[The two following paragraphs were indefinitely postponed.] There is now one other similar need of our churches which we hope our committee will be able to supply. It is a volume of hymns and tunes, carefully selected and wisely arranged, for the worship of God in his sanctuary. The period has arrived when many of our churches demand a volume so arranged that the words and the music will meet the eye at the same time, and if We do not meet this demand our churches will obtain their supply from other and irresponsible sources: There are several excellent works of this kind already published, but no one of these cornbLie all the excellencies of each, and none are without their defects. And it seems to us that a committee which has secured so admirable a "Social Hymn and Tune Book," can furnish us a book which in a great measure shall avoid the faults and combine the ex cellencies of those which are now before the public. It may be possible that a large mass of exeellent ma terial adapted to this purpose has beeri accumulated during the preparation of our book for social wor ship. However this may be, it is far better, other things being equal, that such a work he published by our own committee and owned by this Assembly than that we recommend to our churches any book which is - the private property of other parties and entirely beyond our control, One of these alterna tives we shall be necessitated to adopt, and. it is for the Assembly to decide which it shall be. The Committee recommend that this subject be left to the discretion of our Publication ComMittee to pursue such a course.es. they in their wisdom shall think best. It is also lecomMended that the following mem bers of the Permanent Committee, whose. term ex pires the present month be re-elected, viz: Rev. N. 8. S. Bemoan, D.D. Rev. Albert Barnes Mr. Alex ander Whilldin, dr. F. L. Bodine and Rev. George, F. Wiswell. D.D. Your Committee most heartily approve of the doings of the Trustees of the Presbytertan House as set forth in their report. They would recommend the re-election of the following trustees whose term of office expires during the present sessions of the Asiembly,- viz: John C. Farr, Esq., Charles S. Wurts, M.D., Rev. Daniel March, D.D., Rev. Wm. T. Eva, and Rev. Thomas J. Shepherd. They would also recommend that Rev. Albert. Barnes and Mr. Alexander Whilldin be elected trustees, to serve the unexpired term-- - one year from this time—of Rev. ChOs. Brainerd, D.D., and Matthias W. Baldwin, deceased. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. C. WrsicEn., Chairman. Rev. John W. Dulles,. the Secretary of the Per manent Committed of Publication, first alluding to the renomination of thernembers of the Committee, said that the Assembly might rest assured that this Committee was a diligent and faithful , one; that the whole Committee held meetings monthly, and . were habitually on hand, except two who were dis tant from Philadelphia; that a sub-Committee of Publication met every two weeks,: and the Business Committee every week, and the proceedings of the . sub-Committee were reported to, and subjected to the approval of the General Committee, whose su pervision of the whole work *as careful. The trust was in good hands. The speaker dwelt upon the special work of the Publication Committee in its relations to hoMe evangelization; upon the power of the printed page in enriching, supplementing, multiplying the power of therindividual, and especially upon its adaptation to the wants of this country, where we have a popula tion not concentrated, but scattered so as' to make it out of our power to reach them all with the church and the pastor': The problem presented de manded earnestness in the use of every agency. The Secretary alluded to several branches of the Publication work, as Sabbath-school Literature, Congregational Libraries, Books for Ministers, but dwelt chiefly on its directly Missionary aspect. Scattered over our land, far out upon the prai ries, at the East as well as at the West, we have Missionaries who greatly need the assistance of our publications, but who are unable to pay for them. they need tracts for distribution, libraries for their Sabbath-schools, hymn-books for their new and poor congregations. To aid these men is our aim. But., whilst other societies of a kindred character have their agents to plead their cause and secure means, this Assembly's Committee relied entirely upon the pastors and sessins. The Committee had but one man for Secretarl', Editor, and Financial Agent. Hence if they were to receive the means of doing their work it must be through the voluntary I stated contributions of the churchesf they appeal to pastors and eldrs that it is not overlooked. Rev. William Aikman spoke of the Presbyterian Monthly. If it is to be continued in its present form, the Foreign Mission Committee