byteries within their bounds, of their diligence therein.Act 22.

1706. It is seriously recommended to, and enjoined on presbyteries, to be more frequent and conscientious in visiting parishes, conform to acts of former General As semblies thereanent; and the commission is appointed to draw up and prepare a directory for ministerial visitation of families, and present the same to the next General As sembly.-Act 16.

1749. It is recommended and enjoined, That presby teries hold visitations of parishes where public schools are wanting, and take all proper and legal steps for settling such schools therein, with competent salaries, and the building of school-houses, as the law directs.-Act 6.

WARNING.

1714. The proceedings of the commission of Assembly 1713 are approven; and they are thanked particularly for their zeal against popery, and their seasonable impressing the minds of the people with loyalty to her majesty, firmness to the Protestant succession in the illustrious family of Hanover, and just aversion to the Pretender, all fully expressed in a seasonable warning given and published by the said commission.-Act 9.

1799. The Assembly address a pastoral admonition and warning to all the people under their charge, respecting vagrant teachers and Sunday's schools; which see at large in Act 11.

WEDDINGS, &c.

1649. Presbyteries ordered to take special care to restrain the abuses which take place at penny bridals, (weddings,) and also to censure the observers of lykewakes; by Act Feb. 12, Ass. 1645; and to prevent promiscuous dancing, and to censure such as are guilty of it, by Act July 19.

1701. The foresaid acts are revived; and the said acts re appointed to be read in churches before the congregaon, and synods to inquire at presbyteries concerning heir diligence anent the observance of the said acts; and ecommended to presbyteries to have their thoughts upon that further may be necessary for suppressing and preenting abuses at such occasions, and give their opinion hereanent to the then next Assembly.-Act 20.

1706. Recommended to presbyteries to apply to the udges ordinary for putting the laws relating to pennyridals in execution; and the commission is appointed, ipon representations from presbyteries of the judge's reusal, to apply to the government for obliging them to execute their office in this matter.-Act 4.

1719. Recommended to synods, presbyteries, and kirksessions, to see to the execution of the acts of Assembly against abuses at penny-weddings, and to apply to the civil magistrate for the execution of the laws against persons guilty of abuses and disorders on these occasions.

Act 10.

WIDOWS.

1718. It is recommended, 1. That every minister in Scotland dedicate the tenth of his stipend, for one year, for the relief of the widows and orphans of the ministers of this church, and it is appointed to be paid, in money and no otherwise, to the moderator of each presbytery, betwixt and the 15th May 1719, or betwixt and the 15th May 1721, with the ordinary annual rent thereof from the said 15th May 1719, to the time that the same shall be paid in. 2. That every minister thereafter to be ordained or admitted within the bounds of any synod, within the space of two years after his admission, pay in his said tenth, if he has not already paid it in another synod. 3. The money collected is appointed to be turned into a stock, and only the interest thereof to be distributed. 4. The contributors in every synod are appointed to have 4 the management of what sums shall be collected, and given to the widows and orphans of ministers, who have

served and contributed within their bounds. 5. No mie nisters' widows and children shall have any benefit from this fund, except their husbands or fathers have actually paid their tenth. 6. No ministers' widows shall have any title to the fund, after they shall be married to another husband, or children after marriage, or their being in a situation to do for themselves. 7. No widow or child

entitled to a share of this fund shall be allowed above L.10 thereof. 8. If any other charitably disposed persons, besides ministers, shall contribute, they shall have a vote and power in the management and distribution of the foresaid funds. 9. The Assembly discharge any dis tribution to be made, but at the ordinary diets of the sy nod. 10. It is declared, That such presbyteries as have already settled a fund for their widows and children, shall be at liberty either to keep and manage the same them selves, or join with the synod, as they shall think best. Lastly, it is declared, That if any event unforeseen shall fall in, that may hinder the execution of the above articles, in the manner proposed, the premises shall be ordered and managed according to further rules and directions to be given by the subsequent General Assemblies of this church.-Act 4.

