Vol. VII, No, 40.---Whole No. 352. ROLL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. OFFICERS. Rev. HENRY IL SMITE, D. D., Moderator. Rev. EDWIN F. HATFIELD, D. D., Stated Clerk. Rev. HENRY DARLING, D. D., Permanent Clerk. Rev. HERRICK JOHNSON, } Tem oa' Clerks. Rev. HENRY E. NILE& P r Y COMMISSIONERS. I. —714Y11 OD OF ALBANY. PRESBYTERY. (=atom" Champlain, Z. M. P. Luther. Troy, BeldenHaines,D.D. f E. Baker, M.D. A. DeWitt. Albany,, Charles Doolittle, D. 94.0. Allen. Columbia, W. S. Leavitt, ' .1. W. Fairfield. Catskill, U. A. Howard', George Robertson. St.Lawrence L John Waugh. Watertowu,W, H. Lockwood. E. S. Kelsey. Oswego, I. N. Hubbard, S.W. Brewster. Utica, P. a Pqader, D.D., Hon. S. Kellogg. W. B. Parmelee. Hon.W.D.Walcott 111. --GENEVA Geneva, S. H. Gridley, D.D,, D. D. Dayton,lLD E. Woodward Brown. Steuben, A. D. Gregory, N. C. Taylor. Churning, C. C. Carr, • D. B. Westlake. P. S. Howe, Ithaca L. MeGlashen, Wellsb'oro', F. Rand, Lyons, A. Blakely, IV. -ONONDAGA.. Onondaga, E. R. Davis, A. Ford, M.D. Cayuga, Charles Anderson, Daniel Hewson, Amos Crocker,.Daniel Bennett. Cortland, A. McDougall, Ji R. Dixon. Tioga l T. Dwight Walker. F..E. Platt. V.—StrEItrMANNA. Otsego, Andrew Parsons. Chenango, W. M. Hoyt, D. Green. Delaware, George T. Everest, W. B. Atehinson VI.-GENESEN, Buffalo, Walter Clarke, D,D., Silas Kingsley Sanford W. Roe, S. H. Hnnger iord. Ontario, A. L, Benton, Seth Johnston. Rochester, 'Nathaniel Hurd. L. D. Ferry. R. S. Crampton; E. T. Huntington. Genesee, E. Whittlesey, J. H. Loomis. Niagara, H. E. Niles. E. F. Healy, M.D. Gen. Valley, John E. Baker. A. B. Palmer. VII.—NEW YOltlc. AND NEW JERSEY. Flticiaol3., I. Swift. , L'g. Island, C. It Holloway, John N. ,Sayre. North Silver M. F. Liebenan, L. F. Streit. N. Y. Ord. Edward French. W. A. Booth. T. H. Skinner, D. 8., C. Harp. F. W. Graves, D. (Hilmar. N. Y. 4th. H. B.tSmith, ri D., F.II Bartholomew S. H. Cox, D.D, G.W. Lane. Brooklyn, S. T. Spear, D.D. W. S. Griffith. Newark, E. J. Newlin. I. R. Noyes. J. Crowell, W.W. Parkhurst. Rockaway, Syl. Cooke, W. B. LeFevre. Montrose, Edward Allen. Wm. Root. Samuel Shaeffer, D. Batchelor. VIM —PENNSYLVANIA. Wilmington, George Foot, John B. Porter. Phii'da Ord, Henry Darling, D.D., B. D. Stewart, Charles Brown, W. E. Tenbrook. Phil'da 4th, Albert Barnes, David Thomas, Robert Adair,Ambrose White. Harrisburg, Jeremiah Miler, . J.W. Kerr, M. D. Dist. Col'bia, JohnC. Smith, D.D.s W. J. Redstrake. PENNSYLVANIA. Erie, Ambrose Dunn, George Kellog, Meadville, John McMaster, , James Clark, Pittsburg, Herrick Johnson, X, - -NICIRTGA.N. • Detroit, Norman Trcker, Geo.W. Hoffman. Monroe, Samuel Fleming. Fleming MeMath. Marshall, C. S. Armstrong, Alvin Upson, Washtenaw, L. D. Chapin, Wm. R. Mart in . Kalamaroo, Milton Bradley, Eli R. Miller. Coldwater, Charles M. Temple, L. Russell. Saginaw, E. J. Stewart. Albert Miller. Gd.Riv,Val.D. M., Cooper, Calvin. S. Chase. L. Superior, 0. B. Stevens. , XI. --WESTERN RZSERVE. Grandßiver,J. M. Gillett, O. IL Pitch. Portage, G. E. Pierce, D.D., T. L',Hommedieu. Huron, J. E. :Weed, A. R. Marsh. Trumbull, •Henryl3. Eldred. William Rice. Cleveland, J. B. Bittinger, 84 H. Mather T. H. Hawks, Hon. A. Foot. : Elyria, James E. Varies, E. C. Bradford. Maumee, G. A. Adams, \ Finlay Strong. A therm, 0. D. , Curtiss. Fataskals, A. Duncan, Franklin, Anson Smyth, Scioto, John M.'Boall X/11.---43NIIINNATI A Cinneintsiti, Prof, G. E. Day, E. P. Starr, Joseph Chester, ' L. H. Sargent. Dayton, S. G. Sines, D.D. G. L. Massey. Hamilton, John Stuart, George W. Haire. ktipley, D. M. Moore, T. F. Sniffle. Salem, Charles Hutchinson, Jti Loughmiller. Madison, Alex. Parkor, E. S. Paine; Ind' napolie, L, P.. Webber, P...H. Roots. Greencastle, John Hawks, - L ,J. CORR.. XV.--WABABH Crowfordov. S. B. King, St. Joseph, John Sailor. Logansport,.,N. L. Lord. Fort Ila,yne,Wm. J. &sick, XVI. --ILLINOIS. Illinois, Prof. R. Nutting, David A. Smith. Schuyler, G. F. Davis. Wabash, E. Kingsbury, W: M. Allison. Alton., A. T. Norton, M. Forhren. i Tos. Gordon. Ottawa, Nahum Gould. Knox, B. B. Parsons. L. L. Day. Galena, Daniel Claik, Calvin Pease. Chicago, E. A. Pierce, W.C.Barlmr,MD. Belvidere, Isaac E. Carey, ,H. W. Avery, Jr. 13loomington,Alfred Eddy. Benj. B. Miles. XV.III,—WISCONINN. Milwankle, J. H. Towne. D. D. Fox River, Charles F. Halsey, T. M. Baker. Columbus, B. G. Riley C. W. Baldwin. Des Shines, Thompson Bird, W. D. Moore. lowa City, G. D. A. Hebard, Sand. H. Rogers. Keokuk, W. H. Dubuque, George R. Carroll, J. Maclay. Ceds,rVall've. Waterbury. Chariton, XX. - --MINNESOTA. Dacotah,lllfes Thompson. Minnesota, P. A: Noble, Winona, Charles B. Leduc. X.ICL—AtISSOMU. St. Louis, John Mac Lean. Lexington = P. E. Sheldon. Kalman, James A. Darralt. Kansas, J. Brownlee. General Convention of Vermont, Amish Hyde. Gen. Ass. at Peoria, Rev. Sept. Tustin, D. D. 44 " Elder john M.' Harper. Synod Ref. Dutch Church, Rev. H. Game. " Pres. Church, Rev. T. W. S. Wylie, D. D. SATURDAY, Max 23i 1863. The General Assembly met at 9 o'clock ; A. 14.) and spent half an hour iii "devotional exercises. At 9i o'clock, the Assembly was organized for busi he ness T roll was called, and the minutes of the last session were read and approVed. REPORTS READ ON SATURDAY MAY 23u. REV. DR. MOLANE, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Church -Erection Fund, presented their report, which was read and referred to the Standing Committee on Church Extension. The report is as follows: ninth Annual Report of the Trustees of the Church Erection Fund. In presenting to the General Assembly tharesults If their labors for another year, the frusteer of the church Erection Fund rejoice in being able to speak in the language of enCouragement. They recognise the hand of a kind Piovidenceinrelation to the im portant interest committed to their care and'hoper ; and feel that there is graat reason for devout thankrgiving to God int View of the fact that the hurdles generally, throughout the loyal portion of the country, have, to such On extent, been undis torbed by the terrific conteet which has been going "n in this land fur the last two years. War, and !specially a civil war, which usually proatrates the Industry of a people, and acts vritb disastrous 'nil u 'nee upon all their religious interests, has