sees the drawing for prizes, and says, 'Papa, what is this?" what answer can papa give but the true one," Gam bling, my child." I know a ruined man who, when a boy, commenced his downward career by playing threehalfpenny loo in his father's stable. Where did he learn it? By witnessing it in the drawing-room. Ought Christians, then, who are commanded to shine as "lights in the world," to countenance these things? Is it not high time the Church should arise, shake off the world, put on her beautiful garments, and come forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners ? AN ENGLISH ELDER. South Shields, manuscript. From this we must conclude that the latter was revised by the Countess, who never published the fourth verse, if indeed she ever wrote it. 3rd. I have lately discovered that the fifth verse was composed by Charles Wesley, and is found in the 51st hymn in his second volume of "Hymns and Sacred Poems," 1749. 4th. Four verses only are given in the various old collections, such as, "A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Hearers of the Apostles; Nottingham, 1777;" or, "A Collection of Hymns for Christians of all Denominations; Dublin, 1785." How a verse confessedly written by Charles Wesley came to be appended to this hymn, I cannot explain; but Diana Vandeleur was a member of John Wesley's Connexion, and familiar with the poetry in use among that class. As we cannot find that the fourth verse belongs to any of the Wesleys, we must conclude that it was written by the Countess, unless we suppose that it was made by Miss Vandeleur herself in order to introduce the fifth verse, and so form a link between her two To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Magazine. 1st. There is in my possession an authentic manuscript of this hymn, in the handwriting of Diana Vandeleur, afterwards the wife of Bindon Blood, Esq., and an intimate friend of the Countess. This copy consists of five stanzas, and was written between the year 1749 and 1759. 2nd. The first three verses were published by the Countess in the first edition of her "Collection," 1764, with seven variations from the original] I wish your correspondent T. had told us where he found the mutilated version of this hymn which is quoted by him. In "Notes and Queries," December 29th, 1860, Robert Robinson's real hymn is given, as well as some reasons why he was so long supposed to be the author of that written by the Countess. By her no alterations were made after the publication of her first edition. DANIEL SEDGWICK. Sun Street, City. Presbyterian Church in England. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLLEGE COMMITTEE. Presented to the Synod at its late Meeting in Liverpool. SINCE the date of the last Report of the Committee six students have completed their course of study in the College, and are now engaged in different parts of the great field of Christian labour. Of these, the five following were licensed by the Presbytery of London last summer :-Mr. Robert Thom, Mr. James Laing, Mr. James Anderson, The Committee are happy to inform the Synod that during the current session our students, to the satisfaction of the Professors, have been applying themselves to their studies with assiduity and success. Mr. James Brown, and Mr. John Kelly. | matter of surprise that we should have had Mr. Laing soon after proceeded to Aus- so many students, than that we should t tralia, under an appointment from the have had more. Colonial Committee of the Free Church. Mr. Kelly was ordained by the Presbytery of Newcastle as a missionary to India; but unexpected obstacles have prevented the carrying out of his mission. Mr. Thom, after supplying for some time at Millwall, has been eminently successful in the congregation lately commenced at Exeter. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Brown have been for some months employed in the supply of Long Framlington and Millwall; both of them stations of great difficulty, though for opposite reasons— -the one from its extreme age, and the other from its extreme youth. The existing or recent vacancies of the Church have also had a fair share of the ministrations of past year's licentiates. The roll of the last session, amounting to fourteen students, after being reduced to eight, by the loss of six who had finished their course, was further diminished by the withdrawal of three students, who from various causes have ceased to prosecute their theological studies, either entirely or in connection with our Church; and the Committee regret that the vacancies thus created have only been in part supplied. The average attendance of students during the last four years has been twelve; but during the present session the attendance has fallen to eight (four Englishmen, three Irishmen, and one foreigner); exhibiting an accession of only three new students. But these ebbs and flows have marked the history of the Institution all along; and no doubt the same trying alternations will continue to befall us, until the Church applies herself to the solution of the problem, how she may best open up the