Engraved by Samuel Sartain Phil M Leitch O CERNS CORGE, A ON ANATA WEST MODERATOR OF TIM SYNGD OF A PASB "ERIAN MITCH OF TANAZA IN ON ME THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 1651. butions and prayers in behalf of the above Missions, and thereby show in some measure the gratitude which they feel to the Parent Church for its zeal, liberality, and kindness in times past, and their earnest desire that the bonds of affection between the two Churches may be drawn closer. It was Resolved, That the moneys be in the mean time invested in good securities, to be applied for the respective Schemes for which they were collected, when the Synod shall see fit to enter energetically upon one or another of these Schemes, and that the recommendations of the Report be adopted with this amendment, That the Synod give the Foreign Mission Committee discretionary power in the transmission of funds to the Mission Committees of the Church of Scotland, and instruct them to solicit information from time to time from these Committees, as to the operations of the Schemes aided; and reappoint the Committee. DECEASED MINISTERS.-The Synod adopted and placed upon record the following testimony concerning those who had died during the year. The Very Reverend WILLIAM LEITCH, D.D., Principal of Queen's University and College, Kingston, having occurred since the last meeting of this Court, the Synod take the earliest opportunity of recording their sense of the loss thereby occasioned. By this dispensation, with which it hath pleased the All-wise Head of the Church so soon to afflict us, we are deprived of one to whose services we had reason to attach a very great value. His numerous accomplishments as a scholar and his eminent worth as a Christian imparted far more than ordinary weight to his personal character. In him both theological learning and natural science had a distinguished representative and an able expounder. Rare powers of observing and discriminating, exercised upon important practical questions, gave breadth to his views and force to his counsels, while the gift of lucid and effective expression seldom failed to secure consideration for his opinions. Whilst from his large and enlightened sympathies, the late Principal took a lively interest in the subjects of religion and education as bearing upon the welfare of mankind and the advancement of science, it is as a Minister of this Church, as a Member of this Court, and as Principal of Queen's University and Professor of Divinity during the last few years, that we, his brethren, are especially familiar with his name and acquainted with his career. In these several capacities he showed a zeal and an aptitude for work from which, it is believed much benefit has already flowed, and the influence of which it is hoped, may be felt among us for many days. This Synod, while lamenting his early departure, and sympathizing with his numerous friends here and with his bereaved relatives in Scotland, desire, with humble submission, to acknowledge the hand of God in this dispensation, and to pray that they may be enabled to reap therefrom the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and to learn the solemn lesson of the uncertainty of life and of the necessity of working while it is called to-day. The Synod hereby instruct their Clerk to transmit an Extract of this Minute to Miss Leitch." The following is taken from The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1863, published in that volume on the occasion of his being elected Moderator of the Synod: "Dr. Leitch was born at Rothesay, in the island of Bute, Scotland, in the year 1814. He received the elements of his education at the Parish School of his native town, and completed his preparatory studies at the Grammar School of Greenock, under the superintendence of the distinguished scholar, Dr. Brown. In the year 1832, he entered the University of Glasgow, and in the year 1835, proceeded to the degree of B. A. In the following year he proceeded to the degree of M. A. In the year 1838, after a curriculum of four years in the Divinity Hall of Glasgow, he received his ture, license as a preacher of the Church of Scotland from the Presbytery of Dunoon. During the curriculum of Arts, he devoted special attention to mathematics and physical science, in which departments he received the highest honors of the University. While a student of the University, he lectured in the University on astronomy, and on mathematics in the Andersonian Institution. For several years he acted as assistant to Dr. Nichol in the observatory connected with the University, and ever afterwards entertained an ardent love for astronomical pursuits. In the year 1839, he was appointed assistant to the minister of the Parish of Arbroath, and, in 1841, received a similar appointment to the Parish of Kirkden, in the Presbytery of Forfar. In 1843, he was presented to the Parish of Monimail by the Earl of Leven and Melville, and was ordained in the same year to the ministerial office by the Presbytery of Cupar in Fife. He continued minister of this Parish till he removed to his present office of Principal of the University of Queen's College, Kingston. During his ministry in the Parish of Monimail, he devoted much attention to the connection of science and religion, and contributed largely to various periodical works. The periodicals to which he chiefly contributed, were Kitto's Journal of Sacred Litera"McPhail's Magazine," "The Edinburgh Christian Magazine," "The Scottish Quarterly Review," and "Good Words." In these works the most important theological questions of the day were discussed. For several years he conducted a series of investigations on the subject of parthenogenesis and alternate generations, as illustrated by the phenomena of sexual development in Hymenoptera. The result of these researches, which conflicts with that of the German physiologist, Siebald, in the same field, is given in the transactions of the British Association for the Advancement of Science," and in the "Annals of the Botanical Society of Canada." Dr. Leitch