voted annually by Parliament, and was unaccompanied by any conditions whatever. About the year 1800 the Synod of Ulster obtained a large addition to their grant, but clogged with conditions which were disapproved of by many of the recipients, and which were denounced by both classes of Seceders as involving a surrender of the liberties of the Church, and the honour of Christ. And yet these same Seceders in 1809 accepted an enlargement of their grant on precisely the same conditions. One minister, however, of the General Associate Synod, the Rev. James Bryce of Killaig, persisted in refusing the grant, and to his resistance is to be traced the origin of " The Associate Presbytery of Ireland."

A deputation of the United Associate Synod in Scotland visited Ireland in 1840, and expressed to a deputation of the Associate Presbytery which met them, an anxious desire that a union should take place between the two bodies. On their return, they made a recommendation to the same effect in their report to their own Synod. Little more was done in this matter till May 1847, at which time a union had been effected between the Secession and Relief Churches. A deputation of the Associate Presbytery of Ireland waited at that time upon the United Presbyterian Synod then formed, and craved to be included in it. The Synod resolved, "that as close a connection should be immediately formed with the Associate Presbytery as circumstances will admit; and in particular (1) that ministerial and Christian communion should be cultivated between the ministers and congregations of the two Churches, as between the congregations and ministers of the United Presbyterian Church; (2) that the licentiates of the Associate Presbytery should be eligible to the ministry by the congregations of the United Presbyterian Church, and that licentiates of the United Presbyterian Church should be eligible to the ministry by the congregations of the Associate Presbytery; and (3) that ministers and Presbytery elders of both Churches, when present in presbyteries or synods of either Church, should, without being entitled to a vote, be regarded by said presbyteries and synods as corresponding members; and that measures should be forthwith taken to draw closer the bonds of Christian fellowship and affection between the two bodies."

The Associate Presbytery of Ireland having expressed a desire for union with the United Presbyterian Church, the Synod of 1855 remitted the question to the Presbytery of Glasgow with instructions to correspond with the Irish Presbytery, and report to next meeting of Synod. At the Synod of 1856, progress was reported, and the matter was again entrusted to Glasgow Presbytery, with instructions to send the same down to the several presbyteries and sessions of the Church, with such information on the subject as they might consider needful and desirable. The information desired was presented in the shape of returns from presbyteries and sessions to the Synod of 1857. Two representatives of the Associate Presbytery, Rev. Drs Bryce and Macintyre, were heard on the subject, and a committee was appointed to meet with these brethren, during the session of Synod, to consider the terms on which the Irish Presbytery should be received as a constituent part of the United Presbyterian Church. That committee gave in their report, to the effect "that the most advisable form of accomplishing this incorporating union would be by this Synod receiving and recognising the Associate Presbytery of Ireland as a presbytery of this Church." The committee found that the subordinate standards of both denominations were the same, and that on other points there was substantial agreement. It was then resolved, "that the report of the committee be sent down to presbyteries to consider and report; and that Dr

William Johnston and Messrs William Marshall and Andrew Robertson, as a deputation, visit the congregations of the Associate Presbytery of Ireland to express the fraternal regard cherished towards them by this Church." At the Synod of 1858, the returns from presbyteries and the report of the deputation were considered. The deputation reported "that there are at present 5 ministers in connection with the Irish Presbytery, and 8 congregations; that the deputies spent three weeks in visiting the congregations, and that all they saw and heard tended to confirm the accuracy of the judgment already come to by the Synod, that the United Presbyterian Church and the Associate Presbytery of Ireland are agreed in all essential parts of Christian doctrine, discipline, and observance, and that the points on which they differ admit either of being adjusted, or of being made matters of forbearance; and to increase and deepen their earnest desire for the prosperity, spiritual and temporal, of the small but interesting body that has so long testified in Ireland, in the midst of many temptations and discouragements, on behalf of a pure and free Gospel, and of a Church untrammelled by State support or State control." After reasoning, the question as to immediate union was put to the vote, when it was carried that the Synod do now receive and recognise the Associate Presbytery of Ireland as a presbytery of this Church. The union was accordingly consummated on the 6th May 1858, and the moderator gave the brethren of the Presbytery who were present the right hand of fellowship.*

THE SECESSION CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.

