Acts: 1822

The principal acts of the general assembly, convened at Edinburgh, May 16, 1822.

I. Sess. 1, May 16, 1822.—The King's Commission to George Earl of Morton produced, and ordered to be recorded.

The General Assembly, &c.

II. Sess. 1, May 16, 1822.—The King's most gracious Letter to the General Assembly, presented to them by his Majesty's Commissioner.

George, R.
Right Reverend and well-beloved, we greet you well.—The great advantages which the Church of Scotland has derived from the wisdom of your annual deliberations, cannot but render the period of your meeting one of peculiar interest and satisfaction to us; and we are convinced that the result of your approaching labours will not be less conducive to the maintenance and extension of the pure principles of the Gospel, and consequently to the real happiness of our people, than upon any former occasion.

We have again thought fit to appoint our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin, George Earl of Morton, to be our Commissioner, and the Representative of our Royal Person in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, being well assured that his merits will continue to recommend him to your confidence, and that you will pay him that reverence and respectful attention which are due to his high office. We have charged him to assure you of the continuance of that favour and protection which you have ever received from us, and of our stedfast purpose and resolution to preserve inviolably the rights and privileges of the Church of Scotland, as well as the religious and civil liberties of all classes and descriptions of our subjects.

Well-beloved, you cannot fail to have witnessed, with deep concern, the wicked and persevering efforts which have recently been made to subvert the religious faith of our people, especially in the humbler and more numerous classes of society, by means of publications replete with scepticism and blasphemy. It will require the most active exertions of every friend of religion, of every lover of his country, and, above all, of the ministers of the Gospel, to combat and counteract so great and alarming an evil. We are assured that you will spare neither pains nor diligence in the religious instruction of that portion of our subjects, whose spiritual welfare is committed to your charge, by enforcing upon them the full extent of their duty, both to God and man. You will teach them the true value of the blessings they enjoy under our happy and envied constitution, and that these blessings can only be preserved by a firm and zealous attachment to that constitution, and a ready obedience to, and support of, the laws and ordinances of the State.

In all your exertions to promote the great cause of religion, you may rely on our zealous co-operation and support, and we are satisfied that your proceedings will now, as upon all former occasions, be characterized by temper and calmness, and that you will be actuated by a spirit of loyalty and attachment to us, of love for your country, and zeal for the service of Almighty God; and so, commending your deliberations to His Divine guidance, we bid you heartily farewell.

Given at our Court at Carlton House, the 8th day of May 1822, in the third year of our reign.

By his Majesty's Command,
Rob. Peel.

III. Sess. 3, May 18, 1822.—The General Assembly's Answer to the King's most gracious Letter.

May it please your Majesty,
The very gracious letter with which your Majesty has been pleased to honour this General Assembly of our National Church has been received by us with the most profound respect and gratitude.

We receive, with heartfelt satisfaction, the assurance which your Majesty has been pleased to express, that the great advantages which the Church of Scotland has derived from the wisdom of our annual deliberations, renders the period of our meeting one of peculiar interest and satisfaction to your Majesty; and it shall be our study that the result of our approaching labours may not prove less conductive to the maintenance and extension of the pure principles of the Gospel, and consequently to the real happiness of your Majesty's people, than upon any former occasion.

The appointment of the Right Honourable the Earl of Morton to be your Majesty's Commissioner, and the Representative of your royal person in our General Assembly, we regard as a new proof of your Majesty's favour, the experience we have had on former occasions of his meritorious services having secured to him our fullest confidence; and your Majesty may be assured, that we shall gratefully pay to him that reverence and respectful attention which are due to his high office. We have received from him, with the highest satisfaction and gratitude, the assurance of your Majesty's favour and protection, and of your stedfast purpose and resolution to preserve inviolably the rights and privileges of the Church of Scotland, as well as the religious and civil liberties of all classes and descriptions of your Majesty's subjects.

We have witnesśed, with deep concern, the wicked and persevering efforts which, in certain parts of the kingdom, have recently been made to subvert the religious faith of your Majesty's people, especially in the humbler and more numerous classes of society, by means of publications replete with scepticism and blasphemy. We are sensible that it will require the most active exertions of every friend of religion, of every lover of his country, and, above all, of the ministers of the Gospel, who are specially called upon to exert themselves in such a cause, to combat and counteract so great and alarming an evil. Your Majesty may be assured that we will spare neither pains nor diligence in the religious instructions of that portion of our fellowsubjects, whose spiritual welfare is committed to our charge, by enforcing upon them the full extent of their duty, both to God and man. We will not fail to teach them the true value of the blessings they enjoy under our happy and envied constitution, and that these blessings can only be preserved by a firm and zealous attachment to that constitution, and a ready obedience to, and support of, the laws and ordinances of the State.

While it is our earnest desire that our proceedings may now, as on former occasions, be found characterized by temper and calmness, and dictated by a spirit of loyalty and attachment to your Majesty's person, of love for our country, and zeal for the service of Almighty God; we rejoice in the assurance communicated to us, that we may rely on your Majesty's zealous co-operation and support in all our exertions to promote the great cause of religion.

We receive, with sincere gratitude, your Majesty's donation of L.2000, for promoting religious knowledge in the Highlands and Island of Scotland; and we shall endeavour to apply this mark of your royal munificence in the manner best calculated for promoting the pious purpose for which it is bestowed.

That Almighty God may bless your Majesty, and all the members of the Royal Family; that He may guide and prosper all the measures of your Majesty's government; and that He may maintain, to latest ages, the national blessings we enjoy, are the earnest prayers of,
May it please your Majesty, your Majesty's most faithful, most obedient, and most loyal subjects, the Ministers and Elders met in this National Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Signed in our name, in our presence, and at our appointment, by
D. Lamont, Moderator.

IV. Sess. 9, May 25, 1822.—Commission of the General Assembly to certain Ministers and Ruling Elders for discussing Affairs referred to them.

The General Assembly, &c.

V. Sess. 9, May 25, 1822.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for the Reformation of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and for Managing his Majesty's Royal Bounty to that end.

The General Assembly, &c.

VI. Sess. ult., May 27, 1822.—Act appointing the Diet of the next General Assembly.

The next General Assembly of this National Church is appointed to be held within the New Church Aisle of Edinburgh, on Thursday, the 22d day of May 1823.

Extracted from the Records of the General Assembly.
Andrew Duncan, Cl. Eccl. Scot.