should use it, and help pay for it. Rev. Dr. Seward said that the tracts of the Pub lication Committee were the best of which he knew. They were stirring and good. They could , bring out the doctrines of our Church in all their fulness. They had no need to soften down the sharper points of our theology. He spoke of books also, especial ly of Bowen's Meditations. This cause is on the docket for an annual collection in my church. He hoped that all pastors would do the same. • Elder Jessup said, with reference to the Presbyte rian Monthly, it was felt in the Committee that as it was desirable that missionary intelligence should reach all our families, itwas important that there should he a brief abstract of such intelligence in our Presbyterian Monthly. Rev. Mr. Lippincott, of Illinois, thought there should be a change in the manner of the publica tion of the Presbyterian Monthly: It needs to be popularized. Ministers read it, hut it does not so much interest the people. He would change the form, and put it under the direction of one mind. It is important that we should hear from our own missionaries; but we want something fresh, and adapted to interest the people. Rev. William Young, referring to the recommen dation with regard to a Church Hymn and Tune Tsobk, doubts whether the Presbyterian Church can afford to throw away the Church Psalmist, and adopt a new book for singing in the sanctuary. Rev. McGiffert referred to the giving of mission ary intelligence in the Monthljj. Those. who take the Month& also take the Missionary Herald. He likes the idea of putting the Monthly under the con trol or one head. He would' have the Monthly de voted to the Home field. 'lf any want to know who of the missionaries of the American Board are Presbyterians they can find out by referring to the Minutes of the General Assembly, but he thanked God that they can not find this out from the Mis sionary Herald: This shows the harmony with which we are united with our brethren in the Mis sionary work,'and he hoped it would long so con tinue. Dr. Wisner, the author of the report, did not intend to say a single word to hurt the feelings of the For eign Mission Committee, nor hinder the diffusion of intelligence. Either we are united with the Ameri can Board or not; if so, we do not want to act as if we were separate. A . brother pleads for four pages in the Monthly on foreign„, missions. Shall I telt my people to give' up the Herald ? Ours is 'a Home or gan. We do not want a little of every thing and not enough of any one thing. The committee has left the door open for the Editor to introduce any interesting foreign letter, if not in the Herald. It was a most difficult subject. • The Moderator—Do you mean to use the words, ” prosy " and " sermonic " as synonymous? • Dr. Wisner—No, sir! We do not believe there is any body in the N. S. Assembly whose sermons are prosy. • • Dr. Robinson said that there would be much diffi THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JUXt fl, 1867. culty if any such action comes from this Assembly. If this goes back, it will simply become a trial to most of our Committees, as it has been. It should have its home in New York. Many believe the Church should not go into publishing any more than into upholster ing. He disapproved of the entire form of manage ment, and moved that it be referred to a Special Com mittee, consisting of the chairman and secretaries of the Assembly's Permanent Committees. Dr. Kendall said this would be throwing back the whole matter where it was before, with a heavier burden. The Committees had asked the Assembly to act. Dr. Darling opposed Dr. Robinson's motion. It would occupy a great deal of time for the Permanent Committees to get together and arrange the machine ry anew for this magazine. It always takes two or three years to make such a magazine self-supporting. Ours was no strange experience. It needs that pas tors and people go back resolved that it shall be sup ported. Dr. Robinson restated his question. Dr. Wisner noted that the question touches on which city shall have it leave it where it is, espe cially in view of the prospect, of re-union. Rev. Herrick Johnson referred to the fact that the Committees have differed as to with shall bear the loss upon the monthly. He did not dare to hale it pay its expenses. The benefit will far more than compensate for the loss. The Standing Committee consulted with three of the Secretaries of the most important'Committees, and those three consented to report. Dr. Adams introdUced the brethren. from Scotland: Dr. Fairbairn, stated, that an arrangenient was' made with the Nlessrs. Nelsons, of Edinburgh, to pub lish their Home and Foreign Record, who undertook to furnish it for a penny a number, if, they were con sulted as t 3 an Editor. It is in' the hands of a Com mittee who act with the Editor. He gets communi cations from home and abroad. So thoroughly has it. succeeded that Messrs. Nelsons agiee to pay over a surplus of £250. The Moderator—The difficulty is we have not 'the Nelsons. It was not that family that emigrated. [Great laughter.] Mr. Dulles called attention to the fact that there was no specification with regard to the payment of the cost, that it had 'cost 54 cts. when sold for 50 cts.