1728. The time allowed by the above act for ministers paying in their contributions is extended to the term of Whitsunday 1725.—Act 10.

1735. The time is further extended to the term of Whitsunday 1736, by Act 4.

Note. The above acts superseded by act of parliament 17th Geo. II. amended by act 19th Geo. III. 20, entitled, "An Act for raising and establishing a Fund for a Provision for the Widows and Children of Ministers of the Church of Scotland, and of the Heads, Principals, and Masters of the Universities."

1744. That the said act of parliament may be easily and effectually executed, it is appointed, That every presbytery shall keep a separate register, wherein they shall record the names and parish churches of all the ministers then members of their respective presbyteries, who shall thereafter be admitted to a benefice within

e

their bounds, with a particular account, if such ministers be married, with the dates of their first ordination or admission to a benefice in the church of Scotland, the names of all their present children, the day, month, and year, of the birth of such of them as are under the age of sixteen; the names and dates of the birth of such of their children as shall thereafter be born; and likewise of their deaths, as the same shall happen. And ordained, That every presbytery record the names and parish churches of the several ministers who shall thereafter be admitted to a benefice within their bounds, with the particular dates of their respective admissions; and an account if such ministers be married, with the dates of the then marriages, or such of them as shall happen after their admission; and shall also record the several facts relating to their children in like manner as above appointed with respect to ministers then members of the church. And enjoined, That presbyteries record the time of the deaths of ministers, as the same shall happen; with the names of their widows, residing at the time of their deaths or marriage within their bounds; as also the dates of the several vacancies that were vacant on the 25th of March then last, or shall thereafter happen within their bounds, with the causes of the vacancies. And in general, it is ordained, That presbyteries record from time to time all other things that shall be found necessary by the trustees for the more easy execution of the said act; and that all ministers now entitled to a benefice in the church of Scotland lodge, from time to time, in the hands of the clerk of their presbyteries, a particular condescendence of the facts relating to their respective cases, as the same shall happen; all which facts are ordained to be entered distinctly by presbytery-clerks in the separate register, under proper columns, and regularly signed by moderators and clerks, and by ministers respectively concerned, from which the presbyteries may annually make up the lists necessary for each year, and transmit the same duly attested to the trustees, as directed in the said act of parliament.-Act 4.

1745. The above act renewed, and the observance of

it strictly enjoined; and that it may be more regularly for and uniformly observed, appointed, That the several presbyteries keep separate registers, according to the plan agreed upon by the Assembly, and recorded in their register; and each minister is required duly to report to the presbytery, either by himself or by letter, any alteration which shall happen from time to time in his family, at a the first diet immediately subsequent to such alteration, or as soon as he possibly can. And appointed, That synods call for separate registers at least once a-year, and carefully inspect the same, and attest that they are kept according to the plan referred to in this act; which attestation shall be marked in the synod's records. And it is enacted, That every presbytery shall meet annually on such a day, betwixt the 11th of November and the 11th of December, as they shall judge most convenient, (the presbyteries in the Western and Northern Isles excepted,) and shall at such meetings prepare and transmit to the trustees' clerk at Edinburgh their respective lists for the preceding year, to the end that the trustees may be the better enabled with accuracy to carry on the scheme; and it is recommended to, and enjoined on presbyteries, so soon as this act shall come to hand, to insert the same, and also the above Act 4, Ass. 1744, in their separate register, and to acquaint such of their members as are absent of the contents of this.-Act 4.

1747. The strict observance of former acts, respecting what is required from presbyteries relative to the fund for a provision to the widows and children of ministers, is enjoined. And it is added to the foregoing Act 4, Ass. 1745, That when synods inspect and attest the separate register, they are required to report their diligence to each General Assembly: That the annual lists be transmitted from time to time to the trustees, and sent to the several presbyteries; and in case presbyteries shall fail in making their annual returns at the time, and in the manner foresaid, that the trustees exert those powers the law has put into their hands, for obliging presbyteries to transmit their lists in a regular and uniform manner: And that each minister transmit to the collector his bond