—.» j The Rev. J. Lothian, moderator, took the chair at seven o'clock last evening. There was a large attendance of members, but not ] very many sat beyond the hairier. moderator's address. j In the course of hi 3 address on ' Half a j Century'sProgiess in Religion and Theology,' i the Moderator said : There are two direc tions in which the progress of the church, and especially in that branch of it with which we are connected, has been marked during the period mentioned, aud this pro gress is to us at the present time worthy of more than mere passing notice. I refer first to the advance made with regard to scientific theology and the attitude of the church thereto; and, secondly, to the wonderful progress with regard to the form of public worship ami the changed sentiments of tiie church, as a whole, to the same. Of course, we may say, in passing, these arc external to that living power which Jems Christ gives to all that believe on Him to be come the sons of God. Vet they are phenomena well worthy of consideration, and have their appointed use. It is now gener ally admitted by many theological leadei s, and even by the churches themselves, that theology or religion has a philosophical and scientific aspect which comes under the same law 3 of investigation and progress as those to which the other sciences arc subject, when denlfc with by finite human intellects. This distinction, which in itself marks con siderable progress, is, says an able Hampton lecturer, so important that it can hardly be over-estimated in the present aspects of thought. The vast amount of subject j matter, involving a number of difficult, philosophical, scientific, and historical pro- I blems which have been identified with Christianity by systematic and popular theology, has rendered the proof of its Divine origin one of so complicated a charac ter as to require a special training to enable the inquirer to appreciate its cogency. But the urgent need of the present times is a proof that shall be level to the capacities of mankind, and in order to effect this it is necessary that Christianity should be re duced to that simple form in which it was proclaimed by our Lord himself and His Apostles. 