not, thus tar, been allowed to derange . materally the business, or to damage in any great degree the p r osperity of the millions who seek the perpetuity of the Union, and the dominion of truth and righteousness in this land. It is certainly some .evidence that God is with us this contest, that, while so many thou sands have gone forth from their homes to discharge their duty to the country, the substantial interests of the Nei% and of the West have been cared for, and the great benevolent enterprises of the Church have been so well sustained. There is undoubtedly much privation and distress connected with the national trouble. It would be strange if there were not. It is the nature of 'the denion of injustice and oppression to tear and rend the body which it is forced to leave. But it is some comfort to know that the tremendous exorcism is felt mainly in those parts of the body, which invited, co'eted and justified the continued possession, or that were in peculiar sympathy with them in this matter. The hand of chastisement is indeed upon the nation—upon the people of God in this land; but it is for their good. Trials humble them, —lead them to lopk -up—to go to Him, Without whose help they can do nothing. In the economy of Providence there is no 'disturbing fOrce—nothing to contuse Or embarrase the caleulatiOn in relation to the onward- movemant'of the Church. All things are made . to work together for her good—to result in a higher elevation of thought and. feeling and purpose , --in the‘ tiossession of a greater power for good. both at home and abroad. The day of trial and difficulty is the time when Zion puts on her strength. The pressure increases her efficiency. The fires of the furnace:remove that which obecures the brightness and detracts from the beauty'and the werth of the pure metal. While, therefore, many of the churches, and eepecitilly in the more recently settled portions of the country, have suffered much from the absence of their members in the tented field, and from the peculiar demands made upon their resources, there has been a greater activity on ,the part of those who remained_at home—more self denial, and a higher purpose to sustain' the iiistinn. tions of religion. And while the number of laborers is less, a kind Providence' has put into their hands , more means with which to Work. Hence in many instances the churches during the year have been putting themselves in a better working condition— have been freeing themselves from pecuniary embar rassments ; and have thus been preparing to start anew and with increased courage and strength in the great work of converting the wilderness into a fruitful field, and of making the solitary places glad. The Board held its Eighth Annual Meeting on the 11th of June, 1862 And was organized by the elec tion of 'Rev. Samuel T. Spear, D. D., as President, and of William A. Booth, Esq., as Vice-President; Rev. James W. McLane, D. D., was appointed Se cretary, and Jesse W. Benedict, Esq., l'reasurer for the ensuing year. The several Standing Committees were arranged, and the Board entered upon the du ties of another year. In the discharge of these they have endeavored, in every instance, to give early and prompt attention to each application for aid from the Fund, and to put the means desired into the . hands of the applicants at the earliest posaible moment. Ac cording to the working of the Plan, some little time must elapse between the reception of an application and the completion of the transaction. It will be well if applicants would bear this in mind, and for ward their application in such season as to allow of this lapse of time without inconvenience or ember "rassinent to themselves. It'should also be remem-' bered by thom that what is., obtained from the Fund is not to be used first, or at the beginning of the effort. The design is that each church shall exhaust its own resources first,' and that what is received from the Fund shall come in after they have collected and used their own subscriptions, and come in to com plete the building of their house of worship. In some instances, applicatkins have been received from churches, in which scarcely any part of their own subscriptions had been collected, whictifact has com pelled the Board to delay sending thein a draft upon the Treasurer of the Fund for the money, until in formed by them that their subscriptions had been collected. The Board have Of late been the more careful upon this point, in consequence of the fact, which came to their knowledge that in some instances the part of the subscription upoirthe basieuftlehich the grant was made to the church, uncolledad itt the time the aid from the Fund was received, has never been collected. And the consequence has been that the house has not been completed, or, if completed; has been left with '.a debt upon it, which has einbar; reseed its action, and, in some cases, imperilled its very existence. The object of the Fund is to stimu late efMrt, to develop the resources of the peorile, and to secure to them a house of worship free from the crushing influence of debt. James Dottie. S. E. EnsAvorth. S. J. Sayles. The Fund at present, after deducting the expen ses of the year, amounts to $118,874.01. The por tion of it yet unused is either deposited in bank, or is invested in such a Manner as to he perfectly safe, and convertible at any moment into cash when called for. This portion of the Fund has , produced an average interest of 6 per cent. It should be re membered, however, that, this portion is mostly that which has been appropriated by the General As sembly to the several Synode, and which has not as yet, I3een called for by them, but which may be at any time. The Board, therefore, invest it in such a way as makes it perfectly safe, and available'to the Synods whenever it, is wanted. The amount yet uncalledtfor in each case is quite small, ranging from $125 up . to a little over $3,000. It has ever been the practice of the General Assembly to allot a portion of the Fund to each Syne(' in its connexion." This practice is likely to continue. Each Synod, the Board suppose, will feel that it has a right to some part'of what was contribuled for this general pur. pose by the Churches iii constituting the Fund, and if it has a part