As early as the year 1736, many families belonging to the Secession Church in Scotland had emigrated to America. These settled generally in the States of Pennsylvania and New York. In that year those of them resident in and about Londonderry, Chester County, State of Pennsylvania, addressed a letter to the Associate Presbytery, containing an urgent request to send them a probationer or ordained minister, in order that they might have a dispensation of Gospel ordinances after the manner of their fatherland. They offered at the same time to pay all the necessary expenses thence arising. To this letter the Presbytery sent a friendly answer, but were necessitated by scarcity of preachers to defer complying with its request. Before a renewal of this application could be made, the Breach had taken place, which was the occasion of further delay. After the Breach, in August 1751, an application was made to the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod by Mr Alexander Craighead, minister at Middle Octarara, Pennsylvania, along with a number of persons in the province, earnestly beseeching the Synod to appoint some ministers to that part of America. The Synod took immediate steps to comply with this request, but it was not till the summer of 1753 that they were able to accomplish anything. Mr Alexander Gellatly, probationer, who had been licensed for the purpose, was then sent out, to continue if required; and the Rev. Andrew Arnot, minister at Midholm, to return home in a year, or remain if inclined. These ministers met with a cordial welcome on their arrival in America, and soon after, according to instructions given them, constituted themselves, along with two elders, into a presbytery, which they designated THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY of PENNSYLVANIA. Applications from America, to both branches of the Secession, for supply of sermon now multiplied; and in compliance with these, Messrs James At the Synod of 1871 the Presbytery of Ireland consisted of 10 congregations, two of which were vacant.-EDS.

Proudfoot, Matthew Henderson, John Mason, and John Smart, were sent by the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod prior to 1765. In that year the Rev. James Clark, of Ballibay, in Ireland, proceeded thither, under the sanction of the Associate (Burgher) Synod, with a part of his congregation, and joined the Presbytery of Pennsylvania. He was followed by Messrs Telfar and Kinloch from the same body in 1769. They also united with the Presbytery of Pennsylvania without being required to renounce their relation to the Associate (Burgher) Synod. In a few years, however, Messrs Telfar and Kinloch returned to Scotland. Mr Gellatly was removed by death. Messrs John Smith and John Rodgers were sent out in 1770. The Presbytery of Pennsylvania in 1776 consisted of 13 ministerial members, and, for greater convenience, was then divided into two Presbyteries, that of Pennsylvania and that of New York. These two Presbyteries had entirely separate jurisdiction, and were held to be in connection only by the subordination of both to the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod of Scotland.

In 1774, three ministers of the Reformed (Cameronian) Presbytery who had gone out to America, at the request of persons formerly of that communion in Scotland, but then settled in Pennsylvania, formed themselves into a Presbytery, under the designation of THE REFORMED PRESBYTERY. A union of these three Presbyteries was projected in 1779, and carried into effect in 1788, and the united body took the name of THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCH. Against this union, two ministers of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania-namely, William Marshall and James Clarkson-protested, and continued a separate organisation, under the original title of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania. In this act they were sustained and approved of by the two Synods in Scotland, which immediately sent out other ministers to aid them to supply the vacant congregations which adhered to them. Thus originated "The Associate" and "Associate Reformed" Churches of America, which, ever since that time, have pursued a separate course, having no ministerial communion with each other, though holding nearly the same doctrines, and agreeing very closely in worship and discipline.*

By the fostering care of the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod in Scotland, the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania increased in numbers, and spread over a vast extent of country. This soon rendered it necessary to constitute three Presbyteries--namely, the Presbyteries of Philadelphia, Cambridge, and Chartiers. These, together with a presbytery previously constituted in Kentucky, were formed into one Synod, styled the Associate Synod of North America, which met for the first time in Philadelphia, May 20, 1801. This Synod kept up a friendly intercourse with the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod in Scotland till 1820, when communications ceased, on account of the union of the two great branches of the Secession in that year. Respecting the merits of that union great diversity of views existed among the ministers of the Associate Church in America; and the question, whether the American Church should join in that union, was negatived by the casting-vote of the moderator.

The Associate Synod of North America continued to increase till 1838, when nine ministers, who, for a series of years, had contended against a course of maladministration in the Synod, were thrust out by a majority, as the original Seceders had

These two Churches were happily united in 1858, and now form the United Presbyterian Church of America. At the Union, the United Church had 4 Synods, 49 Presbyteries, 419 ministers, 66 licentiates, 14 foreign missionaries, 660 congregations, 54,789 communicants, 4 theological seminaries, 6 colleges, and 6 weekly or monthly periodicals. —EDS.

been driven from the Established Church of Scotland. The ministers thus expelled protested against the proceedings, and formed themselves into three Presbyteriesnamely, Cambridge, Albany, and Vermont, under one Synod. A minister in the Presbytery of Maine was soon after cut off for the same reason; and, as he was followed by another minister, and a considerable portion of their people, they formed themselves into a Free Presbytery. About the same time, two others were expelled in Virginia and Carolina, for not acceding to the Synod's new terms of communion on the subject of slavery. These amounted in 1844 to 15. Previous to the separations in 1838, the Associate Presbytery of North America consisted of 15 Presbyteries, having 100 ministers, and more than 200 congregations. In 1844, it had 14 Presbyteries, with 103 ministers and 208 congregations.

A Theological Seminary was established by this Church, under the Rev. Dr Anderson as professor, in 1794, being the first institution of the kind in the United States; that of the Associate Reformed Church, under Dr John Mason, in 1805, being the next. This seminary had, in 1844, two able professors and 30 students.

