Who of our brethren to whom the Lord has entrusted a share of this world's goods, will come among us and do likewise? No minister of thrift, and industry, and piety, with a fair share of preaching abilities, need have any fear of not obtaining a comfortable support in Arkansas. It will come one way or another. There are places now vacant which would sustain a minister well at the start. I have more to say, but must defer it for the present. Truly yours, J. F. G. FRUITS OF MISSIONS. About four years ago the Board of Missions sent out to California our first missionary, the Rev. vester Woodbridge. He located in Benicia, and organized there a Presbyterian church, which was the first Presbyterian, if not the first organized Protestant church in California. The Lord has prospered the efforts of his people to build up his Church there, and they now gratefully acknowledge the kindness of friends for assistance rendered them, and make liberal contributions to the cause of Missions, as will be seen by the subjoined letter. pel to those who are as yet wholly destitute of them. Brethren, do not merely read the following letter, but think and pray over its suggestions. Iowa, July 21st, 1853. Rev. and Dear Brother - The question is often asked by the Board, "Are your churches likely to become self-sustaining?" And I presume the answers of your missionaries are often very indefinite. The most definite answer I can give to this question, in its relation to my own field, is this: "Just as soon as they obtain houses of worship." My congregations would not now need one cent from the Board, if they had suitable houses of worship. I verily beSyl-lieve that twenty years hence they will continue to need aid, if they are without church edifices. On our last communion season at L. P., full one-half of the congregation were outside the school-room. Even on ordinary occasions the house will not contain near all the people who are willing to come. I am often told when I call upon families, that the reason they do not attend our church is, they find no room. They have been there repeatedly, and found the house too full for them. Under such circumstances, churches cannot grow; and under such circumstances, many who would attend our ministry are either driven to other denominations, or they spend their Sabbaths at home. In my next, I will let you know what progress we are making with our church building here, and what is hoped concerning my other charge. Permit me, however, to say that I confidently believe that in many instances, from $300 to $500 put in church edifices would make these churches self-sustaining at once, when, without such buildings, they must depend upon the Board for years, or if that aid should fail, perhaps they too would sink. SAN FRANCISCO, October 15th, 1853. Rev. and Dear Sir-Enclosed I send you a check for eighty-three dollars sixty cents, which represents the amount of the first quarter's collections taken up in the "First Presbyterian Church, Benicia, California," in behalf of the cause of Christian Mis sions. Our church and congregation are small, but we hope for and expect gradual increase. Though few in numbers, and still considerably in arrears as a society, we desire to contribute our mite towards the promotion of the missionary cause. Now that we have begun, we hope to continue and go forward in aiding the good work of spreading the knowledge of true religion. We gratefully acknowledge our obligations to our rendered, and trust we shall not be found wanting CHURCH EXTENSION. MISSIONARY TOILS. J. S. F. OHIO, June 6th, 1853. In presenting my last quarterly report for the year, am naturally led to review the results of the past year. Notwithstanding all its discouragements and difficulties, yet we have much to be thankful for. Our labours have been blessed beyond our expectation; the clouds begin to break, and I labour on with the hope that our church here will soon become efficient and self-sustaining. But what shall part of our Zion comes the cry, Give us labourers. The field here is large and inviting, but purely a missionary one. The suggestion made by the brother in the sub-I say my labours are too great; yet from every joined letter is worthy of special attention. There is no doubt that many churches would be greatly strengthened if they had suitable houses of worship, and that many of them would soon become selfsustaining. Will not those who have the ability furnish the pecuniary means required? We have been surprised that an object so