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Proceedings of other Societies.

DOMESTIC.

ANNIVERSARIES OF SOCIETIES AND ECCLESIASTICAL BODIES.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THIS body was convened in Philadelphia, on Thursday, May 18th, and was opened by a sermon from the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, of South Carolina. The Rev. David Elliott, D. D., of the state of Pennsylvania, was chosen moderator, and the Rev. H. S. Pratt, of Georgia, clerk. From the report of the trustees of the assembly, it appeared that the amount of moneys received by them during the year, to be used in behalf of the several institutions under the patronage of the assembly, had been $27,031 98. The reports of the directors of the Theological || Seminary at Princeton and of the Western Theological Seminary were presented. The 24th was observed as a day of religious services. The reports of the Boards of Education and Missions were presented.

The report on education stated that 562 beneficiaries under the care of the board, were prosecuting their studies for the ministry in various stages of study, and at 106 different literary and theological seminaries. The receipts of the board from all sources amounted during the year to $43,473 61; and the disbursements to $40,869 05.

The report on missions stated that the number of missionaries employed by the board in the several states of the Union is 272; who have labored in 675 congregations and missionary districts. The increase in the number of missionaries during the year has been thirty, and of congregations and districts aided 200: church members added by profession 1,680. In the churches aided were 500 Sabbath schools, with 2,800 teachers, and 20,000 pupils.-The receipts for the year, including a balance from the previous year, were $30,961 27; and the disbursements $30,930 27.

A Board of Foreign Missions was also organized by the assembly.

After transacting important ecclesiastical business, the assembly adjourned on the 15th of June.

WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE anniversary was held in the Central Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia on the 26th of June, Alexander Symington, Esq., the president, in the chair. Rev. Dr. Green led in prayer and the secretary, Walter Lowrie, Esq., read portions of the annual report, exhibiting the state of the society's operations and financial concerns, showing that the society has under its patronage three missions, one in Western Africa, one in Northern India, and one among the Indian tribes west of the State of Missouri. tional missions to the Indian tribes, to Calcutta, and to China are in contemplation. The mission at Smyrna has been relinquished for the present.

Addi

The receipts during the year amounted to $22,832 54; to which was to be added a balance from the previous year, of $6,497 60. The disbursements were $26,222 15.

By a recent vote of the directors the name of the society has been changed, and the institution is to be denominated the Presbyterian Foreign Missionary Society. The offices of the society and the centre of its operations are to be removed from Pittsburg to the city of New York.

GENERAL

SYNOD OF THE REFORMED
DUTCH CHURCH.

THE annual meeting was held in the city of
New York, and was opened on the 7th of
June with prayer by the Rev. Thomas M.
Strong, president of the last synod, who
also preached the annual sermon. Rev.
Isaac N. Wyckoff was elected president
and Rev. C. Hunt and Rev. G. I. Garret-
son clerks. Reports were presented by the
trustees of Rutger's College, and the super-
intendents of the Theological Seminary
connected with it, both institutions under the
care of the synod; also reports from the
Board of Foreign Missions, the Board of
Domestic Missions, and the Board of Edu-
|cation, connected with the synod.

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THE ninth general meeting was held at Princeton, Kentucky, commencing on the 3d Tuesday, May 16th. The introductory sermon was preached by the Rev. Robert Dormell, who was also chosen moderator. In addition to the ordinary ecclesiastical business, measures were adopted for rescuing the college under the care of the assembly from its pecuniary embarrassment, and to put it in more successful operation.

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AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

THE anniversary was in the church in Washington-square, Philadelphia, May 23d, the president, Alexander Henry, Esq., in the chair. The treasurer read his annual report, and also extracts from the report of the Board of Managers; and Rev. Dr. Brantly of the Baptist church, Rev. Mr. Coleman of the Episcopal Church, Rev. Mr. Todd of the Congregational church, Rev. R. J. Breckenridge of the Presbyterian church, William B. Richard, Esq., and Rev. W. S. Plumer, addressed the meeting.

From the report it appears that publications of the society have been distributed gratuitously, principally in the western and southern states, amounting in value to $3,455 71.

By the reports presented relative to the Foreign Missionary Board, organized by the assembly at its meeting last year, pears that about $4,000 have been collected. The consideration of the subject of a connection with any other missionary society was postponed till the next assembly, and the treasurer was directed to retain theily advancing. The number of new works funds.

