Acts: 1735

The principal acts of the general assembly, holden and begun at Edinburgh, May 8, 1735.

I. Sess. 1, May 8, 1735.—The King's Commission to William Marquis of Lothian produced, and ordered to be recorded.

The General Assembly, &c.

II. Sess. 1, May 8, 1735.—The King's most gracious Letter to the General Assembly, presented to them by his Majesty's Commissioner

George, R., &c.

III. Sess. 3, May 10, 1735.—The General Assembly's Answer to the King's most gracious Letter.

May it please your Majesty, &c.

IV. Sess. 8, May 16, 1735, ante meridiem.—Act reviving a former Recommendation for raising a Fund in each Synod for Maintaining the indigent Widows and Orphans of Ministers therein.

The General Assembly, having considered a scheme proposed for one general fund, to be managed by the General Assembly and their deputies, for maintaining all the widows and orphans of ministers within this National Church; as also, considering the scheme for Synodical funds for that effect, established by the 4th Act of the General Assembly, 1718, and judging that the said scheme for Synodical funds should be adhered to, and vigorously advanced, as being free of several great difficulties which would necessarily occur, both in raising and managing of the more general fund; and there being now no prospect of any success in the said scheme for a general fund; and whereas the project for the said general fund has, for some years past, very much interrupted the usual and ordinary contribution to the Synodical funds, which are, by the above Act of Assembly, 1718, required to be paid in by every minister within two years after his ordination or admission; and whereas the General Assembly, by their 10th Act, 1723, did, with consent of the contributors, enlarge the time formerly allowed for receiving new contributions for one year further, after Whitsunday 1723: The General Assembly, for the encouragement of all who are now desirous to contribute to the said fund, and have neglected it in the time appointed, do again grant a further enlargement of time for that effect, in the manner mentioned in the said 10th Act, Assembly, 1723; and accordingly recommend to ministers, within the several Synods and Presbyteries of this National Church, who have already contributed, that they would consent yet to admit such others to join with them as shall be willing to pay in the decima of their stipend to the said fund, betwixt and the term of Whitsunday 1736, with the annual rent thereof from the time it should first have been paid, conform to the foresaid Acts of Assembly made to that effect.

V. Sess. 11, May 17, 1735.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for discussing divers Affairs referred to them.

The General Assembly, finding that there are divers weighty affairs which they cannot overtake, do hereby nominate, commission, and appoint, the Rev. Mr Alexander Anderson at St Andrews, their Moderator, &c.; to be commissioners of this General Assembly, to the effects after mentioned, with power to the said commissioners, or their quorum, &c. (The Act proceeds in the same terms as that of last year.)

VI. Sess. 11, May 19, 1735.—Act and Recommendation concerning Students in Divinity.

The General Assembly recommends to all Presbyteries and ministers, when they come to know any error or vice in students of divinity, to give notice thereof to the Professor of Divinity under whom such students are taught, with an account how the same can be proved; and also recommends to them not to be rash or hasty in receiving reports to the prejudice of students, but to be careful to discourage groundless or malicious reports, and to protect the characters of such as do not appear to be truly guilty. And the Assembly recommends it to Professors of Divinity to be diligent to inquire concerning the principles and practice of the youth under their care; and do renew their former recommendation to Professors of Divinity, contained in the 22d Act of the General Assembly, 1696, concerning the requiring testimonials from students whom they admit to exercises.

VII. Sess. 11, May 19, 1735.—Act and Recommendation for Preserving Unity, and Preventing Error within this Church.

The General Assembly, considering, with great grief and regret, that deism, infidelity, Popery, and other gross errors, appear to be very prevalent and threatening in this island at this day; and that it is the duty of this Church to do all in her power, under Divine direction, for suppressing the same, and preventing the growth thereof; therefore, do earnestly recommend it to all ministers and others to have this matter at heart, and to do, under God, what they can for reaching the above ends; and in order thereto, and for their greater success herein, the Assembly earnestly recommend it to all ministers to maintain, as far as in them lies, brotherly love, peace, and unity amongst themselves and amongst the people under their charge; and in all their more public appearances to avoid uncharitable reflections, and all just grounds of irritation, tending to gender strife more than to promote edification.

VIII. Sess. 11, May 19, 1735.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for Reformation of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and Managing his Majesty's Royal Bounty for that end.

The General Assembly, finding that divers late General Assemblies had granted commissions to some ministers and ruling elders for reformation of the Highlands and Islands, and management of his Majesty's royal bounty for that end; and finding that it has pleased our gracious Sovereign the King, out of his royal bounty, to renew his grant of L.1000 sterling, for the ends foresaid, this year; therefore, they do hereby nominate, commission, and appoint, the Rev. Mr Alexander Anderson at St Andrews, their Moderator, &c.; to be a committee of this Assembly for reformation of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and for managing the royal bounty for the end foresaid, &c. (The Act proceeds in the same terms as that of last year.)

IX. Sess. ult., May 20, 1735.—Act appointing the Diet of the next General Assembly.

The next General Assembly of this National Church is appointed to be held at Edinburgh, upon the second Thursday of May next, being the 13th day of that month, in the year 1736.

The General Assembly was concluded with prayer, and singing part of the 102d Psalm, from the 16th to the 18th verses, and pronouncing the blessing.

Collected and extracted from the Records of the General Assembly, by
William Grant,. Cls. Eccl. Scot.

(Here follow four overtures— Anent Preaching— Anent Electing the Members of the Commission— Anent Acts Rescissory—and anent Lists of Probationers, to be annually presented to the Assembly; all of which were subsequently passed into Acts.)