about two hundred. The Rev. Mr. Pinkerton died December 21, 1840. 5. Waterford.-Lost one or two members by death; but there has been an accession of a few new members. They have two Sunday-schools; the one in the country, the other in the town; in the former, about forty-five scholars, in the latter, about thirty. Service twice every Lord's day. Baptisms, twenty. Marriages, ten. ́ 6. Clonmel.-No material alteration has taken place during the last year. Service regularly performed. Attendance, from thirty to forty. The children regularly catechised. In the printed report of 1840, it was omitted that a large sum had been expended in repairing the meeting-house. 7. Bandon.-No change of importance during the last year. The usual services performed, with one omission, occasioned by a snow-storm. For many years, the prosperity of the congregation was affected by the decay of trade and the emigration of the poorer inhabitants of the town. Average attendance, fifty. Average number of communicants, from twenty-five to thirty. per 8. Fethard, Lost one respected member by death; and gained an accession of one or two others. Attendance, about forty. Number of communicants, thirty-four. Service formed twice every Lord's day. The children regularly questioned after service on the subject of the sermon; after which they repeat their catechism and hymns. Mr. Ferris preaches occasionally in out-stations in the neighbourhood of Fethard. 9. Summer-hill.-No report. 10. Fermoy. Mr. Ritchie, the elder from Fermoy, gave an account of their affairs since the last meeting of Synod, and in particular, of the melancholy death of their minister, the Rev. Robert Quinn. He also reported, that it was the desire of the congregation to have the Rev. Mr. Kerr ordained as successor to their late pastor. It being the opinion of some members of Synod, that the name of the Rev. Thomas Hincks should be added to the roll of the body, it was thought advisable that the Committee appointed at the last annual meeting to ordain him, should previously give in their report. The following statement was then submitted to the meeting:-"The ordination was solemnised on the 9th of July 1840, on which occasion the Rev. Mr. Hort introduced the service; the Rev. Mr. Hunter preached from Acts xi. 26, delivered an address in defence of Presbyterian ordination, and put the usual questions to the people and pastor; the Rev. Mr. Hort pronounced the ordination prayer; and the Rev. Mr. Orr gave the charge, and concluded the service." pro The Committee also reported, "that there had been delivered to one of their members, by the late Rev. Robert Quinn, a letter, considered by the Committee to be disorderly as regards the Synod of Munster, and directly opposed to his fessed views of non-subscription, when he was admitted a member; and that a letter had also been delivered to the same member of Committee, by the Rev. Robert McCorkle, considered by the Committee to be contumacious, as regards the Synod, and offensively expressed, as regards the members of Committee." The following are the letters referred to: “REV. SIR,—On my own part, and on that of the other members of the Synod of Munster concurring with me, and of all others interested in the matter, I solemnly protest against the ordination of Mr. Hincks in the Prince's-street Meeting-house and Congregation, for the reasons already given in to the Synod; and because he is a Unitarian, and that the founders of said Meeting-house and endowments were Trinitarians. Requesting you will note this in the report of your proceedings to the Synod at the next meeting. "I remain yours, very respectfully, "Cork, July 9th, 1840. ROBERT QUINN.” "Cork, July 9th, 1840. "REV. SIR,-I hereby protest against the precipitate steps taken by you and your brethren, in attempting to secure the ordination of Mr. Hincks. I refer to my statement of reasons against the whole measure, read at the late meeting of Synod in Clonmel, and ordered to be recorded in the minutes. And in serving you with this notice, I now beg to inform you, that I, in addition, protest against the ordination, because the sentiments of Mr. Hincks on the doctrines of Cristianity, are avowed, and not denied to be directly contrary to those of the Trinitarian founders of Prince's-street Meeting-house. “I am, your obedient Servant, "Rev. Wm. Hunter. ROBERT M'CORKLE," It was moved by Mr. R. Dowden, and seconded by Dr. Ledlie, "that the report of the Committee be received and entered on the minutes." Carried by 12 to 4. Against this decision, Mr. Ferris, Mr. M'Cance, Mr. Ritchie, and Mr. M'Neill protested, and assigned the following reason:-"That as the report given in by the Committee who ordained Mr. Hincks, is ultra vires, and contrary to the usages and regulations of the body, inasmuch as it contains a judgment in a case which ought simply to have been referred to the Synod for its decision, we consider the same as irregular and unsatisfactory." Against the above protest, the undersigned counter-protested," inasmuch as it stated that the report of the Committee appointed to ordain Mr. Hincks, is contrary to our rules and regulations, which' is not proved, but, on the contrary, denied." Edward Gaskin. John Armstrong. W. H. Drummond. R. Dowden, (RD.) J. C. Ledlie. Wm. Clear. Wm. Achison. It was moved by Mr. Clear, and seconded by Mr. Richard Dowden, "That Mr. M'Corkle be desired by the Moderator to withdraw the protest dated 9th July 1840, and served on the Clerk, and presented by him at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Hincks, as inconsistent with the right of private judgment and the fundamental principles of this as a nonsubscribing body." Carried by 11 to 4. Against this decision of the Synod, Mr. Ferris gave notice of protest. The Moderator, conformably to the resolution of Synod on the subject, called upon Mr. M'Corkle to withdraw the protest served by him on the Clerk, at the ordination of Mr. Hincks. Mr. M'Corkle having refused to do so, the following resolution was moved by Mr. Hutton, and seconded by Dr. Drummond: "Resolved, That so long as Mr. M'Corkle refuses to withdraw his protest, which this body has declared to be contrary to its principles as a non-subscribing body, he be not admitted to speak or vote in the Synod."