an unbiased decision difficult or improbable. It will not be disguised, that we earnestly desire to educate many ministers for our altars, but we would put no such bond on the conscience of any, and least of all, would we apply to any mind, an unworthy motive to a choice, which however deliberately formed by a young and ardent spirit, a further knowledge of the world, and a deeper insight into the hidden things of the heart, might make it desirable to rescind. We would not that any individual, however much his talents might promise, should become a candidate for the Sacred Office, from motives of mere gratitude to his patrons, or indeed without feeling himself, on the deepest and most rational convictions, moved thereto by the Holy Ghost.

The cause of this Society, then, is the common one of learning and religion; and it will be successful in proportion as men of real worth and talents shall be aided to surmount the difficulties of poverty, and to occupy useful stations in the learned professions. It is true that genius will, at some rate, work its own way, in spite of all obstacles; and we would be far from lending encouragement to inaction, and from sparing any young men in straightened circumstances, the salutary necessity of making themselves. Such a scheme would be unnecessary, and unwise, if not positively hurtful. We would have no drones fattening upon the fruits of our labors. Our wish is to extend only a partial support-enough, however, to enable our young friends to toil their arduous pathway up the hill of science without lagging under the lengthened chain of debt, by which many generous spirits are dragged down, and lost to that sphere of usefulness, which a little succour would have empowered them to reach. They, whom we would aid, should learn to rely on themselves; to put forth all their energies; and they should seek no indulgence but that of equal privileges for study with those whose collegiate course is uninterrupted. But it is common for such young men, after expending their scanty means, to leave their standing in class, and go in pursuit of a fresh supply from the tedious and poorly requitedlabors of school-keeping. Funds obtained by this means, during college life, are a miserable pittance compared to rewards which might be ensured to some two or three years of additional education, provided they could have in the mean time, facilities for acquiring its usual honors and recommendations. Besides, an intermitting course of hard study and extra teaching too often impairs the constitution, and excessive struggles unfit the scholar for active life at the precise period when his literary attainments would ensure him success. To take by the hand young men so circumstanced, to encourage them to advance with comparative ease and certainty, and to give them ability, not only to refund their loans to the treasury, but in some good degree to discharge their debt of gratitude for the nursing care of the Church, are objects which cannot fail to interest the friends of religion as well as those of learning;-since every alumnus of such bounty, if he do not become a zealous minister of our holy religion, will at least be made the minister's friend.

The scholar who has experienced the need of industry and economy to provide the means for an education, will naturally know much more of the worth of time as well as of money, than one who has never been brought into conflict with obstacles like these. The Constitution therefore limits our assistance to the form of loans, to be repaid, without interest, within three years from the time when the student leaves college. By his own note, he becomes responsible for the sums received, which will thus be a perpetual means of doing good. To suppose that no one will fall by the stroke of death and disappoint our hopes, would be a measure of success not accorded by heaven to any human institution, however holy may be its purposes; and that no scholar whom the Board may approve, will ever fall under the insidious approach of temptation and doubly disappoint us, is a hope more sanguine than the ordinary foresight and prudence of men will allow us to cherish.-Still, however, as the candidate must obtain from a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, satisfactory testimonials of his literary and moral qualifications; and as his claims must be scrutinized by the Board of Directors, it is thought the interests of the Society will be as little liable to abuse on this score, as those of any institution within our knowledge. While, on the other hand, the choice of a profession being left free, there will be every reason to look for superior ardour and energy of character in the business thus voluntarily chosen. Especially from them, who under such circumstances shall think it their duty, (and it is hoped many will think this) to preach the Gospel to a world lying in wickedness, may we rationally expect an uncommon share of that devotedness to the sacred cause, which is determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Considering the limited amount and the conditions of these loans, the Directors believe they will be sought by few who are not fortified with a meek and patient spirit, and with strict habits of study and economy, to render such assistance an adequate supply for their wants. The use of one hundred dollars per annum, is all that can be allowed to any individual; and however competent a subsidy this may be to a necessitous but active student, it must be a poor stay indeed to any idler.