—that the Missionary Herald cost the A. Board btween $9,000 and $lO,OOO the last year. He pre-' slimed that there was not a Society as important as our Home Missionary, which does not' pay froth $2,- 000 to $4,000 for its organ. My business Committee will say that we have received but $B,OOO, whilst our Home _Mission Committee has received $120,000, and will question the propriety of their paying td circu late Home Mission information. But if the Assem bly distinctly direct the Publication Committee to bear the expenses, the question will be settled, and these instructions will be, cheerfully obeyed by the Committee. Only the churches must sustain us. Dr. Wisner replied that such was the intent of the Report, and it pledged the support of the Churches to the Publication Committee. After remarks by Dr. Robinson and Mr. John Son, Dr: Robinson's motion was hist, and the recommen dation of the Report adopted. The recommendation With' regard to a Church Hymn and Tune Book was taken up. Dr. Cuyler doubted whether this was the. best time for this action. If the two Chnrches unite, may wp not hope that the combined' experience of the two bodies will produce a book which will last a genera tiom lam using Bro. Robinson's, and can't give up that incomparable book, until we have a united'hook. This recommendation was indefinitely postpened. A suggestion that the'sum of $50,000 be raised for Publication the ensuing year was made, but with drawn, as the hour of adjournment was at hand, and the whole report, as amended, was adopted. It 'was decided, at' 2 o'clock, to prolong the Ses sion half an hour. The Report of the Special Com mittee on Freedmen was read by Rev. Herrick John son. Report on Freedmen The Committee to whom was committed so much of the Report of the Permanent Committee on Home Missions, as refers to the Freedmen, would respect fully report as follows: As a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ in America, we would re-affirm the conviction of the last Assembly that "our most solemn national trust concerns that patient race so long held in un righteous bondage.' We would also repeat'and em phasize the language concerning the Freedmen used by the General Assembly of last year. in a letter to the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scot land, declaring "that this nation is under the most solemn responsibility as to the future destiny of this class of its citizens. Our chief reliance must be on those social, moral and religious influences which alone can make men fit for freedom and truly free; and which alone can ftilly restore the union of these States, and bind us together in a common brother hood." Thus far in our history and life as a denomina tion, we have failed to embody these ideas in action —we have given them no definite and praCtical ex pression. charged with the responsibility of imme diate neighborhood to four millions of recently lib erated bondmen, who are in utmost need of social, intellectual and spiritual elevation, summoned to action by our starred and crowned historic record of protest against the wrong of holding them in bondage, our traditions and our aspirations having ever looked towards their freedom and enlighten ment, hailing with grateful joy and thanksgiving to God-the day of their deliverance, and the first great Christian body in the land to unanimously de clare these freedmen entitled to the right of suf frage, we yet to this hour have put forth no organ ized and systematic effort to meet our obligations and to make good our words. The New School Presbyt.rian Church, the foremost in the expres sion of her sympathies for the freedmen, has done, in a denominational capacity, simply nothing for their practical elevation. There should be an end to this. We turn our backs upon:definite. action at the risk of failing to confront and grapple with a great duty, These peo ple are our neighbors, so named, of God, he blood of the human race is in their veins. They are at our dbors. They have fallen among : thieves, and are left wounded and half dead.' This great Christian body is imperatively called to do its share of the " Good Samaritan " work of helping them and lifting them up. - You have not been idle, it is true. Evidence is before your Committee to the effect that upwards of twenty-five thousand dollars have been contribu ted by our churches during the past year, to the treasury of one voluntary organization alone. Other sums