entitled

6 Baptism by Immersion, scriptural, primitive, and rubrical,' I think it incumbent upon me as bishop of the diocese, for the quieting of the consciences of weaker brethren, and for the removing of scruple and doubtfulness upon so vital a point, to make known my opinions to this effect:

"1. That baptism by immersion in the case of adults is not required by the Book of Common Prayer, but is rather contrary to the existing order for its administration provided in that book; and, partly for this, and partly on other accounts, no individual minister is justified in introducing it at the present time without the express sanction of the church.

"2. That it would be desirable that all fonts should be constructed so as to admit of immersion in the case of infant baptism.

"3. That where the font is so constructed, any minister, having given due notice of his intention, is at liberty to use immersion, unless the sponsors shall desire otherwise."

Diocese of Moray and Ross.-At the synod of the diocese of Moray and Ross, held at Inverness on the 29th of August last, the question of the admission of the laity to church synods was discussed, when the synod requested the bishop, as he was to hold a convocation of the laity some time in September, to impress upon them the desire of the clergy for sympathy and support in all matters affecting the well-being of the church. At a lay conference, subsequently held at Inverness, the bishop presented a draft of rules for the institution of a lay conference for the united dioceses, which were unanimously adopted in the following form:

Diocesan Conference for the united Dioceses of
Moray and Ross.

I. That a lay diocesan conference be now constituted for the united dioceses of Moray and Ross, of which the bishop shall be ex officio president.

II. That the conference shall meet annually in the month of September, and be convened by the bishop. III. That the members of the conference shall be communicants of the church, and shall be elected by the communicants of the different charges in the diocese.

IV. That the communicants of each congregation shall have the power of electing two representative members.

V. That the first election of members of conference by the communicants of the different charges shall later than the month of July, 1856. That the memtake place on some day to be fixed by themselves, not bers then elected shall hold office for two years, and be capable of re-election. That a new election shall take place not later than the month of July of every second year. That, in the event of the death or resignation of any member, it shall be in the power of the communicants to select a successor, who shall hold office until the period of the biennial election.

A resolution was passed by the conference, requesting the bishop to send a copy of the above regulations to the churchwardens or vestry of each charge in the diocese, to be laid before a meeting of the congregation.

At the same synod the question of the disabilities under which the Scottish clergy labour in England was brought forward, and it was unanimously resolved that the college of bishops be again requested to give

Rules and Regulations for constituting a Lay the subject their best attention.

Miscellaneous.

The Civil Service of India.-The result of the first examination for appointments in the East India civil service has been made known. In the house of commons Mr. Vernon Smith, president of the board of control, said: "The number of candidates who offered themselves for examination was 113. They drew lots for a number by which each should distinguish his papers, and by that number only were they known to the examiners. Of those candidates there came from Cambridge University, 32; Oxford, 19; London, 6; King's college, 2; Harrow school, 1; other schools, 13; Trinity college, Dublin, 14; Queen's college, Cork, 5; Queen's college, Galway, 2; other Irish schools, 2; Scotch universities and colleges, 12; other Scotch, 3; and two more educated abroad. The examination lasted for twelve days, and the numbers of the successful candidates were, from Oxford, 8; Cambridge, 6; London university, 2; King's college, London, 1; Queen's college, Cork, 1; Queen's college, Galway, 1; Edinburgh university, 1: making a total of 20. The highest of the candidates obtained 2,254* marks; and the London university claimed him as her alumnus. The lowest of the successful candidates had 1,120. The three best English scholars had been elected; the seven best classical scholars; the two best in modern foreign languages: the best in natural science; and two of the best in moral science (three were equal, but not the best nor the second in mathematics). In English history 98 gave in papers, 99 in English literature, 105 in English composition, 92 translated Latin, 83 Greek, 63 French, 14 German, 9 Italian, 1 Arabic, 1 Sanscrit; 73 tried to answer the first mathematical paper, but 14 only the fourth; 58 were examined in moral science, and 28 in natural science. * 6,525 was the total number that might have been

obtained.