obviously important to the growth and expansion of the Church should not have commanded more liberal contributions. Some churches and a few individuals have nobly responded to the appeals that have been made from time to time; but the great majority of our people have as yet done comparatively little or nothing. Send us the means, that the Board may strengthen the weak, multiply self-sustaining churches, and thus be enabled to extend the blessings of the gos I will give you the routine of one Sabbath's labours, as a part of my regular plan. On Sabbath morning, superintend Sabbath-school; preach in Tat half-past ten; ride ten miles to McC and preach at half-past two; return to T, ten miles, and preach at half-past five; thus making three services, and a ride of twenty miles, besides the Sabbath-school, every alternate Sabbath. The other Sabbath labours are similar. Too much-you say-destroy your health. Truly, but what can be half a dozen other places the same requests come, but I cannot possibly do more; to some of them I preach during the week. I pray sincerely for health to continue my labours. done? The fields are white unto the harvest. From more than doubled, and a prospect of organizing Congregations increasing-Sabbath-schools have another church during the summer. HONORARY MEMBERS. The sum of Fifty Dollars constitutes a person an Honorary Member of the Board of Missions. Honorary Members have a right to sit in the meetings of the Board, and engage in their deliberations, but have no right to vote. A copy of the Annual Report is sent to them every year. FORM OF A DEVISE OR BEQUEST. To the Trustees of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and to their successors and assigns, I give and bequeath the sum of, or I devise a certain messuage, and tract of land, &c., to be held by the said Trustees, and their successors for ever, to and for the uses, and under the direction of the said Board of Missions of the said General Assembly, according to the provisions of their charter. Persons making bequests to the Board of Missions are requested to be careful in adopting the above form. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF RECEIPTS. TREASURY AT PHILADELPHIA. Receipts into the Treasury of the Board of Missions during the month of October, 1853. SYNOD OF ALBANY, Pby of Londonderry.—Antrim ch, from a member Pby of Albany.-Hamilton Union ch Pby of Donegal.-Little Britain ch 11 28; Wrightsville ch 12 06, and from Sab sch 9 70-21 76 Pby of Baltimore.-Bridge st ch Georgetown, DC, 60; Fst ch Washington City 66 08; Madison st ch Baltimore 1; Baltimore 1st ch 450 Phy of Carlisle.-Schellsburg ch, to const Rev THOMAS K DAVIS an hon mem 50; Shippensburg ch 86, less 2 counterfeit note-84, and from Miss Jane McKay dec'd 50 Pby of Huntingdon.-Shavers' Creek ch 46 10; one-half Presbyterial collection after missionary sermon at Alexandria 12 50; Sinking Valley ch 34; Little Aughwick ch 43; West Kishacoquillas ch, of which $50 to const Mr JOHN GETTYS hon mem 58 25; First ch Spruce Creek, sewing circle 25; Chilisquaque ch from a mem ber 3 Phy of Northumberland. - Williamsport ch 12; Nippenose and Chatham Run chs 5; Washington ch 32 85; Bloomsburgh ch 35 SYNOD OF OHIO. 33 04 577 08 184 00 221 85 84 85 500 28 75 SYNOD OF VIRGINIA. Pby of North River.-Fishkill Landing ch 5 69; Marlborough ch, Mrs Wm Wooley 1 Pby of Bedford.-South Salem ch, Female Charitable society 16; North Salem ch 5 25 Pby of Long Island.-Fresh Pond ch, W P Buffett Pby of New York 2d.-Sing Sing ch, to constitute JOSEPH G SHAW, RUSSELL BARNUM, and C F MAURICE hon 'mems, of which 5 from the widow of the late Rev Jacob Green for Texas Missions Pby of Connecticut.-Hartford City First ch MISCELLANEOUS. 21 25 Rev A R Banks, El Dorado Ark. 5: A Lady, through Rev R W Dunlap 100; Mrs HARRIET B 10 00 WYLIE Newark Ohio, to const self an hon mem 50; "Two Friends" through the Board of Education 500; Thomas Stewart of Octorara Pa, towards support of Rev J Osmond 5; T A Godfrey, Tremont Pa 5; Chandler Ward, Franklindale Pa 80 cts; Mrs A L Scott, Newburgh NY 5; Mrs Sarah Cornelius, per Rev J McDowell D D, 100 Pby of Philadelphia.-Spring Garden ch, from Rev J McDowell D D, 10, John Hocker 5, Jacob M Johnson 5, Samuel N Hall 5, Mrs J Evans 1, Mrs Parker 1, J Spear 1, Mrs E Ross 1, Miss E Hill 1, Mrs Biddle 50 cts, cash collection 21 58, Hon J Allison 10, Mrs Cochran 3, Master E R Haworth 50 cts, J J Haley 3, Mrs Collins 1-69 58; Charlestown ch 5 62 Pby of Philadelphia 2d.-Allen Township and Catasauqua ch Pby of New Castle.