have gone - through other. channels. Manifestly the churches in our connection are not to . be kept from giving in aid of the freedmen. The question is whether we can better utilize this benevo lence by action distinctively denominational— whether we can thus secure its more economic use and largely increase the sum of it and - bring it more directly under Christian control. Beyond doubt we can. Our churches are now the haWking ground for every organization that chooses to attach the word " Freedmen" to its title. Appeals are constantly made to us to put the seal of our official endorsement on this or that society. We believe it to be too late in the day to think of linking ourselves to any independent and irresponsi voluntary association in the prosecution 'of so great a work for God and hunianity. By overture, by commissioners, by the press, by private and public appeals : from South Carolina, from Tennessee, from the East and from the North west, the voice of our church is being heard, ret questing sciniearrangement whereby, as a denOmina- Lion, we may secure to the freedmen our contributions for educational and evangelistic work among them. , Your Committee do, therefore, heartily and unaui ; monsly re( ommend, First—That the Permanent dommittee on Home Missions be empowered and requested to appoint an assistant secretary,- to be located at • *who shall have the general supervision of the work among the freedmen, and be authoriied to issue ap peals, visit the churches, receive all contributions, and locate schools and teachers, subject, in all things to the approval of the Pertnanent Committee. Second—That a committee of seven be, appointed by the Permanent Committee on Home Missions to act in connection with . the • Assistant Secretary in the examination of teachers, and to commission the same, subject to the approval of the Permanent Committee. Third—Thal the Assistant Secretary report an nually- to the aforesaid Permanent Committee, which report shall be presented to the AsSembly iu connection with that on Home kissions. Fourth—That 2,11 our churches be, requested to send the entire current of their contributions, in, be half of the Freedmen in the direction herein pre scribed. And it any of our dongrega ions are ,at presept committed to any voluntary association, they are earnestly urged to adjust themselves to the plan, of the Assembly at their earliest practical con venience. ITERiticx joliNsox, , Chairman,, GrEp. A. LITTLE, J. F. BINGHAM, Dr. Canfield expressed his approval:of the report: . It is a yery costly mode to do this work through,an irresponsible body. Rev. M. , Trowbridge.—Our ministers and Presby- , tery (Chicago) are exceedingly anxious that some such action should be taken. There is a difference of opiniOn as to. our undertaking , an educational work. It is a fair, question whether or not to alloW the societies ' already 'established to keep charge "of this,art of the work. • Rev. Dr: Adams.-This is a novel and grave ap pointment.. Our home Missionary Committee have a great deal of work upon them,. and especially, in view of re-,union, it is a question ; Whether we should inaugurate an independent scheme. We doubt and therefore -I ldwai '•t • The report was put upon thedoeket. Dr. Darling ; from the. Standing Committee.4on Home Missions; reported on an overture, from 9 the Presbytery of Cincinnati in regard to the:stipport of Home Missionaries. The report was adverse to the overture, as it involved an there change iii the mode of Home Afissionary operations. The report was adopted. _ _ _ _ . THIIRSDAV— AFTERNOON SESSIO N. The order of the day was postponed, and the fol loWing Report of the Staridin,„,o. ComMittee oh Sala bath-schools, was presented by its Chairman, Rev. Dr. Robinson. Standing Committee on,Sablbath-sehools. The Standing Committee upon Sabbath-schools, having carefully considered the subjects ' assigned to the General Assembly, mostirespectfully report as follows: ' There can be no doubt thitt in the multiplicity of absorbing interests demanding the notice of , the, Churches, a cause requiring so• much patience in its consideration, and so much wisdom in its manage= ment, as the Sunday-seho4l cause, might easily be passed by, with the inditlerpnce of those who are not. intelligent concerning its need and its power, and with the indolence of those who are. • The instruction of children is the last attainment and the highest reach of phriStian grace. Never,' until the Church has comae t 0,,, leisure for serious .and to advanced sPiritnality, in experienee, can those who are its natural leaders be prevailed upon to estimate and provide 'for the wants of the little ones in the.fold. The best proof of high civili zation is found in the toy of la child. Not one has ever been discovered in the excavations of .Ronee; not one was ever found among the'ruins