covered by a network of Protestant schools, with here and there an evangelical church.

AFRICA.

"Africa, west, south, and east, has been vigorously attacked; in the west, from Senegal to Gaboon, yes, lately even to the Congo, by Great Britain, Basel, Bremen, and America, which have stations all along the coast. South Africa, at the extremity, was evangelized by German, Dutch, English, Scotch, French, and Scandinavian societies. Upon both sides, as in the center, Protestant missions, although at times checked by war, are continually pressing to the north; to the left, beyond the Walfisch Bay; to the right, into Zululand, up to Delagoa Bay; in the center to the Bechuana and Basuto lands. In the east, the sun of the Gospel, after a long storm, has burst forth over Madagascar in such brightness that it can never again disappear. Along the coast from Zanzibar and the Nile, even to Abyssinia, outstations have been established, and powerful assaults made by the Scotch, English, and recently also by the American mission and civilization, into the very heart of the Dark Continent, even to the great central and east African lakes.

AMERICA.

"In America, the immense plains of the Hudson's Bay Territory, from Canada over the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, have not only been visited by missionaries, but have been opened far and wide to the Gospel through rapidly growing Indian missions. In the United States hundreds of thousands of freedmen have been gathered into evangelical congregations; and of the remnants of the numerous Indian tribes, some at least have been converted through the work of evangelization by various churches, and have awakened new hope for the future. In Central America and the West Indies, as far as the country is under Protestant home nations, the net of evangelical missions has been thrown from island to island, even to the mainland in Honduras, upon the Mosquito Coast; and in British and Dutch Guiana it has taken even firmer hold. Finally, the lands on and before the southern extremity of the continent, the Falkland Islands, Terra del Fuego, and Patagonia, received the first light through the South American Missionary Society (in London); and recently its messengers have pushed into the heart of the land, and are rapidly pressing on to the banks of the great Amazon, to the Indians of Brazil." 1

'Universal Hist., 1 vol. ed., pp. 635, 636.

THE STATE
CHURCH

IN SCOTLAND.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SCOTTISH AND IRISH CHURCHES.

THE Curse of the modern Scottish Church has been its State connection. This has been the direct or indirect cause of nearly all its schisms and troubles. The Reformation fathers in Scotland believed strongly in the State supporting the Church and putting down heresies, but they believed that the Church should have the right of self-government. When a Church, however, is established by law it necessarily foregoes that right to a degree, and becomes the organ by which the State teaches religion and worships God. Any powers of discipline which it may still possess it receives by consent of the State, which consent may be withdrawn at any time. In its palmy days the Church of Scotland had the happy fortune to be largely free in its internal government and yet under State protection at the same time. The parishes could call their own ministers, as a rule, and the presbyters could exercise their functions as a spiritual court. When the Church was reestablished under William III these spiritual privileges were confirmed. But a change came. The Scottish Parliament was abolished in 1707, and the State was represented by a Parliament largely composed of Anglicans. It would almost appear that these now attempted to do by indirection what they could not do by their long persecutions. In 1712 they passed a law granting full liberty to the Anglican liturgy and dissenting churches in Scotland-a law that was in itself, of course, altogether commendable-and vesting the right of presentation of ministers or of candidates (probationers) to vacant churches in the crown or in patrons. This law wrought untold mischief in Scotland. And yet an established Church could not fairly find fault with it, for if a Church seeks the power and prestige of State support, it cannot object to the paramount authority defining the conditions on which the privileges granted rest.

It was inevitable that a conflict would ensue whenever men who desired to keep the Church independent of the State in its internal arrangements as the Church of Christ were brought face to face with the new conditions. No doubt they were inconsistent in remaining at all in a State Church, but they cannot be blamed for