the business, and further resolve, not to withdraw the intimation made to the Presbytery. Extracted from the Records of Council, by (Signed) RICHD. Henderson, We have felt great reluctance in calling the attention of the Public to this singular business. Stern necessity compelled us. But here, on our part, the matter shall rest. No irritation shall ever provoke us to prolong the controversy. The public are now in possession of every fact and circumstance requisite to form an enlightened judgment. And to avoid the very suspicion that the Editors shrink from the strictest scrutiny into their motives and character, they have left their names with the Printer.They are all Ministers of the Gospel, and Members of the Presbytery of Glasgow, THE CONTENTS. Page. Dr. Ritchie's Letter to Provost John Hamilton, ib. Petition of Gentlemen who possess Seats in St. Andrew's Church to City Council, Page. Reasons of Dissent, 13th October, 1807, 21 Answers to Reasons of Dissent, 1st Decem ber, 1807, ...... Minute of Presbytery, January 6th, 1808, ... Dr. Taylor's, jun. Explanation, January 5th, 25 52 ib. 58 Dr. Ritchie's Statement, 6th January, 1808, 61 Minute of Presbytery, February 3d, Answer for the Presbytery to Dr. Statement, Minute of Presbytery, March 30th, 1808, ... 94 Minute of Presbytery, May 4th, 1808, STATEMENT, &c. Minute of the Presbytery of Glasgow. September 2d, 1807. Two letters from the Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow, respecting an Organ having been introduced into St. Andrew's church, were produced and read. Also produced and read copy of letters, Provost Mackenzie and Dr. Ritchie;-and extract from the records of the Town Council of Glasgow, The tenor of all the foresaid productions follows. First Letter LORD PROVOST to the PRESBYTERY. REV. SIR, Glasgow, 26th August, 1807. In discharge of the legal duty incumbent on Civil Magistrates, Patrons of Churches, and A Heritors of Parishes, I beg leave, on the part of the Magistrates and Council of this City, to intimate to the Reverend Presbytery of Glasgow, that, according to information I have received, an Organ has recently been placed in St. Andrew's church, by the Minister and congregation of that parish, and was used on Sunday last, while the congregation was assembled for the purpose of Divine worship. Whether the introduction of Organs into our established churches, be an improvement or not, is the province of the Ecclesiastical Judicatories, not of the Civil Magistrate, to determine. And that the Reverend Presbytery may know the line of conduct which the Magistrates and Council have thought it right to observe on this occasion, I transmit a copy of the answer which they returned in the month of September last, to an application from the Minister and congregation of St. Andrew's church, and also copies of two official letters which I have addressed to the Rev. Dr. Ritchie on the subject, and of his answer to one of them. I am, with much respect, Your most obedient Servant, (Signed) JAMES MACKEnzie, The Rev. Dr. WILLIAM TAYLOR, MO-2 derator of the Presbytery of Glasgow. S Lord Provost. |