of Pompeii. It has been reserved for the glory of the Christian Church to seek the happinesS and the spiritual good of the babes and'sucklings mit of whose mouth spiritual-good has ordained praise. And yet so little is this appre ciated, that its utterance, even now, is likely to fall on many of our best minds as the mere extravagance of a harmless enthusiasm; 'lriot to be rebuke, in deed, for it is so amiable, but, not to be heeded as a philosophical fact, for it is considered extreme. We mark with much pleasure the endeavors made by our Permanent Committee during the first year of, its existence, in the direction of the literature which is passing into the hapds of the youth of, our congregations. The criticisms published in the Monthly Magazine are Very valuable, and. if continued, will be of essential help .to those who are .commis sinned to select books for our libraries. The columns of statisticsin the printed Minutes are already so crowded that it seems impossible to: grant their request for additional space in reportin ,,, teachers and officers as distinct from pupils. We hope that it will be understood among the emigre- . outions that the annual reports are intended to in-' elude all the legitimate members ot' the schools: offi cers, teachers, and scholars of both Church and Mission Schools. No one can fail to observe the disabilities under which the Permanent Committee has been laboring , during the past twelvemonth: has had no Sec retary to act as its medium of intercourse with the churches, and no positive constituency whatever to extend to it countenance, or furnish itAccorous.sup-. port. These brethren seem to us to merit praise for haVin - g had the courage to evenattempt to accom plish anything Whatever in such circumstances. But surely it cannot beexpected that any oruani zntion like this can hold its properplace with due dignity, or be in any degree effective in its designated work under embarrassments sowinitified. The Com- ; mittee has done organically all it could, and done it well. But there can be no wisdom, and there is no ' generosity in continuing, even : in existence a perma nent committee, which is obliged to exhaust its ef forts upon mere compilations of statistics from the printed minutes; or look for its necessarily accruing expenses to the unauthorized assessment of a few "residents in Central and Western New York." To be sure, the General Assembly gives its sincere thanks to those friends of the Sunday-school cause who have willingly responded thus . far to the call; but the great denomination it represents can ill af ford to permit any one of its organized committees. to make persistently this mendicant show for itself,: or send out its official circulars on such a pitiful errand. We ought to do more or do less at once. Hence all the members of the Standing Commit tee are disposed to heed on the instant the request already made to the AssernblY that a corresponding secretary should be appointed, bearing the same re lation to this branch of our benevolent effort as those officially recognized in the departments of home missions, education and publication, ,bear to, the respeetive committees which they now serve. This secretary ought CO be officiallyclothed . with the requi site authority to o officially among the' congrega tion as the honored representative of the church at large, and should receive a salary adequate for his competent support, so as to be able to devote his' time and his gifts to the important work assigned If it be asked what need there is for such a secre tary, we should reply; first, there is all the need - for a secretary that there is for such a committee, and the more need now in that the committee has been organized i and reply second ; that there is all the kinisters, S. D. W ARD , GEO. E. WARREN,, Elders, need for this secretary and committee in our denom nation that there is in any. If it be asked why not continue to do our Sunday school work in connection with co-operative Socie ties, we reply that already have our brethren of every name . deserted us to all intents and purposes. The Baptist, the Episcopal, the Reformed Dutch, the kethodiat, and in the New England the Congrega tionalist-churches, have in turn established and now support each a denominational Sunday-school Union, retaining meanwhile their position, in others merely to Control their publications and activities. And furthermore,. it ought to be remembered that the present question is not concerning the institution of an organization, but concerning its efficiency. Our Committee is already established; the question is: Shall it attempt to do any of its prescribed work? Moved by considerations like these, the Standing Committee, would recommend at once that the re quest laid before the Assembly be granted, and that the Permanent:Committee be authorized to