of it, there will in allprobahility be some portion of the sum allotted to a Synod'uncalled for during the year. It should be stated, haiever, in this connexion, that every application, which came within the object contemplated in the establish ment of the Fund, has been met; and that in no instance has any Synod overdrawn its apportion ment, or asked for more than it received for its churches. The Fund also, notwithstanding the changes and convulsions and pecuniary losses in the country since the establishment of this charity of the Church not only remains in its original integrity, but has been consuierably increased in amount from year to year. There is good reason, therefore ' for gratitude to God, not only in view of the, good it has already done, but for the - hope it inspires, that in future it will do still more in helping to fill the land 'With the sanctuaries of the Lord. Samuel H. Lee. Hon. 0. N. Olds. W.F.W,ilson,HD. A. S. Janes. John W. Shield& John L. Knight. The following tabular statement will show the portion of the fund appropriated to each Synod by the last General Assembly. Synods. Portion,. Albany, 2 per cent. Alta. California, 3' " " Cincinnati, Genesee, Geneva, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, RussellSearritt. A. J. Dallas Michigan * Minnespta, Missiiisippi, Missouri, N. York &N. Jersey, 5 " " Ohio, 5 ~ 44 Onondaga, 3 " " Pennsylvania, 5 44 4, Peoria, 8 7, 4 , 4, Susquehanna, 2 4( tt Tennessee, 5 ,4 tt Utica, 3 tt SS Virginia, 1 " ‘, Wabash, 4 " " W. Pennsylvania, 3 " " Western,,Reserve, 4. 1 ‘ it West Tennessee, 1 " I , Wisconsin, 6 44 It The whole number of ,grants made during the year, is twenty-eight, of which eleven have been in loans, and seventeen in donations, In several , instances, the character of a ,grant has been changed, at the earnest request of the parties, and with the cc:incur rence and reeommendation of the Synodical Com mittee, from a donation to •a loan, and vice versa. The whole amount of grants made from the begin ning, is $74,006; of which $60,816 have been in loans, and $13,390 in donations. There has been returned to the treasury, on loans; the sum of $ll,- 348.08, and upon donations, $1,526.09, making the whole arnountlhus returned, $12,874.17, and leaving the sum, in loans and donations now in use, of $31,- 044.73. The tendency, for the last few years, has been toward an increase in the nurnber of donations. The Plan of the Fund allows each Synod to grant, i n donations, a sum equal to one-fourth of the amount apportioned to it by the General Assembly. in most cases, that - limit has npt as yet been reached. In a few instances, in which a strict compliance with the rule, would have required the Board to make a frac tional grant, the limit has been exceeded. Such eases, however, have Occurred from year to year, and i t alic been reported to the General Assembly, and Amt. granted. $750 2,000 1,9'70 1,525 1,550 7,820 2,975 9,522 8,061 2,200 500 925 1,600 1,950 I,IUO 3,400. 5,225 200 • 500 1,400 700 2,400 750 2,100 1,000 3,825 44 66 3 it 44 it 66 ,it ii 6 64 12 " " 9 it ft 5 „ fi 5 tt if 5, 44 Si PHILAD KLPHIA, THURSPAY, JUNE 4, 1863. the-action of the Board, in relation to them, has uni formly been sanctioned by that body. From the Tabular statement or the Committee to N i published in the minutes, it will be found, upon making the average allowance for the value of the ground 'where 'that value is not given, that some seventy-four per cent. of the Fund MS helped to se cure more than five hundred thousand dollars' worth of church property. It will be apparent also that the Fund thus far has been used for the great object for which it was designed by those who contributed of their means to establish The size and cost of the house of worship erected show very conclusively that, inmost cases at leastrthe Churches thus aided are "feeble'congregations," and that the help thus extended to them meta want that could not other wise' have easily been relieved. The Fund has ex erted a good influence in other respects. The Plan equires the churches aided frciin the Fund to Om their property in fee, • and to be free from the crush ing'influence of debt. It has led many of the clurehei; consequently, to look into the character of the title to their property, and has led them to re move a debt which had. long been troublesome to them. , . The following churches have during the Year promptly and honorably paid 'the last instalment of the. loans made to them, and their names are, there fore, omitted in the preceding list, namely : 2d Pres. Oh. Lima,- Ohio, L. $233. Paid. .ECong. Brooklyn. " + 375. " Ist Pres. ! " Howell, Mich. 300. " Paw'Paw, " 500: " Centreville, lowa, 400. " " " Clinton, " 400. " " Stamford, N. Y. 150. " " • " Winona, Minn.. • 'NO:. " The names of the following churches are omitted in the foregoing list, as they have paid part Of`the loan made to them',with the interest that has accrued in consequence of the non•payment of the instalments. at the time when they became due, and have had the remainder of the loan changed into a donation, namely: PAID. DONATION. Ger. Pres. Ch. Cincinnati, Ohio, " $5OO. "$ 70 let " " Olean, N. Y. " 349. " 200 Cong. " ". Hastings, Mich. " 195.- •" 200 Ist " " Brighton; " " 150. 150 " " " Somerset, " " 251. " 100, " " Manchester, N.Y.'" 300. " 200 The following Statement exhibits the total appor tionment to the Synods, the amount of loans and donation's made, the amount that has been re turned on loans and donation,s t the present amount of loans and donations, and the balance of the apportionmentyet unused: Apportionme,nt, . . $lOB,OOO 00 Amount of Loans, . . - . . 60,816 00 Amount returned on Loans, . 11,348 08 Present Amount of Loans; . . . 48,779 92 Amount of Donations, • • . 13,390 00 Amount returned on Donations, . . 1,526 09 Present Amount of Donations. . . 11,713 91 Total of Loans and Donations, . . 61,044 73 Balance;of Apportionment, . . 