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INDEPENDENTS AND OTHER SECTARIES.

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We have thus given a very brief outline of the distinctions of presbyterian sectaries in Scotland, and we can only add, that, judging from what we see every day around us, the operating cause of nine-tenths of the dissent is the law of patronage. Beside this, all others sink into insignificance, and but for it, they would soon be forgot. When dissent broke out, the kirk viewed the rearing of meeting-houses with much jealousy, but now it cares little about the number of persons who attend them, and in most places, the clergy of all the various communions are on intimate terms. It has been hinted that the kirk would be inclined to hold out a treaty of union with the more civil ized sects; but it is not to be expected that any junction will soon take place, unless the dissenters are guaranteed, not only the choosing of their own ministers, but the power of being co-ordinate in the jurisdiction of the church courts, which will certainly not be conceded.

The other classes of dissenters in Scotland, not being peculiar to the country, require no regular exposition. There is a large and respectable body of Independents who form a congregational union, and who are not on the increase; a party of Baptists, who are less numerous; and a small sect called Bereans, who resemble Glassites in some respects, and take their name from a desire to follow the example of those good individuals who read the Scriptures daily. The sect originated in 1773, and many of its members have been characterized by the profession of bold political principles. There is also a congregation in Edinburgh which follows the opinions of Emmanuel Swedenborg. Roman Catholicism is progressing fast in Scotland, chiefly by the immigration of Irish, and the conversion of presbyterian outlying Highlanders. The Roman Catholics have now some remarkably fine chapels, and the clergy are universally known as quiet and unobtrusive men. The Roman Catholicism of Scotland, is, on the whole, of a very mild kind, and

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INCREASE OF SOCINIANISM.

has little or no resemblance to that found to work such melancholy effects in the sister island. Neither Methodism nor Quakerism seems to have been successful in Scotland; of Methodists there are several scattered congregations, principally composed of the dregs of the population of large towns; of the Society of Friends there is only one association at Edinburgh, formed by some of the most respectable and wealthy citizens. The sect which is making the most perceptible progress after the Roman Catholics, is the Unitarians. The chief rallying place of the party is in the west of Scotland, where the Socinian doctrine meets with a ready support from the operative manufacturers. We are, however, of opinion, that the number of professing Unitarians gives a very imperfect idea of the actual amount of this species of belief, which, it is to be feared, is now spreading its influence among all classes of presbyterians. It is a fact too remarkable not to be generally known, that this thinly veiled theo-philanthropism has succeeded always best in countries once imbued with the most rigid Calvinistic doctrines. It has, at least, well nigh finished Christianity in most of the German states and New England, and has now to work out its ends in this portion of Great Britain. The want of a liturgical service in the kirk, whereby the first principles of a sound orthodox faith are constantly exhibited and repeated, and the clergyman prohibited from leading his flock astray by wild harangues of his own, as well as the want of apostolic ordination, which obliges every clergyman so constituted to refer his commission to a divine head, are supposed by many to effect results of this nature. While we now write, the kirk is assailed on all sides by the outpouring of novel or improper dogmas, even by some of its clerical members, and we sincerely trust, for the peace of society, that it will proceed with firmness and caution to maintain the dignity of the religion it has long so temperately professed.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS CONTINUED.

QUALIFICATIONS OF SCOTTISH CLERGY-APPOINTMENTS TO LIVINGS-PATRONAGE THE CHURCH COURTS.

THE manner in which ministers are inducted to livings, and some other characteristics of the Church of Scotland, require a little explanation. The education of the candidate for holy orders being completed, he first applies to a presbytery for a licence to preach, at the same time exhibiting certificates of character from some of the settled clergy. If possible, the application must be made to the presbytery of the native district of the candidate. On an appointed day thereafter, he is subjected to a public examination on his theological learning, his classical acquirements, and his knowledge of church history. He is likewise appointed to deliver in private to the presbytery a homily on some specified text, and an exigesis in Latin on a doctrinal point. He is also bound to defend his propositions against two or three of the members. After these or similar examinations, he is appointed to preach in the parish church. As the case may be, he is shortly afterwards invested with a licence to preach the gospel within the bounds of the presbytery, a liberty which, we understand, will in general extend to other districts, on the exhibition of his licence.

The examinations or "trials" of divinity students are generally of a gentle nature, and quite in accordance with Scottish university education. Very few, if any, are ever examined in their knowledge of He

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LICENSING PREACHERS.

brew; indeed, until the current year, it has not been a law in the church that students should make themselves acquainted with that language. They are now bound to study it for one session of five months. It is expected that they will be better read in Greek literature, but examination on this head goes scarcely further than an order to read a few verses of the New-Testament, and generally of the gospel of St John. In Latin, all the students are well versed. The whole amount of inquisition into classical acquirements, is such as could be easily borne by Westminster scholars of the fifth or sixth form. On this account, there is only a mere superficiality of learning in the Scottish kirk, which has been from the very first, and is at present, very barren of profound scholars. A few rise above their compeers, and these generally relinquish their benefices for chairs in the universities, which appears to be the only species of promotion for churchmen in this country.

When a young man receives a licence to preach, his next object is to procure a presentation to a living, and until he receives this, he is not put in orders, but re mains in a rank somewhat akin to that of a deacon in the episcopal church. The regulation regarding the age of licentiates is not so rigorous as that relative to deacons. There are instances of students beneath twenty-one years of age being licensed, and they are not compelled to remain any length of time as neophytes; being eligible for orders as soon as inducted to a living.

The right of presentation in Scotland generally belongs to one or other of the heritors, who have the payment of the stipend. There are nearly a thousand livings in the kirk, one fourth of which are in the gift of the crown. In a few cases, the heads of families have this prerogative. When a vacancy occurs in a parish where the crown has the benefice in its gift, the Secretary of State is biassed frequently by the solicitations of influential noblemen and gentlemen; and when this is not the case, he concedes the presentation

CHURCH PATRONAGE.

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to the heritors. Some years since, certain "leaders" in the kirk had much influence in this respect, and by their countenancing government measures, had considerable power in the nomination of clergymen; but recent changes in politics have deranged this species of patronage.

Patronage is esteemed by many in this country as a grievous evil. The First Book of Discipline does not allow it, and the General Assembly has often attempted, sometimes with success, to throw it off. It was finally organized as it now operates in the reign of Queen Anne. It is unquestionable, that evils spring from a system of patronage, but it is at the same time observable, that congregations, when left to their own choice, in many cases divide in opinion, and their condition is not meliorated. Besides, it is doubtful if mere "hearers" be competent judges of the talents of a pastor. At present, there is a society of laymen and clergymen formed for the purpose of agitating this question, and of acquiring contributions, with which they propose to buy up the presentations, and convey them to the heads of families. As they are unable to purchase one in the year,-for some of them are worth a thousand pounds-it will hence take at least a thousand years to wipe out this usage from the church. Some writers have not scrupled to declare, that the presentations should be wrested from the hands of their present proprietors; but this is an act of injustice not to be endured. If the evil be as it is mentioned, the kirk ministers who accept of livings, should be compelled by a legislative enactment, to dedicate a portion of their stipends to a liquidation of the price of their advowsons; and this would eradicate the mischief in a few years. As we must always bear in remembrance, that the clergy are supported by endowments, and not by compulsory assessment,-those in the city of Edinburgh excepted,-it is the immediate curators of these endowments to whom, by right, the presentation belongs, and therefore the congregations of the establishment have no claim to be heard. Should, moreover, these congregations pay seat rents to ma

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