The examiners appeared not to be favourably dispass
to holding a viva voce examination; but he, ir s
own part, looked upon an examination of that decip
tion as the best test of the moral qualities of reatas
and self-possession. He did not hope that this
system would produce better men than they had knew
in India; but still he could not help thinking it a fire
sight to see these young men starting in life with t
any support but their own talents and their own
strength, and he bade them God speed with all his
heart." We give below a list of the successful can
didates arranged in the order of merit :
W. Butler, University, London.
W. Cornell, Clare-hall, Cambridge, 27th wrangler.
and third class in classics, 1854.
H. J. Reynolds, King's college, Cambridge, chance!-
lor's English medallist, 1853 and 1854.
W. L. Heeley, Trinity college, Cambridge,
junior optime, and 9th classic (bracketed), 1855.
E. Warrand, Oxford.

Ecclesiastical Entelligence.

By bp. of Worcester, Feb. 17, in Wor- M.A., Trin.; E. T. Watson-Thomas, cester cathedral.

St. James (P.C.), Ratcliffe, Middlesex
Goole (P.C.), Yorkshire

All Saints' (P.C.), Gordon Square, St. Pancras,
Middlesex

Bickmore, F. A.......[ Colveston (R.), Norfolk

Cranwich (R.) with Diddlington (V.), and

Flamborough (P.C.), Yorkshire
Leebrockhurst (P.C.), Shropshire
Danbury (R.), Essex

Flitwick (V.), Bedfordshire.
Withington (R.), Lancashire

Chislet (V.), Kent

Frampton (V.), Dorsetshire
Newcastle (P.C.), Shropshire
Lavenham (R.), Suffolk
Sawston (V.), Cambridgeshire

8031 Bp. of London....
4351 Abp. of York

7956} Bp. of London..

H. S. Partridge

1765, 59, & 30 J Lord Berners.

{Tardebigg (V.), Worcestershire and Warwick

Marshfield (V.), Monmouthshire

732 Major Calcott..

Nov. 10.-Hons. J. Bramston, B.A., A. Blomfield, B.A., E. C. Leigh, and C. I. Wingfield, B.A., elected hon. fellows of All Souls'.

Proceedings of Societies.

SCCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN

LEDGE.

KNOW

67, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Tuesday, Nov. 6, 1855.

Assiniboia, Rupertsland, July 27, 1855, informed the society of the consecration of the new church at that place. He also acknowledged with thanks the grant of maps and books made by the society last year to the school. He said: "Through the goodness of God, and The ven. archdeacon Sinclair in the chair. the kind aid of benefactors and friends, the church has A letter was read from the bishop of Grahamston, been now brought to a most happy and successful issue ; dated July 28, 1855. The bishop said, "I beg you will not one accident all the time of building, which, conexpress my cordial thanks to the committee of the sidering the unskilfulness of our mechanics, is a matvenerable society for their generous grant of £1,000 ter for great thankfulness. All has been carried on towards the erection of a college. The foundation- in harmony; and we have the prettiest church in the stone is to be laid immediately; and I trust that such colony, free from all debt and claim, except for the portions of the building as we have the means of com- constant celebration therein of divine worship. That pleting will be speedily executed. I have drawn on this may be constantly, and, if God will, perpetually the treasurer for the sum of £200, the grant made supplied, must be our aim and study; and that, as the towards church-building purposes. I have allotted material temple is now to his praise and glory set up £100 to the church of Somerset, which I consecrated in the midst of this once-heathenish place (for this very about six weeks ago, and the other £100 to the church spot has been notorious for wicked rites and works of at King-Williamston, which will be opened, I trust, darkness), so the spiritual temple may grow and inin a few weeks." The bishop forwarded, with his crease to the edifying of itself in love. This now must recommendation, an application from the rev. T.be our chief care, to gather out of this moral waste a Henchman, colonial chaplain of Fort Beaufort, re- people for the Lord; that those who formerly were as questing a grant towards building a school-house at aliens and outcasts may be brought, through God's Aliceton; the school-room to be licensed for the mercy, into the household and family of heaven, and performance of divine service. Mr. Henchman stated fitted gradually, by the worship and service below, for that such a building as is desired might be raised for the sanctuary above. The consecration took place on the about £200. The board granted £15. 29th of May. The bishop kindly gave up his own service at St. John's for this purpose. All the clergy near were in attendance, and all took a part in the sacred solemnities. The bishop preached from Psalm xxix. 2. On Trinity Sunday we used the sacred vessels for the first time, when thirty-seven partook of the holy communion. Since then we have had two full services every Sunday, and both have been well attended. The order and reverence at church are quite beautiful to behold, and the singing by the children and the congregation generally very devotional. All this is very encouraging. O that it may be the beginning of better days! The school has gone on prosperously. Thanks, many thanks, for the maps and books. The delight they occasioned was very great. The bishop is now on a journey to the East Main. He requested me to say that on his return from Moose he should write."