sources of an ample and more regular supply of candidates for her ministry. It is plain that the only steady feeders of colleges are classical schools; and how few of these the Church can yet point to as under her influence and likely to be tributary to her interests the Committee need not remind her. At present, and all along, the supply of students, from year to year, has been dependent upon causes over which the Church has had absolutely no control, and in such circumstances as make it really more a During the last Winter Session a short course of lectures, along with exercises on Pastoral Theology, was delivered by Mr. Duncan, of Greenwich. These lectures were kindly volunteered by him, and were so highly appreciated by the students that they have expressed to him, through the Professors, their earnest hope that he might be induced to continue them in a future session according to the plan which he laid out at their commencement. In this desire and hope the Committee most cordially concur; and, as Mr. Duncan has recently resigned his pastoral charge, with the in tention of laying himself out to be useful in other ways to the general interests of the Church, an excellent opportunity presents itself for securing his valuable services to the College in future years. Mr. Duncan's long experience in the ministry, and in the government of the Church, taken in connection with his literary gifts and abilities, marks him out as peculiarly well qualified to give instruction to the future ministers of the Church in all parts of their office, both as pastors and church-rulers; and the Committee have agreed to suggest to the Synod the desirableness of attaching him to the College, either as an Honorary Lecturer, or in any other form which may appear to them most expedient. The Committee have had under their consideration a suggestion, which has recently been thrown out, for extending the usefulness of the College, by the institution of evening classes for young men to be taught in the college rooms; and in the lectures delivered to them, our professors might bear a part. It is well known that such evening classes have already been successfully instituted in connection with various collegiate institutions. At King's College, London, in particular, the idea has been fully developed, and has met with a very large amount of public sympathy; several hundreds of young men, occupied all day in the pursuits of commerce, crowd in the evening to these halls in search of mental improvement. The movement has been hailed by Churchmen as one likely to contribute a large number of labourers to the ranks of the Anglican ministry; and the subject is beginning to excite attention even in Scotland, where the means of obtaining preparatory education are more within the reach of all. Such an arrangement adopted in our own College might add much to its usefulness and efficiency. Many a young man of good natural talents and religious zeal is deterred from entertaining the idea of studying for the ministry by the difficulties and expense connected with obtaining the needful preliminary training in classical and philosophical knowledge. Such evening college classes would throw a bridge over the gulf which, as matters at present stand in England, he finds no means of crossing. In every point of view the suggestion has appeared to the Committee to be one of much importance, and they beg, therefore, to bring it before the Church at this time for serious consideration. Of course, neither the funds of the College nor any other church funds will be in the slightest degree chargeable with the expenses. Qualified teachers will be secured; and it is expected that the whole plan will be selfsupporting. All that is asked from the Church is the use of the College rooms, the personal assistance of the professors in the delivery of occasional lectures, and the stamp of the Church's approbation of the undertaking. While the Committee would anticipate an improvement in the supply of theological students from the institution of such evening classes in London, and in other large cities and towns, they are sensible at the same time how much that supply must depend upon the fulfilment of other conditions which are still more indispensable. and none of the interests of the Church will profit more by such an improvement than the College. Another important condition upon which a regular supply of students depends is that the claims of our own licentiates should not be forgotten in the arrangements which are made for the supply of vacant pulpits, for the working of new stations, and for the filling up of vacant pastorates. To say the least, our own alumni are surely entitled to a fair field, if they are to have no special favour. The subject, however, has lately been under the serious consideration of a committee appointed by last Synod; and it is hoped that some well-advised regulations will put an end to the feelings of dissatisfaction to which an opposite practice has given too much occasion. Under such improved conditions the field opened by our Church to young men of promise would