Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Edinburgh the Fifth day of Aprill J^aj vj^c nyntie thrie years

D1693/4/12

D1693/4/12¹

Act

Act Mr William Veitch

Anent a Petition given in to the Lords of their Majesties privy Councill be Mr William Veatch moderator of the Synod of Lothian and Tweedale for himself and in name and be half of the said Synod and John Blair agent for the kirk for his intrest Shewing That quher the Synod of Lothian and Tweedale with the Corrospondents from other Synods takeing to their consideratione how many good Spirits are Discouraged and brocken of from their Studies of Humanitie² philosophie and Theologie meerly throw want of means to carie them throw And with all what a want ther is of men weell qualified in the forsaid sciences, and how servicable they might be in the kirk of god, Have Judged it expedient that a humble and serious address should be made in their names to the saids Lords for obtaineing so much out of the vaccand stipends of the kings presentation as aither are at present or may fall due to be applyed for the releiff and mantinance of the forsaid students. And Farder beacuse the present strait is great and the forsaid supplie cannot be Sudenly gott in, That the saids Lords would authorize a publict Collection to be made on some Lords day for the use forsaid in all congregationes within the Synods of Lothian and Twedale, Mers and Teviotdale and of Dumfrees, Galloway, Glasgow and Air Pearth and Fiffe, And that the money So Collected might be put in the hands of some persones whom the forsaid respective synods shall name for the Collection within their oun bounds To be destribute by them to the said students at schoolls and Collodges as their need shall requyre As the said act dated the Sixteinth day of February instant therwith produced would testifie And seing the forsaid good work has all the reason and merit that can posibly recomend any thing of that kind And that it is weell knowen that the Bursaries and all other fonds applicable to that purpose does nowayes answer the present exigence, And Therfore Humbly Craveing the saids Lords seriously to consider the forsaid act of the Synod and the good work therby Recomended And not only to Authorize and ordaine the forsaid Collection to be made at such dayes as the saids Lords should think fitt to order by ther proclamation for that effect bot also either to grant a Competent share of the saids vaccancies for the ends forsaids as the saids Lords shall think fitt to modifie, or at least to Recomend the same to the Lords of thesaurie that they may see it done in such a quantitie and maner as may be most suitable and effectuall for carieing on so good a designe that throw the blessing of god may prove of Singular advantage both to Church and state as the petitione bears Which petition being read in presence of the saids Lords They Recomended to a Committie of their oun number to consider the same and subject matter therof and report their opinion theranent, And the saids Lords of privy Councill this day haveing Considered the said petition with a report of the said Comittie They heirby allow a voluntar contributione to be Collected at the Church doors of all the parishes within the above named Presbytries to be Imployed for the ends mentioned in the said petition, And Appoints the day for Collecting to be the last Lords day of May nixt to come, And appoints the Ministers to make publict intimatione of the day appointed for the said Collectione upon the Sabbath or Lords day Imediatly preceiding the same after divyne service before the congregation be dispersed And that the moderator and ministers of each presbyterie appoint a responsall faithfull Collector in each presbytrie and take bond from him that the Collectiones be Imployed for the ends above appointed.