The claims of the Society have been urged hitherto but in few places, yet the success has been such as would, in the opinion of the Directors, warrant the employment of an agent, to enlarge its funds. Though no more than a beginning, indeed, has been made, an abstract from the list of subscriptions will show the following gratifying result:

Seven Vice Presidents constituted by a subscribtion of $100 each, $700 Two Directors, at 50 each,

100

250

161

Fifty-three Annual Subscribers, of which there are 2 at $15

2

Amounting in all to

10

Of the above sum, $278 96 have been loaned to three young men, members of Washington College, each of whom, it is believed, will become a Clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

The Directors repeat, this is but a beginning; but they hope it is one, which will lead to the most happy results in regard to the Church, not only in time but in eternity. There are other young men for whom the Directors would gladly furnish the same means, were it in their power, and for which they confidently look to their brethren to afford, from the abundance with which God hath blessed them. A small contribution to the funds of this Institution will perhaps go farther, in the great work of doing good, than if thrown into almost any other channel of benevolence.

If for some three or four years to come, there should be added to the funds annually no more than the amount raised during the past year, it will be seen that ten or eleven scholars could be carried, under the circumstances contemplated, through their collegiate course, while the same sum if expended on gratuitous education, as a mere charity, would not support more than one fourth of that number, and with no further prospect of being useful to others.

Believing they have need only to state thus briefly the wants, the objects and the expectations of the Society to secure a more extensive co-operation with ourselves for its interests, among the friends of the Church, the Directors desire to commend their cause to the Lord of the harvest, beseeching Him, by his Holy Spirit to put into all our minds good desires, and by His continual help to bring the same to good effect, through the same Jesus our blessed Lord and Saviour.

By order of the Board of Directors,

Hartford, May 21, 1828.

T. C. BROWNELL, President.

* In addition to the above which was subscribed to the Parent Society, the Treasurer has recently acknowledged the receipt of Fifty dollars from the Hartford Female Society, Auxiliary to the C. S. Society, a circustance which the Directors mention with great pleasure, not only as indicating the interest taken in the objects which we have at heart, but as an earnest of the aid which future Auxiliary Societies may pour into our treasury. The statement of the Treasury, stands then as follows:

Donation of the Hartford Female Auxiliary,
Subscriptions to the Parent Society,

Whole amount,

$50

1365

$1415

The business of the Convention was then resumed.

On motion by the Rev. B. G. Noble

Resolved, That His Excellency Gideon Tomlinson, Governor of this State, be admitted to a seat in this Convention.

Agreeably to the above resolution, the Governor was admitted to the sittings of the Convention.

Dr. John S. Peters, Lieutenant Governor of this State, presented his testimonials as a delegate from the parish at Hebron, and took his seat in Convention.

The Rev. H. Croswell, by the request of Wm. McCrackan, Esq. Treasurer of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, read the following report of the state of the funds, which was accepted: (See Appendix No. I.)

The Rev. Mr. Croswell, by the request of Wm. McCrackan, Esq. Treasurer of the Convention, presented the following report of the state of the fund, which was read and accepted: (See Appendix No. II.) On motion by the Rev. A. Baldwin

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to nominate the officers of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge.

The Rev. Messrs. A. Baldwin and B. G. Noble, were appointed on this committee.

The Convention adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock, P. M.

St. Paul's Church, 2 o'clock, P.M.

Convention met pursuant to adjournment.

On motion-Resolved, That the Convention now proceed to transact the business of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. The Rev. B. G. Noble, from the committee appointed to nominate officers for the Society, reported the following nominations :

Rt. Rev. T. C. BROWNELL, D. D. L. L. D. (Ex Officio) President
Rev. DANIEL BURHANS, 1st Vice President.

Hon. SAMUEL W. JOHNSON, 2d Vice President.
JOHN BEACH, Esq. Recording Secretary.

Rev. HARRY CROSWELL, Corresponding Secretary.
WILLIAM M'CRACKAN, Esq. Treasurer.

These persons were then appointed by the vote of the Convention to the respective offices to which they were nominated by the committee.

The Bishop named the following committee on the resolutions of this Convention concerning Cheshire Academy:

Wm. H. Imlay, James Ward, and Wm. R. Hitchcock, Esqrs.

The Canon for the regulating and maintenance of cures, reported by the committee on the state of the Parishes, was called up, on motion of the Rev. Mr. Hull, and adopted.

On motion, by the Rev. B. G. Noble, the order arranging the parishes into Cures, accompanying the above canon, was taken up and adopted.

The following is the order of the Convention, fixing the several Cures in this Diocese.

In obedience to the Canon, for the regulation and maintenance of Cures it is hereby determined and declared, that from and after Easter Monday, 1828, the following shall constitute the limits of the several Cures within the diocese :