The subscriptions to the Education Society connected with the assembly have increased to about $20,000. During the meeting $2,400 were subscribed.

GERMAN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

At the annual meeting of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, held at Hagerstown, Maryland, beginning the 29th of May, a society was organized, denominated the German Foreign Missionary Society. Rev. Dr. Schmucker, of York, Pa., was chosen president, and Rev. Prof. Krauth, of the Gettysburg Theological Seminary, corresponding secretary. A public meeting was held subsequently to the organization of the society, at which the Rev. Dr. Hazelius of South Carolina presided, and Rev. Messrs. W. D. Strobel, R. Weiser, and H. L. Pohlman de

livered addresses.

New Books.-The publication department of the society's transactions has been stead

issued in the year is thirty-three, of which twenty-two are original. Their size varies from sixteen pages 32mo., to 272 pages 12mo.; giving an aggregate of 3,354 pages of new publications.

Volumes issued.-The number of volumes printed in the year is 890,662; of infantschool lessons, pamphlets, Journal, etc., 94,600; making about sixty-two millions of pages. In the aggregate of volumes are included 89,500 copies of the Union Questions; and in the aggregate of pages, 84,600 copies of the Sunday-school Journal.

The amount of publications sent to depositories in the year was $34,414 75; the amount sold at the Philadelphia depository was $41,051 96; making the whole amount thus disposed of, $75,456 71, being $2,700 above the business of the previous year. The actual receipts from sales in the same period were $39,268 04.

The cost in payment to authors for copyright and for the manufacture of the books, was $53,644 60.

$34,035 54;
Receipts and Expenditures.-Donations
sale of books $39,268 04.
The expenditures were $86,683 68.

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

CIRCULAR LETTER ΤΟ THE MISSIONA-
RIES ON CURTAILING THEIR EXPENDI-
TURES.

THOSE at all acquainted with the effect
which the present commercial embarrass-
ment has had on the minds of men, must

VOL. XXXIII.

have had fears that the Prudential Committee would be compelled to do more than merely detain missionaries from their fields of labor. Such is the fact. In the christian life we cannot stand still. We go either forward or backward. It is so in the great religious 44

.enterprises of the churches in their social || could not be sent, in the existing state of the treasury; and how soon they can be, is now utterly uncertain.

capacity. In missions to the heathen, we are now actually on our retreat! Let it be remembered, however, that it is properly the churches which are responsible for this; nay, the individual members of the churches. The American Board is merely an agent, acting in their behalf, and cannot go beyond the means which are placed at its disposal.

2. A circular letter is about being sent to the other thirty clerical missionaries, who have received appointments and most of whom will be ready and desirous to go next autumn, telling them that, according to present indications, they should make their arrangements for remaining in the country at least another year.

"3. On the 20th of the present month, the Committee, on further consideration of the financial state and prospects of the Board, resolved, That it is their unavoidable, though painful, duty to reduce the reinittances to the missions under their care forty thousand dollars below the recent estimate for the coming year, so that the annual expenditure of the Board, including the exist

The circular letter, from which the following is extracted, was prepared by the Secretaries of the Board on the 23d of June, by order of the Prudential Committee, and goes at once to the missions among the Indian tribes by mail; to the missions in western and southeastern Asia, by vessels about to sail from Boston; to the missionsing debt, shall not exceed 230,000 dollars.' in India, by way of London; and to the Sandwich Islands, by the first opportunity.

4. At the same meeting the Committee also resolved, That, should the average monthly receipts fall short of 19,000 dollars, a further reduction will be necessary.'

"This reduction was proportioned by the Committee among the several missions, and the secretaries were instructed to inform

After giving a brief history of the financial operations of the Board for the past year, and describing the present state of the treasury, which need not be here repeat-you, that your expenses must by all means ed, the letter says;—

"Last fall the Committee made an estimate, founded generally upon the returns of the missions, of the remittances pecessary to sustain the existing operations of the several missions. The sum total, not including the cost of exchange, was 182,000 dollars. You have been informed of the proportion of this sum which fell to your mission, and that you would be expected not to exceed it. But it is now evident that the receipts of the Board will not be such as to enable the Committee to remit this amount. Should the average monthly receipts be 19,000 dollars, and not a missionary be sent forth during the year, and should 182,000 dollars be remitted, as was proposed to the missions, the Board would be no better off in the fall of 1838, in a pecuniary point of view, than it is now."

