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Of the individuals who have been licensed to preach the gospel, 92 have recently reported to the directors the following facts.

The oldest of these 92 persons is about forty years of age. They have been in the ministry from one to eleven years. Since they were connected with the society, the 92 have taught school in all 201 years. They have instructed 26,865 children. They have been instrumental of 183 revivals of religion, and of the conversion of about 20,000 persons. They now instruct in Bible classes 15,000 children and youth. They preach statedly to about 40,000 persons. About 13,000 individuals in their parishes are members of temperance societies. About $16,000 are contributed in their parishes for various philanthropic purposes. They have induced 147 youth to study for the ministry.

Closing remarks.-The number of Protestant ministers, of all denominations, in this country, is about 8,000; thus providing for 8,000,000 of the population, on the supposition that one minister has the charge of 1,000 souls; while 5,000,000 are left utterly destitute, to be the parent and germ of other thronging millions. Who is to look after their spiritual interests? 400,000 souls are added to the population of this country every year. Who is to look after them?

There is a great dearth of effective, sanctified talent in this country. There is no supernumerary force. If a breach is made in the ranks of ministers, the breach remains. The loss is seriously and for a long time felt. In an important sense it is irreparable. The fall of a minister is like the fall of a soldier in Washington's army in 1777. It is a palpable diminution of the strength of the whole force. We have a great object to accomplish in this country. We are solemnly charged with the duty of filling every portion of this land, with the spirit of Christianity-of surrounding this entire nation with a moral atmosphere, as pressing, as all-controlling on the human heart and conscience as this superincumbent atmosphere is on human bodies. But where are the men for this work? Where are the men, who, with the divine assistance, shall renovate this land-shall thoroughly purify the great mass of American sentiment, and make this nation bear, with its amazing energies, upon this whole continent, from Labrador to the South Pole. There is a noble race of men, south of us, who are perishing, every year, by millions, for want of the joys of God's salvation. Africa too a movement might be made inward, this very week, on every side of that continent. The

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the same rules in respect to the qualifications of candidates, the appropriation of its funds in the way of loan, and the system of visitation, which were adopted by the American Education Society.

Beneficiaries.-There have been assisted by the Society during the past year:

65 young men in 8 theological seminaries. 13 colleges.

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Total 266

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30 academies.

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51 institutions of learning, within the bounds of the Presbyterian church; whose residencies are in twenty different states of the Union, and two foreign countries.

One hundred and twenty-six new applicants have been received during the year. More than one half of these are in academies, preparing to enter college; and what is highly interesting, sixty-seven are in fourteen institutions in the valley of the Mississippi.

Nineteen young men, in theological seminaries, under the patronage of the society, will terminate their course of study this year, and enter upon the sacred duties of the ministry.

One beneficiary has died during the year, and the patronage of the society has been withdrawn from three.

Most of the young men under the patronage of the society have been visited by the secretaries and local agents during the past year.

Earnings of beneficiaries.-The returns of the year exhibit a cheering result of the efforts of the young men to support themselves. From the reports it appears that,

25 students, in 5 theological seminaries, have earned,

$918 46 936 21 40 students, in 4 colleges, have earned, 29 do. in 13 academies, have earned, 1,027 47

94 students have earned, in various ways, $2,882 14

In one of the western institutions 26 young men, under the patronage of the society, pay for their whole board by manual labor; which, it their board be reckoned at $1 per week, and the academic year to consist of 40 weeks, would amount to $1,040. Let this be added to the above amount of earnings, regularly reported, and the total sum would be $3,922 14. The whole amount earned by the young men, in various ways, during the year, is not less than $5,000.

Receipts and expenditures.-The total receipts of the year, including the balance in the

whole earth, indeed, waits for the day of redemp-treasury, is $16,736 12. Of this sum there have

tion. If we are not faithless to our trusts, if we come up at all to our great work, the gospel will have been preached to every creature which is under heaven, before the sun of the present century shall go down.

FOURTEENTH REPORT OF THE PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.

THIS Society was formed in November, 1818. In May, 1827, it became a branch of the American Education Society; and in May, 1831. it was re-organized as an independent institution, embracing all part of the United States, except New England. After the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Cornelius, the Rev. William Patton was appointed secretary, and Mr. J. J. Owen, assistant secretary. This society has adopted

been appropriated during the year, to the young meu assisted, $13,026; for other purposes, to wit, salaries of secretary, treasurer, and agents, and incidental expenses, $3,324 19, making a total of expenditures, $16,350 19, and leaving a balance in the treasury of $385 93.

