poses and ends, which are none other than the maintenance, enunciation, and propagation as widely as possible, of the "true Catholic doctrine and principles of the Church."--An address from the provisional President, G. J. R. Gordon, yr. of Ellon, was then read by the Secretary. In this address Mr Gordon dwelt chiefly on the great need of such an association in Scotland, if the Church is ever to regain her rightful position in this country, and the ignorance which so widely prevails regarding her true character and claims is ever to be removed. It is, then, he said, to remedy this great fault of ignorance that our association is to be formed-that is to say, to place the Church before the people in "doctrine, ritual, and polity whenever opportunity for doing so occurs, as she really is, and not in the travestie that she has been condemned, by ignorance of her true principles, in these important respects to wear. -The necessity for this is evident, if the Church is not to be made to abdicate her true place and eternal rights. Hitherto we have been content to consider ourselves as a barely tolerated body, and have submitted to the denomination and the status of a mere sect, as is proved by nothing more clearly than by the hitherto almost universal designation of "chapel" applied to our churches, equally with the places of worship of Protestant sectarians and Roman Catholic schismatics. It is time we should emerge from this false and unworthy position, and assert the rights and privileges of the Catholic Church; and in order to do this in Scotland, it is necessary, as elsewhere-as in England, for instance that Catholics should unite and associate themselves to do the work which the Church's own peaceful character and worldly poverty forbid her to undertake. It has been said we are too small a body for the successful working of that machinery which answers so well in England, and that if something must be done, a Northern Branch of the English Church Union would be preferable to an independent association which we are now occupied in founding. In answer to this reasoning, I would urge that, admitting the fewness of our numbers, that is, in my opinion, an additional reason for our associating ourselves for our mutual defence, and that the idea of a Northern Branch of the English Church Union has been already tried in this city, and has failed. Our motto, it seems to me, should be that of another association in the South, which began from as modest and seemingly hopeless an origin as our own, but which has grown to occupy a place of the highest consideration, and now influences the whole wonderful ecclesiological movement of these kingdoms-the encouraging motto I mean, 66 Surge igitur et fac, et erit Dominus tecum."-The address, of which the above is a very brief abstract, was ordered to be engrossed in the minutes. The meeting then proceeded to the election of office-bearers and the general committee for the present year. A list of these, together with the code of rules adopted for the management of the association, was ordered to be printed for immediate circulation. Upwards of forty members were enrolled; and as several ladies had written to the Secretary requesting to be admitted as members, it was resolved, after due consideration, to admit ladies as ASSOCIATES, and to utilise their services in the way that is done in several similar Church associations in England. DIOCESE CF GLASGOW AND GALLO- THE annual Christmas presentation of prizes to Sunday scholars, in connection with the Church here, took place on the evening of Saturday, 31st ultimo, and at the same time, there was the usual distribution to deserving poor, of provisions, coal, money, &c.—Kilmarnock Standard, January 7, 1865. CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AT KILMARNOCK. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. -The decorations of Holy Trinity Church, Winton Place, are chaste, elegant, and in keeping with the edifice and the occasion. The taste displayed in all the devices is most refined, and the admiration which was bestowed on them proved a higher and more graceful compliment than our poor pen could pay to Mr. and Mrs. Penny, under whose supervision they were made, and who drew the plan of the whole embellishments. The tout ensemble of the church viewed from the organ gallery, is truly magnificent, and beauteous. We will endeavour to give our readers a general idea of the fairy-like garniture with which the walls of Winton Place H. T. Church were clothed. Entering the door, immediately opposite on the south side, is an illuminated text "His name shall be called Jesus," suitably embellished with holly devices. On the centre panel of the wall is a beautiful tinted and gilt monogram I. H. S. with cross, and surmounted by a prettily cut crown. Above this is a handsome evergreen double triangle, and the whole is surrounded by circular devices and evergreens and holly. Over the vestry door is a scroll "Glory to God in the highest," and the rest of the south wall is most tastefully covered with ever green devices, star shaped, triangular, circular, and cruciform. Over the reading desk-which by the way, is a recent erection, and a most elegant piece of workmanship, beautifully carved in oak-is another illuminated scroll "The Word was made flesh, with numerous ornamental figures in holly about and around it. Corresponding to these, and over the pulpit is the scroll "God of God, light of light." Down the north side are every variety of device, in every