The letter states, that the debt, at the next annual meeting of the Board, which is in September, will not probably be less than 45,000 dollars; and assigns reasons for strongly apprehending that the average monthly receipts of next year will fall below 19,000 dollars. Then follow paragraphs, to which the particular and prayerful attention of all who love the cause of missions to the heathen is invited.

"The Results. 1. On the 9th of May, the Committee were constrained to decide that the five missionaries, who were ready and expecting to go forth the present month,

be brought within the assigned limits. This necessity cannot be more painful to you, than it is to us. If the excision deprives you of your right arm, it deprives us of ours; and we are so situated as to be constrained to sympathize with all the missions, and suffer with all. Distressing as the necessity is, the reduction can no longer be avoided. || God in his holy providence has rendered it our duty and your duty, and it must be made. The reduction from the late appropriation to your mission for the year ending July 31, 1838, is and the sum now stands at Unless a knowledge of this retrocession in our work shall rouse the churches to a serious consideration of the subject, so that by vigorous and healthful acts of selfdenial they shall bring a sudden and great accession to our receipts,' a greater sum cannot be afforded you. You are not expected to add to it by drafts on the Treasurer of the Board. From the time you receive this letter, and until otherwise instructed by the Committee, your annual expenses should not exceed the sum above named; and this is designed to cover both your expenses on the ground and the purchases made for you at home. It is a sum total, and the mission will make the best possible use of it. Probably it will be the rate of our remittance to you, until the missionaries now under appointment are on their way to their fields. Should your expenses be suffered to exceed the specified sum, the effect of every thousand dollars must be to detain one of the missionaries who are now waiting to be sent.

"You suffer, dear Brethren, not alone. The Greek and Nestorian missions each

the missionaries will soon give place to joy, and they will soon resume their onward

career!

But, it should be fully understood, that, if prompt and special efforts be not made by the patrons of the missions now under the care of the Board, those missions must suffer

makes sacrifices to the amount of 1,000 dollars; the Smyrna and Singapore missions, each $1,500; the Syrian, $1,750; the Constantinople, $2,000; the Mahrattas, $3,500; the South India, $4,800; the Ceylon, $5,000; the Sandwich Islands, $5,600; the missions to the Indian tribes, $10,000. It is not necessary to enumerate all the missions which suffer; these will suffice. We know, and the churches will know, that these re-distressing reductions; the more distressing, ductions are effected only by disbanding because, through the blessing of God, they schools, reducing printing establishments, stopping printing-presses, arresting the proare now, with few exceptions, in the full tide gress of seminaries, etc. etc. But then of successful operation. there is no alternative. The Board can remit only what it receives. The community does not, and so far as we can see will not, at present, furnish adequate means. Your expenses must therefore be reduced, at any sacrifice, to the prescribed limits; or greater evils-affecting the credit and stability of the Board, the sending forth of missionaries, and your own personal support-will ensue. We humbly hope that in answer to prayer the days of this severe visitation will be shortened, and that great good will be the ultimate result; but it will be good brought out of much evil.

"We fear that a still further reduction will be necessary, before we have seen an end to the present distress; but our waiting eyes are unto God, and yours will be in the same direction."

A letter of this nature could no longer be safely delayed, and the painful reductions required of the missionaries cannot now be wholly prevented. But they may be prevented in part. This lamentably retrograde || movement may be arrested. The beloved missionaries may be relieved from the heartbreaking task of undoing what they have done with so much prayer and labor; and from the bitter disappointment of not only not receiving other brethren to their aid, when most urgently needed, but of being shorn also at the same time, of their customary facilities for exerting a wide and effectual influence The on the heathen. Decessity of those further reductions. which must be almost destructive to some of the missions, may be saved. The Board, unaided, has no power to do this; nor have the executive committee and officers. The responsibility rests upon the christian community. They, with the divine blessing, can do it. Only let them realize the importance of the occasion, the necessity of immediate action, and that the result is to be attained by every one doing something, though it be but little. Then the grief of

MEETINGS IN BEHALF OF THE BOARD.

A public meeting for promoting the objects of the Board was held at the Broadway Tabernacle, in the City of New York, in connection with the other anniversaries in that city May 12th, Z. Lewis, Esq. presiding, the president being detained from the meeting by severe domestic affliction. Rev. Dr. Hillyer opened the meeting with prayer; after which Mr. Armstrong, one of the Secretaries of the Board, made a statement respecting the Board and its operations, and addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Ferris of New York, Rev. Mr. Bird from Syria, Rev. Mr. Cleveland from Detroit, John Nitchie, Esq. N. York, and Rev. T. Brainerd of Philadelphia, and Rev. F. Graves of Alton, Ill.

