SCOTLAND.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 79, 24 August 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCOTLAND .

A few days ago, the General Assembly of the Scottish Free Church received the report of a committee which has now been in existence for two years, appointed to confer with a committee of the United Presbyterian Church, with a view to an incorporating union of the two Churches. Some other Presbyterian bodies have also within the past year become parties to the conference. Last yeav in the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church, and in the Free Church Assembly, there were lengthened discussions on the question of union, which elicited a decided difference of opinion as to the duty of the civil magistrate towards the Church. This question the majority in both Houses indicated might be made an open one, all parties being independent of the State ; but there were minorities in both which called upon the committees distinctly to affirm the doctrines held by the Churches respectively. The joint-committee was re-appointed by the majority on both sides, and the report now given in states that considerable progress had been made during the second year in comparing the opinions of the two Churches, in which generally great harmony has been evinced. The questio vexata was not, however, touched upon in the present year's report, and the joint-com-mittee now wished re-appointment to complete their task, intimating that a final report on the whole subject might be expected to be made next year. In both denominations the joint committee has been authorised to prosecute the matter to a conclusion. Several speakers having addressed the assembly, the report was approved, and the committee reappointed. The Rev A. K. H. Boyd, D.D., has been appointed to the first charge of the church and parish of St. Andrew's, in the presbytery of St. Andrew's and county of Fife. The Edinburgh Radicals, dissatisfied with the Lord- Advocate and Mr Black, have determined to put in nomination Mr Duncan M'Laren and Mr John Miller, both of whom profess " advanced" principlesMrs Tyndal Bruce, of Falkland, is said to have munificently given the sum of LlO.OOO for the establishing fellowships and scholarships in the University of Edinburgh, and L5000 for the like purpose in the University of St. Andrew's.