46,956 17 Nearly all the churches to which donations have been made, have complied with the requirements of the Plan in taking up and forwarding ,to the Trea snip of the Fund an annual colleetion F . Repeated instances have occurred within tke last two years, in which the house of worship erected with the aid of the Fund, has been destioyed by fire, and upon which no insurance had been effected: The embarrassment thus occasioned to the churches has been so great that the' Board have deemed it their duty, In accordance with the authority given them by_the General Assembly, to require thatthe house shall be insured at least to the amount of the loan made to the church. The Treasurer's report will show the exact state of the Fund at the present time, and the manner in which the unemployed portion of it is invested. The term of office of the Third Class of Trustees, namely of Asa D. Smith, James W. McLane, and Win. A. Booth, is soon to terminate ; and it will, therefore, devolve mirth's General Asseinbly to fill theie Vacancies. In conclusion, the Trustees feel constrained to ex press their increasing conviction of the, wisdom, effi ciency, and,benevolende of the Plan adopted by the General Assembly for the administration of this Fund.. This conviction, however, is not confined to their own bosoms. In many eases the Churches aidedfrom the Fund have borne the same testimony. One pastor after another, in communications to the Board has expressed himself warmly in favor of 'the Plan and testified to the great good the Fund Is doing for the feeble churches in the land. All which is respectfully submitted. SAMUEL. T. SPEAR President. Liam W. IacLARE, Secretary. New York, Afdg 14th, 1863. CONDITION OP THE CHURCH ERECTION POND, MAY , 1863. Amount of loans to churche,s, secured by bond and mortgage, $4 9 ,464,92 Amount of donations to churches se cured by do, . 11,668,16 Amount of call loans and temporary in- vestments, 52,000,00 Interest thereon to date, 340,00 Amount of securities for original sub scriptions estimated, 1,000,00 Amount of cash in bank, . 4,400,96 This certifies that we have examined. the seCuri ties in the hands of the treasurer, and find' the above statement to be correct; FISHER Howe; ' Auditin g C Otmittee JOSEPH F. JOY, • Dated New York, Nay 13th, 1863. SUPPLYING PULPITS, The Committee on Devotional Exercises made a report on supplies for the pulpits of the city, to morrow. Report on Education The Report of the Permanent Committee on Education was read, and referred to the Standing Committee on Education.. The following is an abstract of the Report: The Permanent Committee on Edumtion was established in 1856, but not fully organized and in operation till March, 1857. Its first Report was made in May of that year, and proposed a plan for conducting the work assigned it, which, with un important amendments, was adobted by the Gene.- ral Assembly. The next five years the Committee was compelled to spend in preparatory labor, stri ving to rescue the cause from the skepticism, in difference, misapprehension, prejudice ' and con tempt which was connected with it, and to awaken the interest of the church in its favor, discussing the true principles upon which it should be con ducted, and perfecting the plan in matters of detail, as increasing experience demanded. Its difficulties were unexpectedly increased by its being plaeed in collision with local and sectional, interests,Which had to be reconciled. In the beginning of 1862 it found itself with a well-matured plan, in the pos session of the field it was intended to occupy, with a single limited exception; and though it now pre sents its Seventh Annual Report, it is really the first which`it has with a full opportunity been ena bled to make to.show what it is adapted to do. It announced as its fundamentalprinciple, That the organism, of the Presbyterian Church was wisely suited to and should be used for evangelistic opera tions, and that the chief reliance for working it should not be on the agencies of organizations from without, but on the development of a true Christian and church lffe from within. The Committee al ways confidently maintained that its plan, based on this principle, would prove eminently sudcessful, could it only have a fair trial unimpeded by section al and personal interests. The results of the past year have most happily confirmed this position, and with gratitude to God it presents the following among other facts. During the past. year the press has been exten sively used, the General Secretary has placed him self, as far as circumstances allowed, in connexion with Synods, Presbyteries, and Churches and spe cial efforts have been made to enlist these' bodies in active co-operation. The results of such general labors cannot be estimated with any degree of ex actness, but it is known they have been widely pro ductive of good. One hundred and one young men have received, directly, from the treasury, assistance as follows: In Auburn Theological Seminary, 22 ; Lane, 16 ; Union, 20. In Hamilton College, 8 ; Union; 3 ; Yale, 1 ; Mari etta, 12; Western Reserve, 4; Wabash, 7 ; Knox, 3; Michigan University, 3; New York Free Academy, 1 ;%Olivet Academy, Mich., 1. Nine others (six theological, and three collegiate and acadeinie) received assistance front bodies which were in a transition state , but may now be fairly placed in connection with the Oot44ttee • - total of 110. Of this whole number, fifteen at the beginning of the year were in connection with the Permanent Committee, fifteen were transferred by the Western Education Society, and fifteen by the Joint Com mittee of the Synods of Ohio, Cincintia;tt, Indiana, and Wabash, when those organizations relinquished their fields to the Permanent Committee. The re mainder were recommended by presbyteries as fol lows Alton 1, Bloomington 2, Brooklyn 1, Cayuga 5, Cincinnati 7, Clevelimd 2, COldwater .1, Craw fordsville 4, Delaware 1, Detroit 1, ElYrial, Huron 1, Indianapolis 1, Kalamazoo 2, Lyons 1, Madison - 5, Marshall 2, Montrose 2, Newark 6, New York Third 6, New York Fourth 2, Pataskala 1, SaginaW 2, Schuyler 1, Trumbull 1, Tioga 1; Troy 1, -- Utica 3, Washtenaw 3. 