The bishop of Victoria, in a letter dated St. Paul's college, Hong-Kong, August 1, 1855, wrote as follows: "I have lately received from the rev. R. H. Cobbold, of Ningpo, five simple addresses to the Chinese emigrants in Barbados, written by five Chinese connected with the Church Missionary Society's mission there. As there are but few opportunities of sending packages hence to the West Indies at present, I thought it best to send the five MSS. by post-office to your care for the bishop of Barbados. The most convenient plan would be for you to get them printed in London. If we were to print ourselves an edition, it would be a long and tedious process getting them conveyed via London by sailing ship hence to the West Indies. I also forward to the society a copy of two versions of the liturgy just printed in our college-one in literary Chinese style, the other in a colloquial form of the mandarin dialect, each adapted to a different style of readers." The rev. R. H. Cobbold, of Ningpo, said of the Chinese treatises sent by the bishop: One of the best (though short) is from the pen of Mr. T'sin, who is nearly sixty years of age, but has in him much of the fire and vigour of youth, and is in many respects an extraordinary man. More elaborate is that by Mr. Luy, who was a Mohammedan, but seems very decided in the cause of truth. A very sensible and forcible piece of composition is by my teacher T'sa, a very neat writer. A very good piece to read aloud is by our catechist, a man of no literary attainments. The fifth piece, by a scholar of the name of Dzing, is not to my mind equal to the others." The board approved of the measures taken by the standing committee, who had referred these Chinese MSS. to the foreign-translation-committee, with a view to the publication of the

tracts.

The rev. W. H. Taylor, in a letter dated St. James's,

Richard Perry, esq., made the following statement respecting the iron church and parsonage granted by the society for use in the diocese of Melbourne:"In the last communication which the bishop of Melbourne received from his registrar, Mr. A. Beckett, it is stated that the iron church and parsonage-house granted by the society, and which have been for some time erected at Williamston, the port of Melbourne had answered; and that in consequence the prejudice in the colony against iron churches had been greatly diminished."

The venerable chairman stated, in connexion with the subject of iron churches, that he had recently opened a church of this material in the vicaragegrounds at Kensington; that it was ecclesiastical in its form, well lighted and heated, and conveniently fitted up with pews and sittings, of which a large proportion were already let; and that the whole arrangements gave general satisfaction, Other business was transacted.

FOREIGN EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

New York. The annual Protestant Episcopal Convention of the diocese of New York assembled in that city on the 26th September, and continued in session for three days. The chief subject of interest was the proposal to increase the maintenance of the rural clergy. The rev. Dr. Potter, in his address, touched strongly upon the advancing prosperity of the Pro

testant episcopal church, and the decay of Romanism in the state of New York. A large number of the clergy and laity attended each day, and took an active part in the proceedings.

Vermont. The Diocesan Convention took place at Windsor a few weeks since. It appeared from the bishop's report, that the confirmations for the past

year were 124, being an average of four to each church. | year, under the title of the "Vermont Episcopal InThe bishop, in his address, gave a full statement of the stitute." More than 10,000 dollars have already been present condition and prospects of the diocesan semi- subscribed in the diocese for it. pary, which was chartered by the legislature of last

Miscellaneous.

24. London. Pop. 2,000,000, and to be two 12. Lincoln. Pop., 677,649; acres, more than lions and a half on next avoidance of Winchester, two millions; benefices, 793. It is proposed to leave acres, 246,000; benefices, 324. It is proposed it the county of Lincoln, and to relieve it of Notting-relieve it of a portion of the diocese, with a see & hamshire, with a see at Southwell. The recommendations of the bishop of Lincoln on this subject may be seen in our first report, p. xvii., note.