Agents.-Permanent agents have been appointed for districts including nearly the whole of the middle, western and southern states. A number of temporary agents are also employed. The operations of the society are increasing in extent and efficiency, and its prospect of contributing greatly to increase the number of ministers is very encouraging. The society is pledged to afford aid to every applicant having the requisite qualifications.

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AMERI- || for the best dissertation, and $100 for the second

CAN SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY.

THE American Seamen's Friend Society was designed to be a national institution, that might serve as a bond of union, and a medium of cooperation, among all the local institutions which it was anticipated would arise throughout our country.

Mariner's Churches.-Houses of public worship for mariners have been established on the seaboard-one in Portland, two in Boston, one in New Bedford, one in New London, one in New York, two in Philadelphia, one in Baltione in Charleston, one in Savannah, and one in New Orleans. And on the rivers, lakes, or canals, preachers have been employed more or less steadily, at Louisville, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, and Oswego. Other places will be supplied as soon as preachers can be obtained.

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At several of the places just mentioned improved boarding-houses for seamen have been established, together with nautical schools and register offices. Revivals of religion have been experienced, and great progress has been made in regard to temperance. Most of the whale ships and many vessels engaged in trade are navigated without the use of ardent spirits. An important reform in this respect has been proposed by the Secretary of the Navy. It has been warmly seconded by many officers, and has been carried into effect among seamen to a very encouraging extent.

Agencies.-Rev. Joshua Leavitt, secretary and general agent of the society, has resigned his office, and the Rev. Joseph Brown, heretofore seamen's preacher in Charleston, has been appointed to fill his place.

Preachers in Foreign Ports.-The society have recently appointed three missionaries to seamen in foreign ports-Rev. Edwin Stevens to Canton, in China, Rev. Flavel S. Mines to Marseilles, in France, and Mr. John Diell, in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. The committee also desire to send missionaries to Rio Janeiro, Smyrna, and St. Petersburg.

Publications.-The Sailor's Magazine continues its usual circulation; a new edition of the Sailor's Hymn-book is just going to the press, and the volume of sermons for seamen, heretofore proposed, is in progress.

Funds. The income of the society for the past year has been $5,679; and the expenses $5,441.

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AMERI-
CAN PEACE SOCIETY.

THE Calamet, a new and enlarged work, has been substituted for the Harbinger of Peace; 1,000 copies of a dissertation on a congress of nations has been distributed, a premium of $500

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best, has been offered by the society, and a considerable number of pieces have been handed in, but the adjudication has not yet been made, and the way is still open to receive farther competition. About 700 signatures have been obtained during the year, chiefly among influential literary men in our colleges, to a memorial to congress on the same subject, (the congress of nations.) A premium of $100 has been offered through the Tract Society, for the best tract on the duty of Christians to abolish the custom of war. The agent of the society has delivered lectures in many of the principal towns in the New England states. A considerable number of life members have been added, chiefly among our literary characters and clergy; and many annual subscribers obtained. The operations of the society have been conducted hitherto without expense, and all their funds have been devoted to the circulation of books and tracts.

SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AMERICAN
HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE following abstract was taken with some
abridgements from the Home Missionary.

It is estimated, that two thousand churches, of different denominations, in the United States, have been visited with revivals of religion, within the last twelve months, and that not less than one hundred thousand souls have been converted. Here is exhibited the brightest aspect of the providential government of God over this world. And here has been especially felt the influence of the American Home Missionary Society. While the field of its operations has been much enlarged, and the number of its missionaries increased, it has been chosen of God, as the instrument of salvation to many souls. So signal, in this respect, have been its triumphs, that the executive committee, in presenting their sixth annual report, would not feel that they had duly honored the divine grace, which has accompanied their operations, should they fail to designate the year which is now past, as characteristically a year of revivals of religion.

Missionaries and fields of labor.-From the preceding details it appears, that the whole number of missionaries and agents employed by this society during the year, is 509; and the number of congregations and missionary districts, aided in their support, 745. Of the missionaries and agents enumerated, 351 were in commission at the commencement of the year; a large proportion of whom have been re-appointed, and are still in the service of the society. The remaining 158 have been new appointments, during the year, making in all, 509.

Of the whole number thus employed, 347 are settled as pastors, or are employed as "stated supplies," in single congregations; 131 divide their labors between two or three congregations; and 31, including agents, have been employed on larger fields. Thus distributed, the missionaries of this society, during the year, have probably preached the gospel, with more or less frequency, to more than 700,000 people, and to a large portion of these, their ministry has been constant. The amount of ministerial labor reported as performed within the year, in the service of this society, is three hundred and sixtyone years and five months.