1, Twenty-two of these students have finished their preparatory studies, and have been licensed to preach the gospel.:the past year. • i• The rate, of appropriation to t ese stidents has been $9O per annum for the theological course, and $BO for the collegiate and acade c. The rules ap proved by the Assembly fix the a oats at $l2O for the theological ,course, $lOO for t , collegiate, and $BO for the academic; but theserates hive 'never, with one single exception for onJyear, been paid. The Committee know that their, appropriatiory to theological students has been Supplemented froin other sources, so that they have received one ipu dred dollars each; in addition to their own earnings. From the Treasurer's ItepOrt it.will appear that the *hole amount received into the treasury has .been $15,271.77, and the disbursementi for all, objects $13,668.64, leaving a balance of $1603.13. This ba lance is considerably larger than_it would have been had it come to hand in time to be regularly disbursed on the first day of May. The financial year of the Committee closes on that day, and,it is necessary that appropriations, to theological students especially, Should be promptly paid, as they are then preparing to leave the institutions where they are studying„ The Committee cannot appropriatdfandgi which they have not, and they cannot justify themselves before the church in creating a debt in anticipation of contri butions which may never come. Much of this balance was paid in since the last appropriation was voted'and paid, the Treasurer's account having been, for special reasons the present year, kept open till the 10th of the month. It is hoped that the churches will hereafter collect and transmit, their benefactions in good time. The existence of this balance will enable the Committee to make a better appropriation in the beginning of the new year, and should encourage; no one to defer or withhold contributions on the ground that there is a sufficiency on hand. It will be observed that but few contributions are large, and that- many churches 'may .easily increase their benefactions. About one-fourth only of those who might contribute have done so. A contribu tion from every church is the end to be secured, so far as raising the necessary funds is concerned. The number of givers needs to be increased as. cer tainly as the amounts contributed. Many of these contributions arc under ten dollars., While some of these should be greatly augmented, there are -some of them which, in the qualities that characterize true Christian benevolence, are equal to. any others. With the exception of a tempoiary engagement of Bev. S. S. Goss in Western New York during the early part of the year, no agency has been employed. It is the hope of the Committee so to avail them selves of the services of Presbyterial Committees that no agency will be needed. They deem it very desirable 7 that the small contributions of many churches shall go directly to the object for which they are given without being taxed for the salaries of agents.' The Central American Education Society, which was the first of the old organizations to ,meet the wishes of the Assembly, by relinquishing its field to the =Permanent Cummittee, has paid into'-the tree sury, the sum of $2,000, to establish. a permanent _scholarship, to be called the Phelps scholarship, in memory of ..the late- Anson G._ Jr. ; queathed $5.000 to that Society. The' Committee have accepted the trust, and - the money has been properly invested. As to the work of edueation outside of the Com mittee's operations, an approximate estimate only can be made. The PHILADELPHIA EDUCATION SOCIETY, which has received the contributions of the churches in the Synod of Pennsylvania, aided, the last year, ten theo logical, ten collegiate; three academic, and two pri vate students. It disbursed $3,049 14. Its receipts from churches and individuate, were $2;230 48. The printed abstract of the proceedings .of its last annual meeting; says, "It is gradually, arranging its affairs to accommodate the Assembly's Permanent Committee on Education." It is known to the. Committee ; that some churches and benevolent individuals have aided directly one or more young men, - and that a number have been placed , on foundations in different Institution B. Per haps-it would not vary far from the truth, to say, that, during the year, about two hundred students haveLleen assisted, at an outlay of something over $20,000. The number of students has-been diminished pro bably from twenty-five to thirty per cent, by the war, It is•the expectation, thkt an increased number will ask for aid the present year, and 'the Committee are anxious to be able; from the.beginning, to make full appropriations to them all. , Taken all together, the experience of the past year, it is hoped, Fill -be deemed sufficiently-satisfactory, to enable the General Assembly unhesitatingly to pre sent anew its Permanent Committee to Presbyteries and churches and individuals, interested in increasing the number of ministers, as a wise, safe, economical, and efficient arrangement for conducting the business portion of the work of education, and urging on them united and hearty co-operation init. $118,874,04 The Annual ,Report of the committee on Home Missions, was read by Rev. Dr.. Kendall, and was re ferred to the standing committee on that subject. ABSTRACT OF THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF TEE COM- MITTEN ON HOME MISSIONS. This report opens with a glance at the state of the country diming the year Past—and makes grateful ac knowledgment to Althighty God, for his blessing on the cause. Due notice is taken of the death of the Associate Secretary, Rev. Benjamin J. Wallace, 'D. D., and great regret is expressed at the death of one whose love, to our church was so great and whdse services in it were so useful. Five missionaries haVe died during the year. The correspondence with thErAmerican Rome Mk& siOnary Society was read. - It appears that more than $30,000 has been paid into theUreasury of that So ciety daring the year, every dollar of which is with. held from the feeble Presbyterian churches in the land. The subject of Presbyterial Missionaries was dis cuised at , considerable length, shoivin„o' the difficulties and embarrassments in the work, and, also, that the Committee wereprepared• to employ that mode of ef fort more extensively as fast as they obtain light; and the churches show their appreciation of it. To supply the lack,of Presbyterial Missionaries, and to-do somewhat superficially what cannot now be done more thoroughly; two additional District Secretaries have been appointed, viz.: Rev. H. H. Kellogg, of Chicago, Illinois, and Rev. Calvin Clarke of Detroit, Michigan. Rev R. Little, of Madison, has also been employed as Synodical Missionary in the Synod of Southern Indiana. Twol hundred and fifty-six missionaries have been employed the whole, or a part of the year past, per- Torrning an aggregate of-192 years' labor. The gospel: has been regularly preached in more than 360 places. 