-Passed by 13 to 4. TO CORRESPONDENTS & SUBSCRIBERS. In reply to the many inquiries we have received, as to whether the Christian Pioneer will continue to be published after the removal of the Editor to Edinburgh, we have now respectfully to announce, that that removal will make no alteration as to the publication of the Magazine. Whilst we continue to receive such gratifying testimonies, from so many parts of the Kingdom, as to the importance of the work to the great cause of Christian truth, liberty, and righteousness, we should deem it a dereliction of duty to stop the Pioneer in its progress. Relying on the continued aid of our present friends, and soliciting their kind assistance in promoting its increased circulation, and thereby extending the sphere of its usefulness, we have pleasure in stating, that the Christian Pioneer will be published as usual on the first day of every month. Communications will be thankfully received, addressed to the Rev. GEORGE HARRIS, Hope-Park, Edinburgh; or to the care of Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. London, where books for review may also be sent. VERSES 1-3. "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord [Master] hath need of them; and straightway he will send them." The ancient ass was a very different animal from the poor, spiritless, dwarfed, and tardy creatures of this country. The asses of Egypt, Arabia, Spain, and South America, are much larger, and more beautiful than ours, and are besides fleeter of foot; we have reduced these useful creatures to their present degenerate condition, by ages of neglect, harshness, and consummate cruelty. Among the Jews, and the neighbouring Gentile nations, asses were used even by their greatest men, and by their kings. Thus, Abraham, the father of the faithful; Moses, the prophet, lawgiver, and general of his people; and the family of royal David, rode on these animals now so much despised. Thus, Jesus of Nazareth imitated the kingly state of his progenitor, when he rode in triumph from Bethphage to Jerusalem sitting on a colt. This he did that he might bear testimony to his Messiahship, by the fulfilment of ancient prophecy. The prophecy alluded to by Matthew, seems to be Zechariah ix. 9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and [even, that is,] upon a colt, the foal of an ass." It will be observed, that the Evangelist does not cite the whole 66 of this prediction as it stands in the Prophet, but only so much of it as was necessary for his purpose. Before seating their Master on the beast, his disciples "put their clothes on it as a saddle-cloth; and the multitude by whom he was accompanied, "spread their garments in the way," that he might ride upon them. Thus they acknowledged him to be their King, and themselves to be his subjects, and in a manner took the oath of allegiance to him; for such was the custom of the people, when they believed that Jehovah had elevated any man to the throne. We have an instance of this national custom in the Second Book of Kings, at the ninth chap. on the occasion of Jehu being appointed their monarch. It appears that Elisha sent one of the children of the prophets to Ramoth-gilead, to Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, with a command to take the box of oil and pour it on his head, and say, " Thus saith Jehovah, I have anointed thee king over Israel." Afterwards, when Jehu presented himself to the people as their sovereign, we are informed in the 13th verse, "Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king." This seems to have been as necessary a part of the ceremony, as the proclamation by sound of trumpet; and in like manner did the disciples and the multitude, by spreading their clothes in the path-way of Jesus, acknowledge and proclaim him King of Israel." Others of the people by whom Jesus was accompanied, "cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way." This was the usual practice of the Hebrews in any period of great rejoicing. We find instances of its observance in the books of Maccabees, which, though no guides in matters of doctrine or of duty, are valid authority for the customs of the age in which they were composed. In the First Book of Maccabees, xiii. 51, on the occasion of Simon the High Priest wresting the tower of Jesusalem from the idolaters, we are told that he "entered it with thanksgiving, and branches of palm-trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs." In the Second Book of Maccabees x. 7, when Judas Maccabeus cleansed and purified the Temple, there was great rejoicing among his followers; and we are informed "therefore they bare 66 |