variety of evergreen, relieved by the following illuminated scrolls "Hosanna to the son of David,” "The Prince of Peace." On the centre wall is another beautiful monogram in pink and gold— I. H. S. The whole of the chancel is profusely wreathed. The east window, the main arch, the pulpit and lectern, and the whole of the windows are gracefully hung with wreaths of evergreens, nicely relieved with the pretty red berries of the holly. On either side of the east window is richly decorated trellis work. Turning to the organ gallery, the visitor is struck with the tasteful manner in which it is garlanded, as also with the scroll- Glory to the new-born King." On either side of the west window are the texts, "Unto us a child is born," and "Unto us a son is given." The pillars supporting the gallery are wreathed with evergreens, and the font is chastely decorated and surmounted with the holly crown. The church should be visited by all our readers who love the beautiful in decorative art, and we can say that it has only to be seen to be admired. -Kilmarnock Post, December 31, 1864. 66 CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.--In Glasgow all the churches are now decorated at Christmas; and from the crowds which attend them on Christmas-Day, it would seem that much interest is felt in the decorations by the community at large. With one exception, the Glasgow Churches are not well suited for such displays; yet much taste has been shewn, and the general effect is excellent.At St. Andrew'sthe oldest of them-the most prominent feature is the altar. The pillars are wreathed, and there are some good devices.-At St. Mary's, besides very tasteful wreathing of the pillars, font, &c., there are at the east end three scrolls bordered with holly; that in the centre, immediately above the altar, bearing the inscription, "Immanuel, God with us," and surmounting a beautiful large cross of red berries; while the other two (one on each side), have the inscriptions, "The child Jesus," and "The Son of God."-At Christchurch, the decorations are effective, though there is less to call for special remark.But at St. John's, where the Architecture admits of more ecclesiastical harmony in such things, full advantage has been taken of the opportunity thus afforded. In particular, a very beautiful rood screen deserves notice, while the font, the pulpit, and the pillars are all admirably decorated.-At the East End, the devices are also very good. On the 27th and 28th December, the children attending St. Mary's Sunday Schools were entertained at two Christmas Festivals, the one held in the large schoolroom of the "Bishop's School," the other at the Infant School in the Cowcaddens; at the former, there were also present about 60 children of the Sunday school in Bedford Street, on the south side, taught by members of the Church Institute. There was some excellent music, consisting of Christmas carols and glees; a great entertainment was afforded by a magic lantern, shewn with great kindness by Mr. Law and Mr. Robert M'Ewen. The second day's feast was reserved for the youngest children, under seven years of age, for whom a magnificent Christmas tree had been provided, laden with suitable presents. On both occasions the children were addressed by the Incumbent. ST. MARY'S, GLASGOW.-On St. Thomas's Day, the Bishop of Glasgow held an Ordination in this Church, when the Rev. W. H. Richardson (formerly a student of Trinity College, Glenalmond), who has been Curate of St. Mary's for the last eighteen months, was ordained Priest. Morning Prayer was read by the Incumbent, the Rev. R. S. Oldham, M.A., and the sermon was preached by the Bishop, who was afterwards assisted by the Dean of Glasgow, in the administration of the Holy Communion, and by the Dean and the other clergy present, in the laying on of hands. A special interest attached to this ordination, from the fact of Mr. Richardson's being the first gentleman ordained Priest in Scotland, since the passing of the late Act of Parliament, by which the Scottish Disabilities were removed. The same gentleman, who, last year sent £100 to the Incumbent of St. Mary's, to be spent in Christmas gifts to the poor, again this Christmas sent the same sum to him for the same purpose; and out of his bounty, about 150 poor families received presents of coals, blankets, flannel, tea, and Christmas dinners. CORRESPONDENCE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SCOTTISH GUARDIAN. SIR,-I beg to request the insertion in next month's Guardian, of a contradiction of a statement in your last number to the effect that while, this year, "the Church Society's maximum grant has been £65, every incumbent has received a grant, whose stipend, irrespective of a parsonage, did not amount to £120." To my certain knowledge, one incumbent, without a parsonage, and whose stipend, from all sources, for the past year, has amounted to no more than between £20 and £30, has been refused even a farthing of assistance from the Society; and this, notwithstanding that his congregation has lost by its contributions to the Society's funds within the past twelve months, between £9 and £10.