225 Missionaries have forwarded statistical =reports; from which it appears that.there-has been 843 , hopeful conversions. Six hundred and ninety-seven have uni ted with the churches on' profession of faith, and 668 by 'letter. 14 'revivals are reported,-12 churches have been organized, —5- have hebonie self-sustaining; and 32 church .edifiees , havelibeen Imilti , repaired or relieved Of 'debt. The receipts of the year reach ahnostss2,ooo, and yet more than 800 churches of the whole number, 1,466, have contributed nothing. But the mit!, sionaries have been paid, and no church asking aid and well endorsed has been refused. Grateful mention is made of the ladies in the va rious churches that have furnished so many boxes of clothing to the missionaries. The work of the future is discussed under the fol lowing heads. 1. The feeble churches in the other parts of the country. 2. The wants of the new States and Territories, Sze. 3. The fields now opening to us that have been ra vend by war. • he necessity and' prospect of increased contribu HOME MISSIONS We deem it proper to add 'that the Permanent Committee do their work withent any expense to the Assembly or the Board.' • With this general commendation- of the report, there-area few points -which. 'the Standing Coni-' tiong forthe Year to ootne—theitnportanee of church edifices'—the subjects of Houie Missionary Publica tions—and life member Ships 'closed the report. . , MONDAY, MAY 25, 1863. The Asiembly met at '9 o'clock, and spent half an hour in devotional exercises. At 9i. the Assembly was, opened for business. On motion, it was 'ordered that for' the future the calling of the rail at the opening of the morning ses sion be dispensed with. The minute's of the la'st session were read and s,p . proyed. MESSAGE FROM , GENEEAL.ASSEMSLY AT PEORIA The Moderator read to the Assembly; the following telegraphic dispatch : Peoria, Illinois, Male 23, 1863. The Moderator of the General Assembly, of the Presbyterian Church, now in session at. Philadelphia. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church now in session at Peoria, have unanimously appoint ed delegate& to represent them in your. honorable body. By order of the Assembly, :Wm. E. SCHENCK. ' • ' Permanent Clerk. REPORTS OP EELEOLTES TD OORREEPONT4NG BODIES. The Assembly proceeded, to consider the reports from teleptes to correspondimbo4s.. The mlbit,,ofiteif'Geo. C. Noyis,,delegiteio the General Assembly of :the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was read. . Also. the report of Rev. A. B nirdman Lmnbert, D. D., delegate to, the Goneral Aseoeiiiion of ehasette.... Also, the report of Rev.Joitathel B. Condit, D. D., delegate to the General Conference of. Maine. Also, the report of the Rev. Peter. Snyder, delegate to the General Convention of Vermont. Rev. , Mr. iirDE of Vermont, delegate to the .As sembly from .the General Convention of -Vermont, Was called on for some remarks, and said that a nominal division by a denominational line presented no obstacle to fraternal and Christian intercourse with their brethren of the Presbyterian church. The body which he represented rejoiced in the good work being done by the Presbyterian Church, and were always gratifiedlO see the delegate Of the latter in their .conventions. As Congregationalips, they claimed very little sectarian or denominatidnal zeal, and to no other body did they so naturally look for the same catholic spirit as tbe Presbyterian. He thought the two bodies should be one in Christian love and harmony. The speaker then referred to the condition of the Congregational Church inVerm ant. Their churches during the last . year were reported as about two ,hundrea, averaging each seventy-five resident mem bers, two-thirds being females—in all about four teen thousand five hundred resident members. Most of their churches were small, and embraced among their membership but few men of large means; yet, besides supporting their own religious institutions, they yearly, sent abroad many to labor in the Western field ; and contributed annually about twenty-eishtthousand dollars for missionary, and other 'Christian wolks—being an average of about two dollars and a, half to each of our members, and about five dollars each to the resident male mem bers. During the last year their churches enjoyed a good degree of external prosperity, notwithstand inn. the fact that the war had taken away some of the best young men in and out of the church. They had oceasion to thank God for the tokens of His presence manifested with regard to many of their churches during the past year resulting in some instances in a considerable addition to their num bers. • The svea,ker said that his denomination in the State of Vermont had two colleges whieh were doing a good work in the cause of Christian educa tion. In conclusion,. heremarked : I need scarcely say' that our churches, as well as our State, gene rally, have given a hearty and most cordial co-Cpc ration and support to the government in its pro- Sent life-struggle. We have promptly sent with out a draft the fall quota of men for which our overnment has called . upon us. We are heartily rejoiced at your own positicin as evinced by your action a year ago; and I have been permitted more abundantly to rejoice in view of the evidence pre sented during the sessions of this'body. Now that you are cordially and entirely with us in this regard, we humbly pray that peace established upon a basis of justice and righteousness, and freedom to all the oppressed, may soon:be restored to us, and our na tion be yet preserved to be a beacon light and a bless ing to the nations of the earth. Mr. Moderator and brethren, we would make no protestations of affection, which' - ark) but mere for malities. We intend 'th•it our plain words shall prove our Mistime fellowship and cordial good will. Our correspondence has been on our part very plea sant, and we think very useful; and your dele gates have ' always, I believe, been cordially re ceived. We trust that the same spirit of communion will be manifested between you and us in all time to come. The Monsasros..