Minutes of the Bury Pi esbyterian Olqssis. Edited by William
A. Shaw. Part I. (The Chetham Society.)—The " Classis " was a Presbytery consisting of the ministers and elders of six Lancashire parishes,—viz., Bury, Bolton, Middleton, Rochdale, Radcliffe, and Deane. The most interesting part of the proceedings relates to "malignant" ministers. Sundry ministers appear to have been complained of for various reasons. Mr. Thomas Blackburne, minister at Rivington, was accused of "kneeling doun at his first comeing both into ye desire and pulpitt." (By a curious change of feeling kneeling in the pulpit seems objectionable to people who have nothing in common with the Bury Presbyters.) Mr. Black- brume was preaching on approval. He desires to have a copy of the articles against him, but is refused. The Rivington people soon after petition for the appointment of Mr. John Walker. Then a Mr. Pollitt is accused. He was a Royalist and Episcopalian, and stuck to the surplice and the Book of Common Prayer. Worse than this, he "was at an ale feast when the Parliament forces were fighting against Warrington." He did not sing psalms in his family, and he would " sweare often by his faith."
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