Receipts and expenditures.-The amount actually paid out from the treasury during the

year, including office rent, secretary's salary, and all the incidental expenses of the society, is $52,808 39, which is more, by $5,550 79, than the payments of the previous year. Yet, this amount distributed among 509 missionaries and agents, would divide the average sum to each of only $103; and, deducting the amount paid to several agents, and to a number of missionaries in distant and frontier stations, who derive almost their whole support from the society; affords not more than about $100 for each year of ministerial service actually performed. The invariable rule has been, to appropriate, in each case, the smallest sum, which, after due inquiry, has seemed sufficient to enable the congregation aided, to sustain the minister of its choice.

The balance in the treasury at the beginning of the year was $877 13, and the society was then under obligations to missionaries and agents $367 85. The receipts of the society, during the last year, as appears from the treasurer's report, have exceeded those of the preceding year, $2,174 52, and the expenditures have increased $5,550 78. This leaves the treasury overdrawn at the present time, $2,509 14; and in addition to this, the committee are under engagements to missionaries now in the field $36,644 50, making the whole amount, a part of which is now due, and the whole of which is pledged to be paid within the coming twelve months, $39,153 64.

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The report contains a table showing the amount received from each state and territory,|| the amount pledged to each, with the number of missionaries and congregations aided in each.

The whole number aided by this society, west of the Alleghany mountains, since our last anniversary, has been 177; and the whole number employed there, since the organization of this society, has been 240; which is nearly one half of the Presbyterian ministers on that extended field, embracing eleven states and parts of states, with a population of nearly 4,000,000, in several sections of which, nearly their whole supply has been derived from this society. In Missouri, there are now 18 Presbyterian ministers, and 13 of them have been sent there, or aided by the A. H. M. S. Illinois has now 32 Presbyterian ministers, and 23 of them are, or have been missionaries of this society, and 19 are now in commission in that state. Michigan Territory has 18, and 15 of the same have been sent there, or aided from the same source.

Results.-The number of Sabbath schools actually reported, has been 544, embracing 19,690 scholars. The whole number of children and adults thus instructed, under the care of the missionaries, has probably exceeded 30,000.

Bible classes, also, have been gathered in the congregations aided, almost without any exception. The number of such classes reported, has been 239, embracing 3,711 pupils, and more than 7,000 have probably been thus instructed.

Temperance societies have been organized in most of the congregations assisted, and 36,402 subscribers to the principal of total abstinence from intoxicating drinks, have been reported. More than 60,000 have probably been thus enrolled, within the field of our labors.

6,126 have been reported already added to the churches, on profession of their faith. The number reported as added by letter has been 1,364, making the whole number reported as added to the churches aided, during the last year, 7,490. But these reports have been necessarily very defective. The probable number added to the churches aided, since our last anniversary, has been more than 8,000, and the number of hopeful conversions, under the labors of our missionaries, not less than 10,000.

ANNIVERSARIES OF SOCIETIES.

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PRISON
DISCIPLINE SOCIETY.

THE society convened in Park-street church, May 28, John Tappan, Esq., one of the vice presidents, presiding. After reading of the scriptures and prayer, the report of the treasurer was read by Mr. Charles Cleveland, and that of the managers by Rev. Louis Dwight, the secretary, and addresses delivered by Hon. A. H. Everett, and Rev. John Pierpont.

FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN
TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

THE society convened in Park-street church,
May 30th. Hon. Samuel Hubbard, one of the
vice presidents, presided. The report of the
society was read by the Rev. Dr. Edwards.
And resolutions were moved and addresses
made by Rev. Mr. Malcolm, Rev. Mr. Chick-
ering, and Rev. Dr. Hewit. Mr. Chick-
ering's address was aimed principally at the
promotion of temperance among young men,
and Dr. Hewit urged with great force the neces-
sity of carrying the temperance reform through
the nations of Europe, and the importance of
appointing an agent for the accomplishment of
this object,

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THE meeting of the society was held May 29th, Rev. Dr. Sharp, in the chair. The annual reports were read by Mr. John B. Jones, the treasurer, and Rev. Mr. Thresher, the secretary. Addresses were made by Rev. R. E. Pattison, Rev. Addison Parker, Rev. Mr. Freeman, and Richard Fletcher, Esq.

SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DOC-
TRINAL TRACT AND BOOK SOCIETY.

THE third anniversary was held May 30th, Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. in the chair. The reports of the executive committee and treasurer were read, and ordered to be passed. It was voted that the society hereafter be called the

One hundred and eighty-seven of the churches reported have been blessed with special revivals of religion, which have resulted in the hopeful conversion of more than 8,000 souls. The whole number of conversions reported is 9,432, of whom It American Doctrinal Tract Society.

VOL. XXVIII.

30

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SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MASSACHU-
SETTS SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.

THE Society was convened in the Baptist meet-
ing-house, Federal-street, May 31st. Hon.
William Reed presided. The annual report was
read by Rev. Artemus Bullard, the late secre-
tary. Resolutions were moved and seconded by
Rev. Mr. Bullard, Mr. Bannister, Rev. Mr.
Grosvenor, Rev. Mr. Warne, Rev. Mr. Fisher,
Rev. Mr. Holroyd, Rev. Dr. Edwards, and Rev.
Dr. Fay. This Union, in which the Congrega-
tionalists and Baptists have been united, has
been dissolved, and instead of it a distinct socie-
ty formed by each of those denominations.

EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

J. Breckenridge, Esq., Rev. Mr. Bascom, of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and Rev. Mr.
Lindsey, of the same church.

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
BIBLE SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA.

THE meeting was held May 2d, Rt. Rev.
bishop White presiding. The annual report was
read by Rev. Mr. Boyd. Resolutions were
moved and seconded by Rev. Dr. Capers, Rev.
Dr. Green, Rev. Mr. Tyng, Rev. Mr. Brantly,
and Rev. Mr. Boyd.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.

THE sessions of this body commenced in the first Presbyterian church, in the city of Philadelphia, May 17th, when the Rev. N. S. S. Beman, of Troy, N. Y., moderator of the last general assembly, preached the opening sermon. The Rev. James Hoge, D. D. was chosen moderator, and Rev. Philip C. Hay was chosen temporary clerk. The ordinary business of the assembly was transacted, and the reports of the General Assembly's Board of Missions, Board of Education, and of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, were presented and acted upon. The assembly continued in session until June 1st, when it adjourned.

GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED DUTCH
CHURCH.

THE annual sermon before the board of mana-
gers in the first Presbyterian church in Philadel-
phia, was delivered by the Rev. Charles Hodge,
professor in the Princeton theological seminary,
May 21st. On the following day the society
met to transact its annual business, Alexander
Henry, Esq., the president, in the chair. The
treasurer, Paul Beck, Esq., read his report, and
the annual report of the board of managers was
read by one of the secretaries. Resolutions
were moved and seconded by the Rev. Mr. Be-
man, of the Presbyterian church, Mr. J. H.
Taylor, of the Episcopal church, Professor
Schmucker of the German Lutheran church,
Rev. Mr. Wolle, of the Moravian church, Robert II Ferris.

THIS body met at the Collegiate Reformed Dutch church, in the city of New York, June 6th, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. John Gosman, president of the last synod. Forty ministers and twenty-seven elders were present as delegates. The Rev. Isaac Ferris, of Albany, was chosen president, and Rev. A. H. Dumont and the Rev. Gustavus Abeel, chosen secretaries. The annual sermon on missions was preached on the 10th, by the Rev. Mr.

Miscellanies.

NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION
WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE PRESBYTE-
RIAN CHURCH.

THE following paragraphs are extracted from
the narrative presented to the assembly during
the late session. The whole narrative presents
a very condensed and interesting view of the
state of religion and of the progress and influence
of religious and benevolent institutions in all
parts of the country during the past year.

After noticing the dark and discouraging prospects of the previous year, and the formidable

obstacles with which religion had to contend, the narrative proceeds to give a view of the revivals of religion which have prevailed.

It is our delightful privilege to report, that sixty-eight presbyteries have been blessed with the special influences of the Holy Spirit, reviving the churches, and bringing perishing sinners to the saving knowledge of the truth. In these highly favored presbyteries, about seven hundred congregations are reported as having been thus visited in rich mercy. In many of these places, thus refreshed by the showers of divine grace, the displays of the power of the gospel

have been glorious, almost beyond example. || Several presbyteries have had their whole territory pervaded by an heavenly influence, and every congregation has become a harvest field for the ingathering of souls to the fold of the good Shepherd. The following list includes those presbyteries, which have been distinguished by a mighty prevalence of the work of God,

viz.