—This General'Assembly are happy to hear from the Convention of Vermont in words of so much courtesy and cordiality to which they would make a most hearty response: In all our feeling of brotherly kindness, in oar communion in the great objects 'of the Christian church and the Christian religion, in our devotion to the welfare of our country, in our interest in the-great work of re forms, in all these thiags we'rejnice to know that we are of one heart and of one mind. Our delegate has informed us of the general condition of your church, and the facts which you have added to his report, are most encouraging, and such us lead us with you to thank God for the blessings which he has poured out upon your ministry and your membership. We know that you arecalled upon to cultivate a flak' which is,in.rnany respects, very laborious; we also 'rejoice to know that you have been fitted to enter into this field and cultivate it, so that it not only bears fruit for God upon the soil itself, but you are able to send forth so many to labor in other portions of our land. We hope that peace and prosperity ,may attend your branch of Zion ; and that you may go' , on abounding• in every good word and work. A communication from. Rev. Geo. M. Adams, a de legate appointed by the' Assembly to the General Association of Islassachnsetts, was read. A6Sia§i4ENt FOR . COTINGENT EXPENSES At the suggestion of Rev. Dr. HATITELD, it was ordered that.the price of.the minutes hereafter be fifty cents instead of forty cents as heretofore ; and that the assessment on the Presbyteries for contin gent expenses of the Assembly (heretofore sixty cents per minister,) be increased to seventy-five cents per minister. DONNIETTEE ON BILLS: AND OVERTURNS The Moderator announced the appointment of Rev.' Dr. Towne 'and Mr. Geo. Robertson, as mem bers of the Committee on Bills and Overtures, in the place of two Members granted leave of absence. DELEGATES PROM TEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT PEORIA. A telegraphic despatch, dated Peoria,May 23rd; and signed by William E. Schenck, Permanent Clerk, was read, stating that Rev. Di. Tustin and Hon. George Sharswooil had been appointed dele gates and Dr. Hall, of Trenton,and John M. Har per, alternates, to represent that Assembly in this General Assembly. FOREIGN MISSICiNG; Rev. Albert Barnes, from the Standing Commit tee on Foreign = Missions; presented a report' which was read. Report of the Foreign Mission Committee. In the judgment of the Standing Committee, the report submitted to the AsseMbly is a doceinient of great value, claiming not only the attention of this General Assembly, but deserving a wide dissetnr nation among ". thectiurches of the 'denomination. The Permanent CoMmittee deserve in a high degree the commendation of the Assembly,.and the thanks of the churches for the diligence and attention mani fested in the general performance of the duties as signed them on the'matter of Foreign Missions, and in preparing the revert for the Awnrebly. The ex tensive oirculation of this document would' be of value, not merely as furnishing' information to the churches in regard to the work setae:ll3r accomplished in our denomination in the cause of Missions; but as containing;valuable suggestions to the churches in regard - to what it is' desirable should be done, and the best methods of accomplishing the part to which we are called in, spreading the Gospel throtig,h the world. And.theaCoramittee recommending the ap-• proval Of the report to the Assembly, express the earnest hope that measures will be taken to place it, as far as possible, before all the 'members of the claterches. mittee beg leave more particularly to direct the at tention of the Assembly. The claims of the unevangelized on the churches represented in this Assembly—the inadequate re sponse which we have hitherto made to those claims —the number and position of the members of our Presbyteries who under the auspices of the Ameri din Board, have gone forth as heralds of a Saviour's love to the nations enshrouded in darkness,—the strong attachment felt by our Missionary brethren to the-church to which they belong, and to their be loved. country; with most cheering intelligence of the blessings which the Lod has vouchsafed to their labours, and urgent appeal for assistance to gather the-ripening.harvest under the weight of which they, are nearly overwhelmed—the progress of the mis .sione connected with the Board—the necessity of a large increase of funds and of missionaries in order :to sustain and carry forward the missions already established, the efforts which the committee have - made to interest every church and every, member of every church connected with -us, so as ;to secure liberal and systematic,. contributions to this cause, and the relations of all our interests as Christians and a Christian. Church to the right performance of our duties towards the dying heathen. The following points in, the report 'Should, in the opinion ef,your committee, receive the special at tention of - the Assembly and the Churches. - I. That.we can now go int0*11,,,110.w..e1 . 1d and preach 'the gospel to every creature; the, barriers are all removed. 2. That we ,are bound to do it, by the expresk command of Him who says, " Ye ; are my,disciples, -if ye keep my commandments." 3. That we have entered on the work—have been blessed in it—have now sixty of our ministers, in the field, whom we know, whose testimony we believe, and who tell us in accents of deepest distress how the heathen rush to perdition in their ignorance and guilt, and how they faint and fall, because left un-. aided, by us to whom they look for reinforcements and •supplies. 4,, That God has given to, our peo ple The ability,, if they have the mind, to yield the needed aid so far as men and .money are required ; that every one of us can give at least the avails of one : day'a labour each month, that this will produce morethan four times the amount now contributed, and that we shall be held accountable. for the willing heart to co-operate with Him to that extent at least, in saving a lost world. 