The Associate Reformed Church, formed as above stated, consisting of three Presbyteries, met in Synod immediately after the union in 1784. The three Presbyteries were soon after subdivided into seven. In 1802 the Synod was divided into four Provincial or "Particular" Synods-namely, New York, Pennsylvania, Seiota, and the Carolinas. After this division, the first General Synod met by delegation in May 1804. In 1805 the Theological Seminary was instituted, under Dr Mason. This institution, which had been long effective, fell under pecuniary embarrassment in 1820, and was discontinued. In the same year the Synod of Seioto withdrew from the General Synod, and in the year following (1821) the Synod of the Carolinas also withdrew; so that the General Synod now consisted of the Synods of New York and Pennsylvania. In 1822 a resolution was passed by this body to unite with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. This was effected by a majority of the delegates that year (16 in all), being in favour of the union, though a majority of the Presbyteries voted against it. By this division the valuable theological library, belonging to the seminary, was transferred to the General Assembly, but was afterwards recovered. The result of this union also was, that about 12 congregations withdrew from the Synod, and united with the General Assembly. Thus was the General Synod of the Associate Church in a few years dissolved, and three separate and independent Synods were formed, which continue to this day-namely, the Synod of New York, the Synod of the West, and the Synod of the Carolinas, each of which has its theological institution. Though independent of each other, they still hold friendly intercourse as sister Churches. The Synod of the Carolinas in 1844 formed a union with the exscinded brethren of the Associate Church in that region; and the Synod of the West formed a union with the Associate Synod, and with one of the two branches into which the Reformed Presbyterian Church was a short time before divided. In 1838 the Synod of New York had 4 Presbyteries, 40 ministers, and 44 congregations; the Synod of the West had 7 Presbyteries, 68 ministers, and 145 congregations; and the Synod of the Carolinas had 2 Presbyteries, 19 ministers, and 28 congregations. In all, 13 Presbyteries, 127 ministers, and 217 congregations.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NOVA SCOTIA.

Nova Scotia, in its most extensive meaning, is a province of British America, bounded by Canada, the Gulf of St Lawrence, the Atlantic Ocean, and the United States of America. It was divided in 1784 into two provinces, that of New Brunswick, and that of Nova Scotia proper. Nova Scotia, in this limited sense, is a peninsula joined to the continent of America by a narrow isthmus, and is about 240 miles in length, by 30 to 60 in breadth, and lies to the west of New Brunswick. Prince Edward Island, 117 miles in length, with a medium breadth of 20 miles, lies near the northern coast of Nova Scotia, to which government it is annexed. Cape Breton is an island not much less than that of Prince Edward, from which it is separated only by a narrow channel called Northumberland Straits. All these regions are to be understood as embraced, or in course of being embraced, by the Church whose designation furnishes the title to this chapter, but which was originally known as a branch of the Secession Church in Scotland.

From what has been said under our narrative of the "Secession Church in Ireland," it will be seen that the Church so named gained a footing in that country very early in its history, and spread rapidly, especially in the counties of Antrim, Donegal, and Londonderry. Seceders, along with other Presbyterians from these districts, emigrated to Hampshire in America, now the United States; thence they removed to Truro, in Nova Scotia, about the year 1761. In May 1765, a petition signed by 60 of these persons was presented to the Associate (Burgher) Synod, setting forth their "destitute condition through the prevalence of Popery and the great want of the Gospel; and craving them to send a competent number of able ministers to that province, for erecting Christ's throne of discipline in it, and, in the meantime, to appoint one of their number to come over to dispense Word and Sacrament among them." In compliance with this request, the Rev. David Telfar, minister of Bridge of Teith, and Mr Samuel Kinloch, probationer, proceeded, by appointment of Synod, to that country in the spring of 1766. Mr Kinloch was called to Truro, but declined the call. He returned to Scotland in 1769, and was soon ordained over the congregation of Abbey Close, Paisley.

About the same time with the other branch of the Secession, the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod began to take interest in Nova Scotia as a missionfield. They sent out as their agent Mr James Murdoch, who, after preaching a short time at Windsor, removed to Musquodoboit, where he was unfortunately drowned.

The Rev. Daniel Cock of Greenock and the Rev. David Smith of St Andrews succeeded Mr Kinloch as agents from the Associate (Burgher) Synod, the latter of whom settled in Londonderry, and was the first minister belonging to this branch of the Secession who actually entered upon a permanent charge in Nova Scotia, though the other was called before him, and afterwards settled in Truro. These were the only Presbyterian ministers in the district till 1785, when Mr Hugh Graham, a licentiate of the Associate (Burgher) Synod, was settled in Cornwallis, and thus increased their number.

In 1786, these three ministers formed themselves into a Presbytery, called the Presbytery of Truro, which was subsequently enlarged by accessions of congregations in the colony, and by ministers from the mother country.

Mr James McGregor,* missioned by the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod,

* Afterwards Rev. Dr M'Gregor. See "History of the Secession Church in Nova Scotia," by Rev. Dr James Robertson, Glasgow, pp. 75-185.-Eds.

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