combined forces of Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism, now mustering their strength for the conflict in England and Ireland." We conclude our notice of this admirable treatise by stating, that it is truly refreshing to meet with such a work in these days of religious indifferency, and national degeneracy, and trust that it will obtain an extensive circulation, and be the means of arousing a secure and lukewarm generation to a sense of the fearful danger to which our religion and liberties are exposed. The author has our best wishes, amid all his labours, for the advancement of this cause.

The Christian Treasury. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter, & Co.

WE have no hesitation in commending this as one of the very best of our religious family periodicals. It no doubt contains something of that story element which has crept so largely into all our periodical literature, and which, as we think, tends less to mental improvement than to mental dissipation and frivolity; still we can testify that what little of it is here, is of the soberest and most wholesome of its kind. "Miss Russell's Third Year in Jerusalem" is a most interesting account of many of the localities in and around the Holy City, and of the manners and customs of its modern inhabitants, written with a vividness and graphic power, which betoken the familiarity of close personal observation. The Editor's contributions, as might be ex

pected, are replete with pure gospel truth, eminently spiritual and practical in tone, and touched with that refined poetic grace, which he generally leaves on what he writes. The other articles, original and selected, furnish varied and profitable Sabbath reading, in thorough keeping with the sacredness of the Sabbath day, which, we regret to say, is more than can be said of some so-called "Sunday" magazines.

The Children's Hour: a Magazine for our Young Folks. Edited by M. H. Edinburgh Johnstone, Hunter, & Co.

The

FOR wholesomeness of matter and beauty of illustration, this little periodical, for youthful readers, seems all that can be wished. scramble, which we observe regularly takes place among the young folks so soon as it appears, for the privilege of reading it first, is to our mind ample proof of its power to interest. From personal examination, we can witness to its power to instruct and improve.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Buchanan's Novel Opinions regarding the Principle of Establishments with Remarks on Mr. Coleridge's (M.P. for Exeter) Views on the same subject. Re-printed from the Original Secession Magazine. Glasgow: George Gallie, 99, Buchanan Street. Edinburgh: John M'Laren, 138, Princes Street. 1868.

THE above, as our readers will perceive, is a re-print of the first article which appeared in our last number, and which, as also appears from the prefatory note prefixed to it, Elders and friends of the Free Church of Scotland, with permission of the Editors of the Original Secession Magazine, have published in a separate form for circulation. May we suggest that Elders and friends of the Original Secession Church might aid, so far as in their power, in its distribution.

Presbytery Meetings.

PERTH AND ABERDEEN PRESBYTERY.

THIS Presbytery met at Dundee on Tuesday, the 6th October last-the Rev. W. Robertson, Moderator. A petition from the congregation of Arbroath, asking a moderation, was presented, and Commissioners from the congregation were heard in support of it. The Commissioners having stated that there was the greatest harmony in the congregation, and that they were all of one mind in regard to the object, it was agreed to grant the prayer of the petition, and the moderation was appointed to take place on the 19th October-the Rev. John M'Kay, Aberdeen, to preside. A letter from the Rev. Robert Craig, Kirriemuir, was read, in which he resigned the office of Clerk of Presbytery, on account of the state of his health. The Presbytery having expressed their sincere sympathy for Mr. Craig in the circumstances, and having

resolved to place on record their high sense of the fidelity and efficiency with which he had discharged the duties of his office, accepted his resignation, and appointed the Rev. John Barr, Coupar-Angus, his successor. The other business was not of public interest.

AYR PRESBYTERY.

THE Ayr Presbytery of United Original Seceders met at Ayr on 22d September last -the Rev. Thomas Robertson, Kilwinning, Moderator. The principal business which engaged the attention of the Presbytery was the receiving and adjudicating upon the reports given in from Ayr and Kilmarnock congregations regarding the Home Missionary operations which are being carried on in connection with them. Abstracts of these reports were ordered to be sent for publication in the Magazine.

PRESBYTERY OF EDINBURGH.

THIS Court met at Edinburgh on the 15th of September-Rev. Thomas Hobart, Carluke, Moderator. Mr. James Spence, student of divinity, delivered the remainder of his trials for license, and the whole of his trials having been sustained, separately and together, with approbation, he was licensed as a preacher of the gospel, and thereafter suitably addressed by the Moderator. The Presbytery appointed a day of public thanksgiving to God for His goodness in the late harvest.

HONORARY DEGREE.

WE have much pleasure in stating, that the Board of Trustees of Westminster College, Pennsylvania, U. S. at a meeting held on the 24th June last, conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity on the Rev. Dr. Manson, Perth. The Diploma was accompanied with a letter from Professor Vincent, who holds the Chair of Humanity, couched in such terms as unmistakeably show the high estimation in which Dr. Manson is regarded by the literati on the other side of the Atlantic. As our readers are aware, this is the second time in which this distinguished honour has been conferred upon him at no distant date. May he long be spared not only to extend his well-merited reputation, but to advance still more the great cause of God and of truth, in support of which the labours of his life have been so worthily and consistently expended.

AYR YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. AT a meeting of a number of the young men belonging to the Ayr congregation of United Original Seceders, held on the 31st August last-the Rev. John Robertson presiding-it was resolved to form themselves into an Association for intellectual and religious improvement. The meetings are to be held weekly, and the business to consist chiefly in reading the Original Secession Testimony and other religious works, essays written by the members, &c. Mr. Robertson was appointed honorary President, and other office-bearers were elected. We cordially wish the Association all success.