Free Church of Scotland. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ASSEMBLY ARRANGEMENTS. MAY 1867. THE Committee recommend to the Assembly the following Minute as to appointments to preach in the Hall during its sittings, viz. :— The General Assembly hereby appoint Mr. John Adam, minister at Aberdeen, to lecture and preach in the Hall at the forenoon diet of Sabbath the 26th of May; Mr. A. B. Bruce, minister at Cardross, to preach there in the afternoon; and Mr. James MacGregor, minister at Paisley, in the evening of the same day. The Assembly also instruct Mr. Adam, when preaching in the Hall on the 26th of May, to advocate the claims of the Society for the benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy. The Assembly also appoint Mr. Andrew Cameron, minister at Maryton, to lecture and preach in the Hall at the forenoon diet of Sabbath the 2d of June; Mr. Hugh M Millan, minister at Glasgow, in the afternoon; and Mr. Alexander Whyte, minister at Glasgow, in the evening of the same day. The Committee acted to the best of their judgment in carrying out the instructions of last Assembly with respect to a deputation to the American Churches. They reported their procedure to the Commission of Assembly in March, and the particulars of the arrangements made are recorded in the Minutes of Commission. They regret extremely to announce the circumstance of Dr. Guthrie having found that the state of his health would not allow him to continue the voyage; but there can be no doubt that the objects of the Church will be effectively promoted by Dr. Fairbairn and Mr. Wells, the remaining deputies. The Committee were unable to secure the services of any additional minister in the room of Dr. Guthrie; and although they have named two distinguished ruling elders as members of the deputation, they have been made aware that neither of these brethren has seen his way to undertake the duty. On the 27th of February, the Committee resolved that the expense of a deputation from the Colonial and Continental Committee to the Synod of Evangelical Churches in France ought not to be defrayed by this Committee, inasmuch as the Colonial and Continental Committee has funds of its own. The Committee also found, at the same date, that the expense of the deputations to visit Synods must be met by this Committee. They find the same as to the expense of the Committee for the distribution of Probationers. But they resolved to submit the question to the General Assembly, how such expenses as the two items last mentioned are to be arranged for the future, without involving this Committee and the Church in debt. The Committee report the following changes in the representation of Presbyteries, viz :--- Dumfries-One charge added by induction of minister into new charge. Representation for this year, four; next year, five. Lanark-One charge added by induction of minister into new charge. Representation for this year, two; next year, two. Glasgow-Three charges added, viz., two colleagues ordained, and one charge transferred (Hillhead). Representation for this year, twenty-three. Dunfermline-One charge added by induction of colleague. Dunkeld-One charge added by induction of colleague. Dundee Two charges added, viz., one colleague inducted and one minister ordained to new charge. Representation this year, eight; next year, nine. Aberdeen-One charge added by induction of minister to new charge. Representation this year, ten; next year, ten. Alford One charge added by induction of minister to new charge. Representation this year, two; next year, two. Garioch Two charges added, viz., minister ordained to new charge, and colleague ordained. Representation this year, four; next year, four. Inverness-One charge added by induction of minister to new charge. Representation this year, four; next year, four. Caithness-One charge deducted by death of colleague-minister. Representation this year, six; next year, five. Shetland-Three charges more by induction of ministers into new charges. Representation this year, three; next year, four. Edinburgh-In last year's table the number of charges is sixtyfour, but they returned twenty-two representatives to last Assembly in respect of sixty-five, which was their actual number at the time (including St. John's, Leith, colleague). Two charges have been added and two deducted this year, leaving the number the same; so that their representation this year will be twenty-two; next year, twenty-one. Selkirk One charge added; charge transferred. Representation this year, three; next year, four. On the 8th of April the Committee appointed in name of last Assembly the following deputation to the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of England, viz. : Mr. William Wilson, minister at Dundee, the Moderator of last Assembly; Dr. Alexander Beith, minister at Stirling; Mr. James Hood Wilson, minister at Edinburgh; Mr. Peter Hope, minister at Wamphray and Johnston; and Mr. James Balfour, W.S., Edinburgh; Mr. George Barbour of Bonskeid; and Mr. John Miller of Leithen, ruling elders. With reference to Act XII., 1860, anent representation of Presbyteries, the Committee recommend to the Assembly that the con cluding part of that Act, containing provisions as to changes in Presbyteries affecting representation, be repealed, leaving that matter to be regulated by the Standing Orders of the Assembly. With reference to the Declaratory Act III., 1865, Anent the Platform of the Equal Dividend,' the Committee recommend to the General Assembly to ordain that all applications from aid-receiving congregations for the appointment of colleagues and successors, which are made to the Commission in March, in terms of Act VIII., Assembly 1862, shall be transmitted by the Commission to the Special Committee on the Platform, to be dealt with in the same manner in which the Act VI., 1861, enacts, that the said Committee shall deal with cases of vacancy, but with the proviso that, if the said Committee shall form an unfavourable judgment in any such case, with respect to those matters specified in the said Act, they shall report the judgment, and the grounds of it, to the General Assembly, as well as to the Presbytery of the bounds, and shall proceed no further in the case until the General Assembly shall have pronounced a judgment. On the subject of Accounts and Expenses, the Committee report that they authorized Mr. Meldrum to intimate to each of the ministers named on the deputation to America that this Committee has placed £100 at his disposal for defraying his expenses, of which he may receive in ready money as much as he may require before starting; and that arrangements would be made with a house in New York for his drawing the balance, as far as he may find necessary. The Committee further report that the balance in bank at 31st March 1866 was At 31st March 1867 was £336 1 11 126 13 3 And that the excess of expenditure over income during the year has been £209, 8s. 8d. But there is included in the expenditure sums paid towards the expenses of the deputation to the United States, viz., £180 (which, it is supposed, will be provided apart from this fund), leaving still an excess of expenditure over funds of £29, 8s. 8d. The Committee have had their attention specially directed to the branch, Expenses of Committees of Assembly having no Funds,' and they observe that the amount of these expenses is increasing year by year, and that it is their increase which occasions the inadequacy of the funds of the Committee. They consider that some check should be introduced upon these expenses, and they recommend (1.) That the expenses of Committees having no funds of their |