A meeting similar to that noticed above, and for the same purpose was held in the Central Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, May 19th, Rev. Dr. Ludlow presiding. The condition of the Board and its missions was laid before the audience by Mr. Armstrong, and the Rev. Messrs. Brainerd, Read, Todd, and Plumer made addresses.

On the 1st of June another meeting was held in Boston, in connection with the religious anniversaries in that city, at which Hon. Samuel Hubbard presided. Statements relative to the affairs of the Board and its missions were made by Mr. Anderson, one of the Secretaries, and Rev. William Adams, Rev. Mr. Blagden, and Rev. Mr. Bird addressed the audience.

RECENT INTELLIGENCE.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.-Rev. Ephraim Spaulding and his wife, with their two children arrived at Boston, June 28th, in the ship Adeline, captain Bulkley, of Newburyport. They embarked for Honolulu in

November, 1831. Mrs. Spaulding was im- || rogated on the subject, they gave no satis

mediately attacked with a disease which cut her off from all active labor during her residence at the islands. A pulmonary affection with which Mr. Spaulding was attacked last autumn deprived him of all hope of rendering further service in the mission. Under these circumstances it was thought expedient for them to return to their native land.

MEDITERRANEAN MISSIONS.-Messrs. HolJaday, Leyburn, and Stocking, with their wives, arrived at Malta, on their way to their respective missions, on the 20th of February, in good health; their voyage having been thus far in all respects favorable and pleasant.

CHEROKEES.-Mr. Butrick writes from Brainerd, under date of May 17th, that as most of the members of the church at Carmel had removed from the vicinity of that place, on account of the unfavorable circumstances in which they were placed by the settlement of white people there; it had been thought advisable that the separate church organization at Carmel should cease, and the members be received to the church at Brainerd, where it would be more convenient for them to attend on church ordinances. This had been effected. The church at Brainerd now consists of 110 members; of whom fifty-three previously belonged to that church, fifteen having been added to it during the year, and fifty-seven had been received from the church at Carmel. The audience on the Sabbath before Mr. Butrick wrote was larger than he had ever seen there before, and five adult Cherokees were baptised and received to the church.

PAWNEES.-The postmaster at Fort Leavenworth, near the Pawnee country, under date of June 7th, has kindly furnished a statement of circumstances which induced him to suppose that Doct. Benedict Satterlee, of the Pawnee mission, had been cut off by the hand of violence. It appears that Doct. S. accompanied two Indians of the Pawnee tribe to meet and make peace with the Shiennes, another tribe in that quarter; and that when the two Indians returned without him, and were inter

factory account, further than that in a storm of snow he became fatigued, and not being disposed to travel so fast as they, he was left behind. As Doct. Satterlee had, at the date of the letter referred to, been missing some months, and as pieces of clothing with marks of blood on them, and some other articles belonging to him, together with papers bearing his name, had been found on the prairie, the inference was drawn that he lost his life while on the journey with the Indians referred to. Intelligence subsequently received sheds some light on the case, though it does not remove all doubt. On the 31st of May Mr. Allis states the facts relative to the visit to the Shiennes and the reply of the two Indians respecting the absence of Doct. S. nearly as they are given above; adding that, after he was left by his companions, he probably went back to some trading-post higher up the Platte river. A brief communication from Doct. S. himself, dated on the Platte river, March 30th, though he says nothing on the subject, leads to the belief that the opinion of Mr. Allis is correct. It at least renders it almost certain that he did not perish in a storm of snow, and was not murdered by those Indians with whom he was returning from the Shienne village, or at the time supposed by the writer of the letter from Fort Leavenworth. Whether he did not subsequently lose his life on his journey from the trading post on the Platte river to the Pawnee village, as the articles found on the prairie would seem to indicate, must remain a matter of painful uncertainty until further information shall be received.

INDIANS ON THE NORTHWEST COAST.Rev. Samuel Parker, whose return from an exploring tour among the Indian tribes between the Rocky mountains and the Pacific ocean, was noticed at p. 317, has furnished a report of his tour from which extracts will be inserted in a future number. In the mean time the following statement is given relative to the route which he pursued, and the distances of the several places from each other, together with the names and number of the several tribes residing among the Rocky Mountains and between them and the coast.

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