Memoir of the Chisholm

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 221
quent practice among members of the Church
of England resident in Scotland, of assisting
in the deliberations of the General Assembly,
for which purpose it is required that a person
should become an elder of the Church of Scot-
land, and should communicate, at least once,
according to its forms. By this practice there
arose in Scotland a class of nominal elders,
ostensibly connected with the Church, but not
discharging the regular functions of the office
which, with a view to a public purpose, they
held. This undoubtedly was an abuse ; and,
however laudable in intention, I do not won-
der that of late years the Church of Scotland
should have discountenanced the practice, and
that individuals should have discontinued it.
The result has been, that, for some years on
my part, as well as on that of other members
of the Church of England, the practice has
ceased, and we are now restricted to render-
ing to the Church of Scotland, from without,
that public service which, on every ground of
policy and principle, I shall feel it at all times
my duty to tender her.
" On my competency to legislate for the
Church of England, which you seem to ques-