appoint. a dorresponding Secretary;, but we find ourselves` embarrassed by some other complications which force us to ,hesitate. . It is doubtful: whether all, of our churches are ready 16 receive so suddenly, as a .denominational charge, the entire Sunday-school missionary opera tions which we have been accustomed hitherto to do in .co-operation with others; whether the Permar nent Committee • itself has• already completed its new organization sufficiently for it to assume the respon sibility of an undertaking so extensive as this ,pro - liaises to be; whether the other official committees of our church have adjusted their relative doties so liicely,os to be prepared, to welcome at once into a dignified and ; acknowledged equality this one,, Which in many of ita characteristics . will be new; whether the best man for the desired secretaryship could be found ,on call, or at any rate whether such a man could be selected wisely before the committee . should by experience, have grown somewhat ac qtittinted with its own essential wants; whether in case,6f an organie„connection in frontier work with the remaining.committees, the consideration of an other and more essential location ' and consequent re-organization of the Permanent Committee, might not be forced upon the. .Asembly; and whether a measure so important as this would command the cordial consent and respect of those among the most prudent of, our, counsellors, to, whom we are most to loo k in all exigencies, at a time when their minds are heavily occupied with questions of great gravity, demanding instantaneous decision, and embracing ' the whole polity of the church. These are among the first and most, pressing rea sons which .constrain the Standing Committee to withhold their recommendation at the present time concerning any new appointment of a salaried See -1 retary. Still they feel proud to receive with great Consideration the request preferred by those in whose matured conclusions they would be 'glad fully to co incide. And they feel freeto express the confident hope that the history of the year to come will have so tar made the way clear, that another Assembly will experience none, of the hinderances which em harass this. With a view to help forward a result so much, to be desired,• the committee avow it as their conviction that the precarious. support now permitted to this Permanent Committee ought to be established on a firm basis; the countenance extended to it ought to be open and full; its work ought to be urged for ward, and at its disposal ought to be. placed all neces-. sary means for its efficiency, so that it may become a thoroughly organized. agency in all that belongs to the Sunday-school, cause. The. Standing Committee therefore recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of the following resolutions: First—That the congregations and Sunday-schools within our bounds, be united and urged to make generous contributions during the present year, in behalf of the general work represented in, the plan upon which this Permanent Committee was estab lished. Second. That this organization' be recommended cordially to the sympathy and co-operation of all our churches, as-an agency in the various branches of -Sunday-schoot work; and that they be earnestly requested to•transmit their funds through its bands. Third—That the Permanent • Committee be in structed to proceed at once to their legitimate work, disbursing the moneys they receive in the several ways, opened to them in the providence of God ; the establishments of new schools, and the succouring of .those which are feeble; the sustaining of Missiona ries :commissioned by the Home Missionary Corn mittee, the supplying of libraries in connection with , the Publication Committee, and all the kinds of re ligious work among the children, especially in Our our own land, to which their wisdom shall point with hopes of success. Fourth—That the Permanent Committee be in structed to elect at once a treasurer, 'whose duty it shall be each year under its direction to report re ceipts and .• expenditures of all funds entrusted to ;them, to the General Assembly. . In laying this burden upon the Permanent Com- Mittee we feel some little reluctance,. but we trust that those brethren, who _have already shown them selves so worthy of the confidence reposed in them, will accept it as a labor of love, in the hope that by, the end of another year, when their work shall be come settled,-their need become definite ; and their resources become respectable, the Assembly will be ready, to place this committee upon an equal foanda tiOn with the others. It only , remains for us to further. recommend that Reli,.Sani'l M. Campbell, D.D., Rev. C. P. Bush, and Rev. M. R. Vincent, be..elected to methbeiship in 'the Permanent Committee, to serve three years; also that Mr. Edward Bristol, of