The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has accepted
the Duke of Richmond's Bill for the extinction of patronage almost with unanimity. Dr. Cook attempted to resist a measure which, he contended, would make the minister the minister of a particular party within the parish, and destroy the rights of the body of the parishioners, now represented by the lay patrons. He believed also that the arrangement would give a new argu- ment to those who wished to disestablish and disendow the Church. He moved a long resolution embodying these ideas, but finding no substantial support, he withdrew it. The Free Church, on, the other hand, does not approve the Bill, which it suspects may impair its influence ; and its principal leader,
Dr. Rainy, seems to be supported in expressing his dislike to a renewal of connection with the State, apparently holding that a nation should have a creed, but that once accepted, the nation should have no control over it. At least, that is the only way in which we can reconcile his dislike to State connection with the -old doctrine of the Free Kirk, that every State should recognise a visible Church on earth.