took an active part in the educational controversy which has long agitated Scotland. Several separate publications appeared from his pen on the subject of national education in Scotland and India. He was for several years Convener of the General Assembly's Committee on Sabbath-schools, and in that capacity, took an active part in organizing Sabbath-schools, Bible-classes, and Young Men's Christian Associations. On his leaving Scotland for Canada, the University of Glasgow conferred upon him the degree of D.D. His latest work recently announced is God's Glory in the Heavens; or, Contributions to Astrotheology." In this work astronomical discovery up to the most recent time is given with special reference to theological questions. The institution over which Dr. Leitch presides, was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1841. It now embraces the Faculties of Theology, Arts, Law, and Medicine, with a staff of eighteen Professors and Lecturers. In the Theological Hall, the candidates for the ministry, in connection with the Church of Scotland in Canada, are trained. There is an Astronomical Observatory, which, when its equipment is completed, will assume a national importance. The meetings of the Botanical Society are held at Kingston. The annals of the Society of which Dr. Lawson, the Professor of Natural History, is editor, are also published there. Dr. Leitch was elected Moderator of the Synod of the Church of Scotland in Canada, at its last meeting in Toronto.' 66 66 The following is taken from The Presbyterian published in Montreal: According to an ecclesiastical law, Principal Leitch's connection with the University gave him a seat in the Presbytery of Kingston, and by consequence in the Synod. Having visited Scotland in the summer of 1861, his first appearance in Synod was in the Session of 1862, which year it met at Toronto, and then he was cordially and unanimously elected Moderator. His position also gave him a seat in the Senatus of the University of Toronto, and of that University he was appointed an Examiner. Shortly after, or about the time of, his installation the country witnessed one of those fits of agitation on the subject of University Education which take hold of the public mind from time to time. It had special reference to what is considered an unjust monopoly of privileges by the University of Toronto, and there followed a season of keen and bitter controversy. In the enunciation of his views Dr. Leitch showed himself to be a man far removed above the envious assailant and unprincipled leveler. His plan was the broad and enlightened one of maintaining with the utmost efficiency a great Canadian University, with all properly organized and thoroughly equipped Colleges in the country rallying around it, on such terms and according to such principles as would secure a collegiate education for the various sections of the country, and promote among the several sectional institutions complying with the conditions of affiliation a wholesome and generous rivalry. We are much mistaken if, when people come to look beyond the sphere of local jealousies, and consider the question from a truly national stand-point, this be not the view that will yet prevail. "It was, however, with the educational standing and character of Queen's University that the late Principal was particularly concerned; and to the advancement of that Institution in a career of usefulness he desired to apply himself. Unfortunately for the attainment of the objects of his solicitude, and for his own comfort, the position was beset with peculiar obstacles from the very first. Strong personal animosities are not easily subdued ; personal interests are the most difficult to adjust. The former already existed and the latter subsequently arose. Both led to unexpected issues of a most troublesome character, and conspired to render the task of an honorable settlement arduous in the highest degree. The memory of the deceased is not to be offended by claiming for him either an immaculate conduct or an unerring judgment, while some allowance must be made for circumstances which, viewed even at a distance from the scene of action, seem to have been of a kind to baffle the most judicious attempts at arrangement. That he should have been misunderstood and misrepresented is not to be wondered at; but that he should have become an object of unrelenting hostility to any individual must seem incredible to his friends. That the bestintended measures sometimes miscarry and entail upon their advocates unmerited obloquy, and that the late Principal had only one vote in a governing body consisting of twenty-seven members representing the intelligence of the Church both lay and clerical, may afford some mitigation of feeling; but the chief alleviation will be found in the words of forgiveness and charity towards men and of faith and hope towards God, which, we are assured, he frequently expressed before the dark protracted season of unconscious utterance came upon him. "At the close of the University Session of 1863 it was apparent to the Principal's friends that his health had become impaired. By authority of the Synod of that year he received a Commission to attend the Synods of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, in the character of a Representative member. He fulfilled this appointment greatly to the satisfaction and benefit of these Courts. He was wont to describe his intercourse with the brethren, and his visitation of the congregations in the Lower Provinces, as one of the most interesting and refreshing seasons he had ever spent. He was greatly strengthened by the change, and on his return, about the commencement of last College Session, he seemed much the better of his travels. He had not long, however, resumed his duties when sickness overtook him, and laid him aside. The Christmas holidays came, and he resolved to spend them among his many friends in Montreal. Recruited by this sojourn in the commercial capital of Canada, he returned to Kingston by way of Ottawa, whither he had gone by special invitation of the |