5. That we have no good reason to presume that the Great Head of the Chu.tch will, bless our labours at home—our ministry and our missionary enterprises here,—our our fields, our flocks, and our business pursuits,— our dearly beloved ,country, and preserve to us our blessed heritage, while we are unmindful of the great work .which, he has so solemnly committed to us, and do little or nothing to bring the hundrede of millions for whom he died, to the knowledge of his love. 6. That the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the hundreds of Indians in chains at Man kato during the past winter as related in the exceed ingly intereeting statement of Rev. Dr, Williamson, one of our,missionaries to the Dacote.h, should fill our hearts with gratitude, and stimulate,us to prayer and effort for the oppressed and wretched sons of the prairie and the forest to whom we owe so much, dud fur whom we have done so little. Your committee would suggest that our admirable system of Church polity affords the greatest facilities for reaching all our people, and bringing them into line at the call of duty, that therefore a greater Mea sure of responsibility attaches to the Genei•al As sembly and to the PresbYteries, than has been re cognised hitherto; that it becomes our most solemn duty to look, this responsibility in the face; that a just regard to the glory of oar God and King, to'his parting command, to the salvation of thp lost, to the happiness of our people or the peace and prosperity of our Zion in all her enterprises and interests, de mands that We shall adopt , some measures through which these, weighty and sacred obligations shall be lai upon.the conscience of every disciple of Christ, and shall be Tohnd,there till the heart is moved and the tithes are brought into the storehouse. We recommenkthe passage of the following Reso- Meselotions published in our last narriber..l Rev. Mr. BAANES, having presented. the report with the accompanying resolutions, said that there ware.a few topos on whieh some remarks might be appropriate. One subject Was the relation. of the church to the A neric in Board of Foreign Missions. He said. that in the progress of events the ,question would, naturally arise whether the Presbyterian Chnreh should continuo in the work of Foreign Mis sions, to act through the agency of the, American Board,„ or. institiito a separate and independent organization for the prosecution of missionary enter prises. As.to what may occur hereafter, no man can predict; but at the present time the committee think it of great importance to retain fully our con nection with the American B oard t and to act through them for the cause of FOreign Missions. They have the confidence of our church and the confidence of the world. They have facility of access to every part of the globe ; they have very valuable arrange ments for the reception and disbursement of funds ; and on ill:these grounds a continuance of our con nection with that organization is advisable and de sirable. It appears to the Permanent Committee and to the Standing Committee, that the American Board are entirely fair and impartial in acting upon the wishes of this Assembly as to the disposal of their missionaries for the promotion of the cause of relig ion in general ; and for their comfort in relation to each other, and for any arrangements which may be at any time deemed necessary for carrying our pecu liar institutions of church government into the fields which they . occupy. In the report which the committee presented a few days ago, they took care to show, that in reference to a great part of the missions abroad, the arrangements have so occurred that in a very large proportion of them Presbyteries could be formed at once, on the spot, if it were deemed desirable. Yet so far as is known to the committee, the missionaries have made no efforts in that direction. They have not supposed it desira ble to do so. The American Board have interposed no obstacles whatever ; they have made no sugges tions or arrangements that would interfere at all with the formation of Presbyteries on a foreign field to just snail an extent as our missionaries may choose to have it done.. It may further be observed that oar church is very fairly represented in the American Board, alike in regard to corporate members and life members, as well as in regard to the secretaries of the board, two of 'whom, residing in New York, belong to our denomination. Another point of considerable interest adverted to in the report, is the fact that a communication of very great importance has been entered into between our ministers abroad and the churches at home— not merely coming through the Prudential Commit tee at Boston and the American Board, but through our Permanent Committee—thus instituting a con nection which we desire should be kept up. It is a great point gained if we can have information readily accessible as to the missionaries abroad connected with the Presbyterian Church. Recently in our church very many have been asked whether we have any missionaries at all abroad; and if any specific hitforniation were desired on that point, very many ministers and members of our church could not give it. There has been a general impression that we had abroad almost no missionaries con nected with our denomination. It appears by the report of the committee that we have sixty men in the grefit tield of Christian missionary labor wider the care of the American Board. We are endeavor ing constantly to draw. the tie closer between them and UB, auct, for this purpose we desire that commu nication should be kept up between the Permanent Committee of the Assembly and our missionaries abroad: Another point which may be mentioned is the importanee of bringing the subject of foreign mis siOna before every church in our denomination, and, as far as possible, before every 'member of the church. If I recollect aright it appears by the re port of the Permanent Committee that there are but a little more than a fourth part of cur churches that have contributed to the cause of foreign missions, during the paet year; and the ,amounts exhibit a very small ratio contributed byeach member—from 35 to 45 cents, or something like that. It was stated this morning by