The Scotch Churches.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 2420, 31 July 1891, Page 2

The Scotch Churches.

Writing on June 11, with reference to the General Assemblies of the Established and Free Churches of Scotland, the E linburgli correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times " RAys :— Some curious disclosures were made m th<; Free Assembly regarding tho very defejtivo knowledge of the English Bible possessed by Hie sti-dent ••, and the farcical examination to which they were subjected m th!s i npoitam, subject. One minister croiited groat amusement by quoting from tho lately 3>ub]i*he rl diary of the late Rev Dv A. N.. Somerville (who once visited Dunedi'i) an entry relating to an examination of students many years ago. The entry ran thus :—"Robert Rainy ; admirable m literature and philosophy, but not so wpII acquainted with Scripture. However, very promising." Rev Dr Henderson, one of the clerks of the Assembly, used some strong language regarding the ignorance of the students ; and the pres byteries were requested to look into the matter. Dr Henderson naid that it was " a very common complaint" that "extreme inaccuracy " was displayed m quoting the Bible m the pulpit, and "some very extraordinary answers were given m examination." The statistics of the Established Church give its total membership as amounting to 593,933, an increase of 5439 during the year. The Free Church membership is returned at 338,978, being an increase for the year of only 21. These figures seem pitifully small, and yet, as everybody knows, if the rolls were properly purged, the totals would sink vastly lower. Mr Howie, of Govan, who is an acknowledged authority on this subject, affirmed m the Free Assembly that it was where the population was largest that the church had least hold upon it, and he charged it with neglecting the poorer districts of their large communities. In Glasgow there were 300,000 people outside all the churches, and only 18 per cent were connected with the three Presbyterian Churches. He added that it w;is not so much a question or denomination as of getting men who were m sympathy with the masses. Another speaker -the Rev. Archibald Russell, Glasgow stated that m that city there are 20,000 "lapsed" Highlanders. jMost non-ecclesiastical people think that the Assemblies should take up such pressing needs as these figures disclose, rither than spend their time m barren and acrimonious debates. Every year makes it nibre apparent that the churches are fast losing their hold upon the people, especially m the towns, and no thoughtful person can contemplate this fact and its is?ues without regret and concern. In regard to finances, the Established Church last year.raised m all (including seat rents) a total sum of £428,558, being an increase of £9262 on the preceding year. The Free Church raised £653,694, being an increase for the year of £3981. The sustentation fund showed considerable improvement, and sanguine hopes are entertained of so raising it m amount as to allow m a very few years of £200 being paid to every minister of the church. Once previously hi the history of the church this figure was reached.