be one eminently interesting and attractive-a field daily extending-in some sense the noblest and most important field in the world. We feel, therefore, free to call upon young men of suitable gifts in our congregations to come forward and devote themselves to the service of the Church, being fully assured, that in every instance where piety and talent combined to qualify men for the work, neither a field of usefulness nor a creditable degree of ministerial support will be wanting. But of all the conditions indispensable to the prosperity of our College, by far the most important, doubtless, is a revival of the life and power of godliness among our congregations. The American revival has filled the Colleges of America with devoted young men. The Irish revival has had, in a very marked degree, the same effect. The ministry of our Church has little to attract any who are not of a devoted spirit; but how many of our young men, The dependence of an adequate supply of if once the hand of the Lord came upon candidates for the ministry upon an them, might be expected to offer themselves adequate standard of ministerial support willingly for his service-not waiting to be is a fact, which however much overlooked sought out and solicited, but springing joyin practice must be manifest to every re- fully forward out of the ranks, and crying, flecting mind: and this standard of minis-"Here I am, send me." terial support among us is, we rejoice to O may such a day of power be in store for our beloved Church, at such a crisis in the religious history of England as is now see, already considerably raised by the working of the Home Mission regulations; approaching! Our Church is specially called to stand forth as a witness of God's truth: but in order to this it is needful that the Lord himself should say to us, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me, and ye shall be endued with power from on high." Let us wait in prayer, then, for that heavenly power which, when it comes down, will put an end to all our weakness. "The little one will become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation: I, the Lord, will hasten it in his time." The Financial Statement, to be presented by the Treasurer, will show the state of the funds. These are still insufficient for the requirements of the College, and it is, therefore, hoped that the contributions during the ensuing year may be upon a more liberal scale. An interim Session, Mr. Clelland, of Bolton, moderator, was appointed for the Congregation of Wharton and Swinton, constituted by last Synod into a ministerial charge. Risley be assessed at the rate of £80 per It was agreed that the congregation at annum, to be paid to the minister, entitling him to receive a grant from the Home Mission Fund Committee. It was reported by the moderator, that the congregation at Bradford was virtually extinct; the members, who had been often disappointed and disheartened, having taken seats in other churches. A committee was COLLECTIONS AND DONATIONS.appointed, consisting of Messrs. J. C. FOREIGN MISSIONS. From United Presbyterian Students at Dr. Burns, per Mrs. Burns, of Kilsyth £2 19 Cheltenham, Association Ramsbottom, Collection. St. Peter's, Liverpool, Sabbath School 6 18 0 0 9 0 0 Paterson, convener, and M'Caw, minister; and Messrs. Robert Barbour, and James Halliday, elders; to deal with the property in terms of the trust deed. The deliverance of the Synod, in the case of the application for Heath-street Station to be erected into a sanctioned charge, was given in and read, viz., "Agree to the appli220 cation, sauction the station as a charge in 10 this Church, authorize the Presbytery to grant moderation of a call, and on being satisfied regarding the proper support of the minister called, to ordain him over the congregation." It was moved by Mr. J. C. 1 050 John Knox Church, Stepney, Collection 11 2 0 River Terrace Church, Isling. ton, Collection Ditto, Subscriptions .£10 6 4 4 15 2 15 1 6 Thos. McClure, Esq., Belfast, 1860-61 1000 Paterson, and seconded by Mr. Inglis, That JAMES E. MATHIESON, 77, Lombard Street, E. C., London, 20th May, 1861. HOME MISSION FUND. Collection, Regent Square, London Ditto Portsmouth Ditto Leeds the Presbytery appoint the Session of Canning-street Church an interim Session for Heath-street Church, with instructions to take all the needful steps, with all convenient speed, to carry out the decision of the £21 13 7 Synod. It was also moved by Mr. James 9100 Paterson, and seconded by Mr. Johnstone, 10 That the Presbytery appoint a day to mo900 derate in a call to a minister for Heath1 1 0 street Church. After discussion, the Presbytery divided, when the motion of Mr. J. C. Paterson was carried by five to four, and the Presbytery resolved accordingly. 