-Lower West Nottingham ch 70; Penningtonville ch add1 3; Forks of Brandywine ch, of which 3 50 a poor widow's offering, 105; Zion ch 20 87; Oxford ch 100 Received since last acknowledgment 1 box from the Ladies Presbyterian missionary society of Bedford, New York, valued at 1 box from the Colerain sewing society, Huntingdon co Pa, valued at 50 00 140 00 CHURCH EXTENSION FUND. Receipts into the Treasury at Philadelphia, during the month of October, 1853. Fby of Philadelphia.-A member of the 2d Pres Fby of Bethel.-Bethesda ch Pby of Rock River.-Rock Island ch.36; Camden ch 7 Pby of Chicago.-Roscoe ch SYNOD OF CINCINNATI. Pby of Cincinnati.-1st ch Cincinnati SYNOD OF NASHVILLE. Pby of Holston.-Salem ch 25; Rogersville ch 198 57 14 80; New Providence ch 10 20 Pby of Nashville.-Smyrna ch MISCELLANEOUS. 61 40 E. W. 25.00 30 00 $314 97 43 00 750 63 10 50 00 16 66 5 00 Total, $1046 21 A. DAVIDSON, Treasurer. TREASURY AT PITTSBURGH. $814 97 Receipts into the Treasury at Pittsburgh, Pa., during the month of October, 1853. Pby of Vincennes.-Indiana ch 16 25; Upper Indiana ch 27 50; Vincennes ch, to con Rev J F SMITH hon mem 54 90; White River ch 10; Claiborne ch 3 Pby of Madison.-South Hanover ch Pby of Indianapolis.-Bloomington ch 56; ISAAC VANNUYS, bal to con self hon mem 25 Pby of Palestine.-Paris ch in part 50; ALEXANDER MANN, Grandview ch, bal to con self hon mem 25, R M Sate, Grandview ch, in part to con self hon mem 10, Mrs Margarette Steel, in part to con self hon mem 10, Wm Blackburn, in part to con self hon mem 10, Grandview ch 28 SYNOD OF NORTHERN INDIANA. SYNOD OF PITTSBURGH. Pby of Blairsville.-Congruity ch 32; Fairfield ch 558; Kittaning ch 81 14; Rural Valley ch, of which Youth's Missionary Society 11-20; Gilgal and Perry ch 15; Armagh ch 7; Salem ch 16; Boiling Spring ch 9; Poke Run ch, bal to con Rev DAVID KIRKPATRICK, D D, and Mrs ELIZA KIRKPATRICK hon mems 60 Pby of Redstone.-McKeesport ch 40 50; Round Hill ch 15; Morgantown ch, Dr Isaac Long acre 5 Pby of Allegheny.-Tarentum ch (of which from Ladies Missionary Society 2 50) 32 77; Cross Roads ch 35; Portersville ch 20; Butler ch in part 31 50 Pby of Clarion.-Clarion ch 45; Rehoboth ch 18 75; Callensburg ch 17 50; Concord ch 6 25 Pby of Erie.-Mill Creek ch 6; Sugar Creek ch 8; Mercer ch, in part to con Rev Robert F Sample hon mem 30 Pby of Beaver.-Little Beaver ch 12 64; West Middlesex ch 7 60 Pby of Ohio.-Miller's Run ch, Fem miss society 10 85; Pittsburgh 2d ch in part (by Sab sch 11 24) and to con Messrs JOHN T LOGAN, HARVEY CHILDS, and Dr C G HUSSEY hon mems, WASHINGTON MCCLINTOCK 50, to con self hon mem, JDW 25, in part to con Edwin Howard Williams hon mem 277 24 111 65 62 10 81 00 BOARD OF EDUCATION. PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION ROOMS, Business Officers of the Board. C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. D., Corresponding Secretary. Letters and Communications for the BOARD OF EDUCATION on the subject of Ministerial Education, or of Schools, Academies and Colleges, may be addressed to the Rev. C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. D., Corresponding Secretary, No. 265 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Remittances of money may be made to WILLIAM MAIN, Esq., Treasurer, 265 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. I. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION. ready to answer; but even in his own house, and on the holy Sabbath day, and in the midst of the assembly of his saints, the great work of perpetuating and increasing the ministry of the gospel is not often among the public supplications. It is to be feared that there are great defects in our own hearts. As ministers, do we sufficiently bear this subject on our souls before God? Do we feel enough anxiety about it; do we agonize in secret; do we pray at all over it; and in our public services, do we pray it up and preach it up into the religious sympathies of our people; do we teach them to take right views of its importance, and of their responsibilities and duties; and above all, do we lead the petitions of the pious at the throne of grace, as we should, for an increase of labourers? Mr. Moderator, at such a time as this, God expects his ministers to lay out their whole strength for his Church. And if that strength were adequately exerted, through the grace "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He would send and gift of prayer, in private and public, what forth labourers into His