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new congregation had begun, and was showing activity. At the head of it were Messrs. John Redpath and J. R. Orr, two honoured Christian gentlemen, familiar with Presbyterian principles, to whom the "Rules and Regulations" were accordingly offensive. They, and others associated with them, in the endeavour to establish a congregation holding well-defined Free Church views, seem to have concluded that it would be impossible to purge the St. Gabriel Street Church constitution of the leaven of Erastianism, in which they regarded it as steeped, and hence they resolutely refused to commit themselves to counting the old church on St. Gabriel Street as the only and all sufficient representative of the principles involved in the disruption in Scotland Besides, Mr. Redpath never concealed his apprehension that it might be found in the end that the minority of the congregation still claiming connection with the Church of Scotland, would be reinstated by the Civil Courts in possession of the Church and Manse. His mind was made up, therefore, that the wisest and best course for the Free Church sympathizers was to commence on an entirely new foundation. He succeeded in impressing these views on many of the other leaders of the movement in Montreal, as well as upon the ministers whom the Free Church of Scotland sent out from time to time to preach to the adherents of that church in this city. Mr. Esson took in the situation thoroughly, and as he desired that the old church should be the centre of the new ecclesiastical organization for the Montreal district, he besought the people to remove from the "Rules and Regulations" the features of which complaints had been made. There was a natural hesitancy on the part of the proprietors of pews, not only in that they were asked to surrender civil rights and cherished privileges, an order of things, too, that was venerable for its antiquity and was hallowed by long associations, but they found that any

meddling with the constitution at this juncture might affect their title to the property. However, Mr. Esson's earnest entreaties prevailed. The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada also took up the question, in 1845,— moved thereto by a reference from the Presbytery of Montreal, in connection with that church. It was resolved: "That Mr. Esson be appointed to visit St. Gabriel Street congregation, and assist them in revising the constitution and deeds of the church, that the same in all that relates to spiritual things may be brought into harmony with the standard and practice of this church. That these instruments, when so revised, shall be, by Mr. Esson, or any other office-bearer of the church, laid before the Presbytery of the bounds, who, on being satisfied with the same, shall direct the congregation to take the requisite steps for procuring a successor to Mr. Esson."

Accordingly, at a "General Meeting of the Temporal Proprietors of the Scotch Presbyterian Church," held on June 30th, 1845, the "Rules and Regulations for the Proprietors were revised, corrected and extended." The first five articles were left untouched. But the 6th and 7th articles were completely remodelled;

6th." That in the election of a Pastor, when a vacancy shall occur, and in all that pertains to the conduct of spiritual affairs, the congregation shall conform invariably to the laws and prescriptions of the ecclesiastical authorities. Proprietors, as such, have no right or power whatever to intermeddle with spiritual things, except they be communicants, or full members of the church.”

7th." No Proprietor or pew-holder shall be permitted to have any voice or vote in the Temporal or Spiritual concerns of the church, who is known to be a member of any other church or congregation."

Articles, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, also remained unchanged. The 12th Article was shortened to read: "No

change respecting these articles shall take place, unless the said change shall have been made at a General Meeting of the Proprietors." Two new clauses were inserted :—

13th. "That in the meantime, while it is expedient for the security of the Temporal Property of the church to leave the Temporalities to be managed as heretofore, it shall be understood that the power of the Proprietors of Pews shall be interpreted and limited by the laws and standards of the Presbyterian Church of Canada."

14th."It is further declared by the Proprietors, hereunto subscribing, that they are ready to conform in all respects to the principles of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and the enactments of her ecclesiastical authorities in all spiritual things, and are even prepared, should it be found necessary or expedient, to sacrifice their rights as Proprietors, in order that the great ends of the spiritual government of the Church may be attained."

Article 13th in the old Rules was made 15th in the revised constitution.

These changes brought the church into harmony with true Presbyterian principles; whereas, before, it was like no other ecclesiastical organization under the sun, in the spirit of its regulations. The Committee of Proprietors embraced in themselves the functions of patron, kirksession, and Presbytery, all in one.

This revised constitution was that under which the Church was governed, until it was vacated by Knox congregation. By the Act, Victoria 27 and 28, c. 161, the old proprietary rights in the building were abolished, and it was left to the congregation as re-organized, to frame rules for the government of the church, subject to the approval of the Presbytery of Montreal in connection with the Church of Scotland. Such "Rules and Regulations" were adopted on February 10th, 1867.

Article 8th reads:—"This congregation shall be under

the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, as provided for in section 4 of the Act of Incorporation; and in all matters pertaining to the election of ministers and elders, they shall conform to the rules and forms in force for the time being in said Church."

In a sub-section, it is stipulated that no changes in the constitution shall be made without the sanction of the Presbytery. In all respects, the rules are in line with the ordinary practice of the Presbyterian Church throughout the world, and have worked very smoothly. It was under these rules that the old edifice closed its history, and the new St. Gabriel Church starts out in its career with them for its guidance.

CHAPTER XV.

The new names that appear on the subscription list to Mr. Somerville, in 1803—John Grant, Isaac Todd, John Shuter, Archibald McMil an, eorge latt, ohn cKinstry, ames yle, acob all, illiam kakel, eorge kakel, lexander kakel, illiam raham, ohn cKindlay, ohm orteous, illiam orteous, ndrew orteous, inlay isher, ames mith, ohn gilvy, m. tewart, ndrew atterson, asper ough, ames aing, lex. llison, lex. avidson, ohn eid, on. udge eid, imon cTavish, hos. lackwood, m. allowell, ohn atanach, nd . unerman, homas hain.

Montreal, 21st June, 1803.

"At a meeting of the committee and elders of the Presbyterian congregation of this city, on the 20th inst., it was unanimously resolved that a subscription be set on foot amongst the congregation in order to ascertain what sum may be raised for the salary of Mr. Somerville annually for three or five years, to commence from the first of January last, including pew-rents previous to his being called to Montreal, provided he be regularly ordained as minister for said congregation."

Below, I mention only those whose names appear in connection with the church, for the first time, on this list.

John Grant of Lachine, who subscribed two pounds per annum for three years, was agent for the North-west Company, and attended to the forwarding of their stores and supplies from Lachine, and carried on the business of a forwarder generally. He was born in Glenmorriston, near Inverness, Scotland, in 1754, and came to Canada in

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