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant, January 9, 1865. A LAYMAN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SCOTTISH GUARDIAN. SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND GALLOWAY. THE following has been sent us by Mr. Hay as a commentary upon a report of the Glasgow Synod supplied to us by our cotemporary, the Glasgow Herald. As our cotemporary admitted a similar letter into its columns, we allow Mr Hay to give his commentary, with the understanding that no further communications will be made to us upon -[ED. S. G.] it. SIR,-In the report of the above Synod in the October number of the Scottish Guardian, there is an ex parte statement of a certain matter, which was expressly declared at the Synod to be private. As this public report of a private matter does not tell the “whole truth,” and therefore does not tell the truth, I beg to supply the omission. Without my consent, the matter could not have been discussed at all in Synod; but at the earnest private entreaty of Mr. F. P. Flemyng, I allowed him to make in my name the following statement, written by himself:-"It having been stated to me that it is the feeling of the Clergy of the diocese that the language and tone of some pamphlets recently published by me are unjustifiable as used by a presbyter towards his bishop; that whilst I decline to make any allusion to these documents themselves, their contents, or the circumstances under which I was led to write and publish them, and perfectly independent of the consideration of the merits or demerits of the case itself; I am willing to withdraw these pamphlets, without in any way (by so doing), prejudicing my cwn position in the grievance under which I consider myself now placed." Along with this statement, and in consequence of what had previously passed between us, I gave to Mr. Flemyng the following dum of what I claimed as my due, and of what I would be satisfied with as an adjustment of the dispute between myself and the bishop, viz,—“ 1. Payment of balance of minimum stipend for the years 1863 and 1864; 2. School-building grant of £75 from the Church Society as soon as its funds will allow it." The foregoing facts will shed a new light on the Scottish Guardian's report of the matter. memoran What the Scottish Guardian says about ". any steps which the Bishop may deem it necessary to take in his judicial capacity" is new to me. Sitting at the distance at which I sat, and closely engaged almost the whole time listening to, and weighing the joint urgings of three or four clergymen who sat near me, the reference to judi cial steps on the part of the bishop may have been made as your report puts it, without my observing it: but I certainly understood that I was the party who was supposed (and rightly supposed), to be about to resort to legal measures against the bishop, and that the bishop wished only to reserve his rights (sic) against that contingency. In the face of a threatened prosecution, the withdrawal of the pamphlets would be the act of a writer who stated what he knew not to be the fact, and as I decline to lie under such an imputation, and have published in these pamphlets only the simple truth, I here publicly announce that so long as anything is said in the Scottish Guardian or elsewhere about "judicial steps," (the phrase is not mine), on the part of the bishop, I will not withdraw the pamphlets in question.—I am, &c., WILLIAM HAY. Parsonage, Baillieston, 28th December, 1864. : The following are the remarks of the Glasgow Herald of 2d Sept.: "The report to which Mr Hay refers is an abbreviated, but not an ex parte one. Our reporter stated that it was intimated, on behalf of Mr Hay, that he was willing to withdraw certain pamphlets,' and this is not denied by Mr Hay himself. The remainder of the report on this subject consists of the resolution to which the Synod came, and which Mr Hay comments upon, as if the language was ours. Mr Hay has no right to declare the proceedings to have been of a private nature. In point of fact, they took place in open court, and the court itself issued no injunctions regarding them. We insert Mr Hay's letter, therefore, not because he has any right to claim its insertion, but merely as a matter of courtesy and indulgence on our part." TO THE EDITOR OF THE SCOTTISH GUARDIAN. DEAR SIR,-At the meeting of the Church Society on the 14th instant, it was my intention as a member, to have requested the record of my protest against the grant of £35 for stipend aid made to Blairgowrie, by the "Committee on Claims;" but a Lay friend thought it better not to delay the proceedings of a general meeting by doing so. I have now to rccord my protest through your columns, to the Church at large, against this grant, on the ground that the money of the Church Society is thereby misapplied, and a strain caused to meet this case, on Rule IV., S. 1 of the Society, and on Canon XI., II., on which that Rule is based. 66 Blairgowrie is a Charge which cannot be characterized as one struggling with pecuniary difficulties." The Incumbent lives absent therefrom-7 miles distant-and is occupied from the Monday morning until the Saturday, taking a part in the duties of a large and lucrative private Boarding Educational Establishment. The very Rev. Dean Ramsay did not labour hard, five and twenty years ago, to get up the Church Society, for the purpese of aiding charges in the present circumstances of that of Blairgowrie; and his "Earnest Appeal" of last year was not made, my humble opinion, to encourage and aid absenteeism in any of our charges. in As to the Episcopal Government of this and other like cases, I have no right to enter upon, whatever my private opinion as a Layman may be. Now that our Civil Disabilities are removed, and the Clergy left with full liberty of action, both they and the Laity must, henceforth, recognize the Missionary |