harvest." CANDIDATES AND INSTITUTIONS. SYNOD OF NEW JERSEY. [We commence in this number of the Record a sketch of an interesting discussion in the Synod of New Jersey, on matters relating to education. We have notes of the remarks of Dr. Magie, and Rev. Messrs. Van Doren and Miller, which shall be published in the next Record, if possible.] The CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE BOARD said that he greatly feared that the attention of the Church blessings might not descend, in conformity to exceeding great and precious promises! Another remark I beg to submit to the Synod is, that we do not give a religious education to a sufficiently large number of young men. Parents, in general, seem to have a feeble sense of the value of a liberal education. The youth of the Church are prepared, as they grow up, to be farmers, or mechanics, or merchants, as their fathers were; and if a few receive a collegiate education, so defective was not yet sufficiently aroused to the alarming is the public course of studies, ordinarily, and so decline in the number of candidates for the minisfew the religious influences exerted, that the young try. The theological students in our Seminaries men go to the law, or to medicine, or to any thing this year would probably be fewer even than last else, rather than to the ministry of Christ. These year; and last year the number was less than the are crying evils-that so few young men receive a average of the preceding ten years. The average liberal education, and that our institutions of learnof the preceding ten years was about 250, whilst ing have been organized and managed on so worldly last year there were only 240 at all our Seminaries. a plan. The Christian academies under the care of This year, so far as can be ascertained, the number the Church will afford facilities for education to more will not exceed, if it reaches, 235. Princeton has young men than heretofore, but it will take time about 100, Alleghany 50, Prince Edward 25, Columfor these institutions to swell the number of candibia 35, Danville 20, and perhaps there may be 10 or dates, with God's blessing upon them as instrumen15 pursuing their studies elsewhere. Under the talities. Already, however, they have begun to do most favourable circumstances, the number cannot it. In the State of New Jersey there are several exceed the diminished number of last year, and will new academies, as at Newton, Blairstown, Cranprobably come short of it. Is not this an alarming bury, May's Landing, with other classical schools condition of things? Does it not call for solemn at various points, in hopeful operation, at which thought, and deep contrition, and anxious searching young men are turning their attention to the minisbefore God for its causes and the remedy? try. Our brethren in West Jersey are about to open an Academy at Bridgeton, at an expense of $14,000.* The Wesleyan Academy at Newark, where a number of Presbyterian youth are educated, cannot be expected to furnish supplies for the Pres Permit me, Mr. Moderator, simply to allude to two points. The first is that we should pray more, and pray in a more earnest manner. We must adhere to, and magnify scriptural injunctions. Feeble as our prayers are in quality, they seem to be equally defective in quantity. How comparatively seldom is it, Sir, that the subject is alluded to in the services of the sanctuary! The Lord of the harvest is * In the hurry of the moment, the two important Academies in Luzerne and Susquehanna Presbyteries, in Pennsylvania, within the bounds of the Synod, were not mentioned. One is at Wyoming, and the other at Towanda. byterian ministry. We must educate our own chil- there has been a great failure somewhere else. dren into our own views of truth and duty. The Within the last few months, I have had my attennumber of young men in our Church, who are re-tion called to several of the colleges in the Middle ceiving a collegiate education at all our own colleges, States, partly by personal visits, and partly by remay be estimated at about 1200; but this number is ports which I have read; and I have been greatly far too small for the right discharge of our duty to struck with the fact that the number of professors Church and State. Not a fifth part of these have of religion among the students is much greater in the ministry in view. We need to arouse the edu- some of them, in proportion to the whole number, cational spirit of our Church, in order to do our than it was when I was a