20 0 o Collection, Trinity, Newcastle-on-Tyne 500 T., A Share of First Fruits, Manchester 0 10 0 On the motion of Mr. Johnstone, the following was agreed to be engrossed in the minute:-It is with sincere regret that the Court have heard of the death of James Burt, Esq., of Liverpool. Seldom is the Church called upon to mourn the loss of one, who was so wise in his counsels, so warm in his sympathies, and so liberal in his contributions for the advancement of the interests of this Church; and therefore this Court cannot allow the mournful event to pass without recording their sense of the loss which the Presbyterian Church in England has sustained in his decease, and without expressing their deep sympathy with his bereaved family. They instruct the clerk to send an extract of this minute to his widow. The Presbytery adjourned, to meet in Manchester on the 3rd day of July next. PRESBYTERY OF NEWCASTLE Met in Laygate Church, South Shields, on Thursday, 25th of April, to dispose of the call from Greenwich to Mr. Saphir, and was duly constituted by Mr. Miller, moderator pro tem. The minute of last meeting having been read and approved, reasons of translation by the Presbytery of London were laid on the table and read. There appeared to prosecute the case from the Presbytery of London, the Rev. Professor Lorimer, D.D., and from the congregation at Greenwich, Mr. Robert Roxburgh. The Rev. George J. C. Duncan, the Commissioner from Greenwich Session, was unavoidably absent. There appeared for the Laygate Session, Messrs. Matthew Cay, and Alexander Bain; and for the Congregation, Messrs. John Wait, David Maxwell, Thomas Gibson, and John Thompson. Mr. Saphir appeared for himself. The Commissioners from the London Presbytery and Congregation at Greenwich, and those from the Session and Congregation at Laygate, having been heard; the moderator put the call from Greenwich into Mr. Saphir's hands, when he stated his acceptance thereof. Parties were then removed; and on the call of the moderator, Mr. Black engaged in prayer for Divine guidance. Thereafter it was moved and seconded that Mr. Saphir be translated to Greenwich; and the brethren present having expressed their high esteem for Mr. Saphir, and regret at his removal, and letters to the same effect from Messrs. Jeffrey and Mackenzie having been read, this motion was unanimously agreed to, the Presbytery at the same time declaring that he continues pastor of the church and congregation at Laygate till actually inducted to the pastoral of the church and congregation at Greenwich; and he was enjoined to wait for and obey the orders of the Presbytery of London as to the time of his induction. This resolution having been intimated to parties, the Commissioners from London acquiesced, and craved extracts, which were granted. Dr. Paterson was appointed to moderate in the Laygate Session during the vacancy. The Presbytery met for ordinary business in the John Knox Church, Newcastle, on Tuesday, the 14th May, at 11 a.m. Present, the Rev. John Jeffrey, moderator; the Revs. P. L. Miller, Wm. Wrightson, C. A. Mackenzie, G. B. Blake, J. Brown, Wm. Dinwiddie, J. Black, and J. Reid. The meeting having been duly constituted, the minute of last ordinary meeting, and the two intervening pro re nata meetings, were read and sustained. Elders' Commissions from the Sessions of Blyth, Gateshead, North Shields, St. John's, South Shields, St. George's, Hexham, and Seaton Delaval, in favour of Messrs. John Kay, George Sisson, Col. Wm. Barnes, John Kennedy, John H. Wake, and Thomas P. Dods, appointing them respectively to represent said Sessions during the current synodical year; and from the Session at Laygate in favour of Mr. John Heddle, appointing him for six months. These Commissions having been read, and found correct, were sustained, and their names were added to the roll. The moderator having intimated that his term of office had now expired, it was moved and agreed unanimously, that Mr. Blake be moderator for the next twelve months. Mr. Blake took the chair accordingly. Mr. Mackenzie reported, that as Convener of the Committee on Session Records and Communion Rolls, he had, as instructed, written requesting that the Records and Rolls of Trinity and Wark might be produced; that there had been no reply from Trinity; and from Wark the reply was that there was no Record, and that the Record and Roll of North Shields had been produced, examined, and found carefully kept. This Record was ordered to be attested. It was moved and agreed that Mr. Wrightson and the Session at Wark be instructed to prepare a narrative of their Sessional proceedings during the period of Mr. Wrightson's ministry, as the basis of a regular Record for the future, and to lay the same before next meeting. It was moved, that "in future, before any translation be agreed to, or any resignation of a charge be accepted, the Session Records, and other documents belonging to the Congregation shall be laid on the table of the Presbytery." This was agreed to unanimously. The treasurer of the Presbytery fund having submitted a report regarding the state of the fund, it was moved that the fund be discontinued; as an amendment, that it be continued. On a vote, the motion was carried. The thanks of the Presbytery were given unanimously to Mr. Robert Brewis, the treasurer, for his services in connection with the fund. Mr. Miller gave notice, that at next |