Acts: 1774

The principal acts of the general assembly, convened at Edinburgh, May 19, 1774.

I. Sess. 1, May 19, 1774.—The King's Commission to Charles Lord Catheart produced, and ordered to be recorded.

The General Assembly, &c.

II. Sess. 1, May 19, 1774.—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 21, 1774.—The General Assembly's Answer to the King's most gracious Letter.

May it please your Majesty, &c.

IV. Sess. 4, May 23, 1774.—The General Assembly's Congratulatory Address to the King on the Birth of a Prince.

May it please your Majesty,
We, your Majesty's most dutiful subjects, the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, embrace with pleasure this first opportunity which our meeting in a General Assembly affords us, of approaching your throne with humble congratulations on the birth of another Prince.

Attached to your Majesty by that affection which your Majesty's amiable qualities inspire, we cannot but rejoice in an event which adds to your domestic felicity. The loyalty which we bear to our Sovereign, and a deep sense of the intimate connection betwixt the prosperity of your royal family and the public welfare, increase our satisfaction. Engaged as we are by every motive of duty and of interest to wish the continuance of the British sceptre in your illustrious house, we regard every addition to your royal family as a new pledge of the security of our religion and liberties. We adore the goodness of God, who, by the flourishing state of your royal house, and the persevering wisdom and clemency of your government, affords us so much reason to be grateful for the happiness which we now enjoy, and for the future prospects which are before us.

That his gracious protection may ever continue to watch over your royal person, your illustrious consort the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and every branch of your Majesty's august race; that his Spirit may prompt all your undertakings, his wisdom may direct all your councils, and his Providence crown them with success; and that, after having long made that extensive and flourishing empire over which you reign happy, by your mild and just administration, you may at length attain the full reward of those righteous princes who shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, are the sincere prayers of,
Most gracious Sovereign, your Majesty's most faithful, obedient, and loyal subjects, the Ministers and Elders met in this General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Signed in our name, in our presence, and at our appointment, by
Robert Henry, Moderator.

V. Sess. 9, May 28, 1774.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for Re-formation of the Highlands and Islands, and for managing his Majesty's Royal Bounty for that end.

The commission this year contains the following additional clause inserted in the close of the act, immediately after the words "as possible"—"and empowered the committee, at their first meeting, to reject any petition for a new station, in case they shall find sufficient objections against it."

VI. Sess. 9, May 28, 1774.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for discussing Affairs referred to them.

The General Assembly, &c.

VII. Sess. ult., May 30, 1774.—Act appointing the Diet of the next General Assembly.

The next General Assembly of this National Church is appointed to be held in this place, on Thursday, the 25th day of May, in the year 1775.

Collected and extracted from the Records of the General Assembly, by
George Wishart, Cls. Eccl. Scot.

Sess. 7, May 26, 1774.—Overture from the Presbytery of Edinburgh, anent Probationers being Licensed without the Bounds of the Church. (fn. 1)

Sess. 7, May 26, 1774.—Overture anent the Age of Ruling Elders, and the electing them to represent Sessions in the Presbytery and Synod.

(Re-transmitted.)