student. I am inclined proper work. At least double the number of young to think that the number of professors of religion in men should receive the highest order of Christian | our colleges and academies, especially in the Middle, training. There is talent enough in the Church, but it is not drawn out. Education has too much lost the sanctions of religion. Parents should be made to feel deeper responsibilities in regard to educating their children, and thus preparing them for whatever service in the Church or State God may call them to engage in. In short, Mr. Moderator, without trespassing more on the Synod's time, it seems to me that we want above all things, at the present crisis, more praying spirit, and more educational spirit. DR. BAIRD'S SPEECH. and Southern, and Western States, was never much greater, if at all, in proportion to the whole number, than at present. Some of the colleges and academies in the States of New York and Pennsylvania have a remarkably large number of professedly pious young men. This is true of the University of Rochester, Madison University, Jefferson College, and Hamilton College, (I think.) The same thing is true of Princeton College. In some of the colleges and academies referred to, one-quarter, in some one-half, and in the University of Rochester, and the Academy at Avon, more than three-fourths, if I am The Rev. ROBERT BAIRD, D. D., arose and ad- not mistaken, are members of evangelical churches. dressed the Synod as follows: every MR. MODERATOR:-I certainly approve of word which Dr. Van Rensselaer has said, in the address to which we have just been listening. No subject can come before this Synod which will compare, in its vast bearings and results, with that of the education of our youth, on truly Christian principles; and that branch of it which relates to training up of young men for the "Ministry of Reconciliation," is certainly of the highest interest and importance. Dr. Van Rensselaer has brought before the attention of the Synod a fact which calls for its most serious attention, namely: that the number of candidates for the ministry in our branch of the Church is not greater than it was a year ago. He has also stated that the number last year, and indeed the average number for the last ten years, was no greater than it was in 1843. And yet the demands for faithful ministers of the gospel, for our country and the world, have greatly increased within the last ten years. This fact demands most serious, and I will add, anxious attention. But however this may be, I have been surprised and grieved to learn that so large a number of the "religious students," as they are called, have some other profession than that of the ministry in view. Almost every In my day it was very different. pious young man in college seemed to feel it to be Almost the whole of his duty to preach Christ. them were the children of pious parents, whose highest desire for their children was to see them faithful ministers of the gospel. They had been dedicated to God from their birth, and often this dedication included, as a very dear and peculiar part of it, a giving of them up to the work of the ministry. I greatly fear, Moderator and brethren, that there is something wrong. I greatly fear that the duty of preaching Christ is not so frequently, tenderly, and earnestly pressed upon the attention of pious young men, in colleges, as well as out of them, as it used to be. I greatly fear that the Presidents and Professors of our colleges, and the Heads of our academies, who profess to be pious men, do not take this subject to heart as they should. Pious young men in our colleges need guidance in deciding the question of duty in relation to this subject, as well as many others. It is natural that they should receive advice and direction from those who know better than any others what is their character, what their talents and qualifications. I wish that some suitable person could visit every college in the land, and sit down and converse with the religious members ~ But I apprehend, Moderator and brethren, that of the Faculty of each, and lay before them the It has been justly said that our Church, and even our ministers, have not considered this subject as they should. There has not been that earnest, heartfelt, persevering prayer, that there should have been, that the "Lord of the harvest would thrust forth more labourers into his harvest." Without doubt, there has been a great failure in duty on this point, as Dr. Van Rensselaer has stated. |