Londonderry, Champlain, Troy, Albany, Columbia, Watertown, Oswego, Oneida, Otsego, Cortland, Chenango, Delaware, Cayuga, Geneva, Buffalo, Detroit, Hudson, North River, Newark, Elizabethtown, District of Columbia, Ontario, Chillicothe, West Hanover, Lexington, Niagara, Hopewell, Georgia.

These bodies send us the animating message, that all, or nearly all, their churches have enjoyed a precious season of revival.

The following presbyteries report a very interesting work of grace, within their respective bounds, extending, however, only to a part of their congregations.

Tioga, Bath, Bedford, New York, New York, 3d, Long Island, Onondaga, Huron, Portage, Grand River, Ohio, Steubenville, Newton, Susquehanna, Philadelphia, Newcastle, Carlisle, Huntingdon, Erie, Cleaveland, Cincinnati, Athens, Miami, Oxford, Madison, St. Louis, Trumbull, St. Charles, Ebenezer, Charleston Union, Shiloh, Muhlenburg, Winchester, Orange, North Alabama, Louisville, Concord, Tombigbee, Union, South Alabama.

Thus the voice of praise and thanksgiving is heard from our most distant borders. An harmonious testimony comes from the north and the south, the east and the west, proclaiming that the past has been a year of the right hand of the Most High.

The narrative then proceeds to notice some of the characteristics of these revivals and the peculiar circumstances that attended them.

One of these is the general extension of this work of grace. Formerly, it was a prevalent opinion, that some places and some communities were so entirely occupied and strongly fortified by the enemy, that no rational hopes could be cherished, that they would ever rejoice in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. So that in reference to the existence of a work of grace in such localities, we have been ready to say if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might such a thing be! But these conclusions of unbelief have been put to shame, by the easy conquests which divine love has recently achieved, in the very strong holds of proud infidelity over the congregated forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

A second trait in these revivals is the conversion of large numbers of men of talents, wealth, political eminence, and influence the class of men who have more rarely been included among the subjects of revivals, and who have too often been considered beyond the reach of religious influence. Large numbers of these men, in many places, have during the past year been hopefully converted to God.

One more distinctive trait in the work of grace, with which our churches have been so extensively blessed, is found in the resistless

energy which has accompanied it. Several of our reports recount such triumphs of grace, over all opposition, as have rarely been witnessed. So overpowering have been the manifestations of the divine presence, in some places, that hardly a single adult, in a whole community, remained unaffected. Large congregations have been brought by the mighty power of God, anxiously to inquire with one united voice, what must we do to be saved?

We cannot omit to mention the extraordinary extension of this gracious influence. From the shores of the northern lakes to the plains of Florida; from the Atlantic border, to the banks of Missouri, we hear one united testimony, that the Lord hath appeared to build up Zion. In the crowded city, and the forest wild-in the halls of legislation, and the cottages of the poor, in the circles of refined elegance, and the cabins of servitude among men of letters, and savages of the forest, there has been one pervading influence, one indiscriminate transformation of character. They do all speak in our own language the wonderful works of God.

In regard to the means which have been used in promoting these revivals the narrative states that the regular and faithful ministry of the word, protracted meetings, prevalence of temperance, and various labors for instructing children and youth have been peculiarly blessed.

of revivals, and that is the mighty power with We notice only one thing more in the reports which the simple truths of the gospel have been attended. We have been too prone to believe, that the champions of infidelity were only to be encountered by subtle and skilful argumentation -that the pride of unsanctified intellect was only to be humbled by triumphant reasoning; and that the fortresses of high minded impenitence, were only to be successfully assailed, by the combined forces of learning and eloquence. But the experience of the past year has made us wiser. We have had a practical comment upon that inspired declaration-not by might, nor power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.

Who can estimate the precious influence which must be exerted by these seven hundred renovated churches, upon the whole population of our country-upon present and future generations? What energy of moral power is thus imparted to the cause of truth. How many fountains of salvation are thus opened to gladden the dry and thirsty land. The fruits of this astonishing work of grace are valuable to the church and the world, beyond all human computation. In numerous communities, the predominating influence is now consecrated to the cause of God.

Similar revivals have prevailed within the bounds of other ecclesiastical bodies in correspondence with the General Assembly. The General Association of Connecticut reports that almost all its churches have been visited by the influences of the Spirit, and that the most desirable results have followed. The General Association of Massachusetts reports that more than two hundred churches in connection with that

body have enjoyed the effusions of the holy Spirit, and that more than six thousand souls have professedly passed from death to life.

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