Buffalo, be elected for the same class in place of Samuel Field, Esq., and - Mr. Andrew A. Smith, of Brooklyn, be elected for one year in place of Mr. Ralph: Wells, who has declined to serve. CHARLES S. ROBINSON, Chairman. By permission of the Assembly, Rev. Wm. A. Niles was heard in behalf of the Permanent Com mittee on Sabbath-schools. He was amazed that this Committee was not organized at an earlier day. He felt it was to be one of the most important of our benevolent organizations. He regretted that af ter the good arguments of the Standing Committee in favor of the appointment of a corresponding Sec retary,, they should recommend that none be ap pointed. Hon. John Hill said that there are some of the Standing Committee who think there should be a corresponding Secretary. He has for the last few years had considerable to do with Sunday-schools; and :he thinks that the Permanent Committee should be fully equipped for work. Rev. A. Erdman would not yield . to any one in love for the Sabbath-school work, but he doubts the desirableness of appdinting a Secretary at this time. After considerable further discussion the report was adopted with great unanimity. The order of the day was further postponed to copsider.the next place of meeting. A , n invitation having been received to that effect, the First Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, Pa., was designated as the place: • , The Standing Committee on Education made the following report: Report of Standing Committee on Education. The Standing Committee, to whom the Annual Report of the Permanent Committee on Education fbr' the ministry was referred, respectfhlly report: The paters submitted to them show gratifying in- crease of interest and , success in the essential work of preparingmen.for the ministry. • The TheOlogical Seminaries in our connection en joy angtn_enteid _prosperity. The number of candi 'dates for the ministry, under care of the Permanent Committee, is greater than ever before. The contri butions received exceed those of any preoiollB year. But a few words will show that there is room for greatly increased interest and pressing need of it. The number of candidates averages but little more than one to. each Presbytery. . 0;1j three hundred and sixty-three churches out of fifteen hundred and twenty-eight have sent in contributions, leming eleven hUndred and sixty-five. that have given no thing. An average of ten dollars only from each of these would sustain a larger number of candidates by more than One-half than were sustained. A few of the larger churches hive contributed liberally; but the exigencies of the case demand more liberal contributions from all of this class, and something at the same time from each of the entire number, even the feeblest.. Every one should have part in helping .those who, for Christ's sake, devote them., selves to preaching His Gospel, and who need help in their best training to do it efficiently and success fully. Then, the loudest call which now comes .to us from every quarter is for men, more men. Men are needed for vacant churches, some of which are large and influential, and some decaying and ready to die for want of a minister. Men are needed tor destitute fieldsin every direction;in the older as Well , as newer portions of our country east and west, north and noith-West, and tar west, south and south-west. Men are needed in the foreign field - as well as at home. The Foreign Missionary Committee Calls' tor men. The Home Committee' calls—churches call. The thronging 'Myriads frOna the Old World, the freedmen, and Indian tribes call. Africa calls. Asia calls. The Islands of the sea call. The world calls. And the united call is for men, living, earnest, well trained and devoted men. Nothing else. No de. vices, no other means will answer the call. The men must be had or the work decline, the churches waste, the desolations continue, the World remain in its perishing condition. Our system to aid in meeting this demand is *ell org,anized and has accomplished much,-but much mote remains to be done. It is not planning we need, &lit execution. Those who have the work in especial charge 111111 well renew their zeal, and should be sustained by our united prayers and co-operation. Ministers and churches should recognize the great demand of' the time. More than anything else rrien' are vtrarited. With prayer, appropriate means should be associat ed; young men sought out, encouraged and aided. Let parents and Sabbath-school teachers hear the call and repeat it to those under their care, and pray that some of them may be selected and put into the ministry. Let ministers ' , preach upon the subject,. that the people generally may know the want. Let the truth be made distinct and obviouS that the preaching of the Gospel is the Divine method of saving' men, that for its preaching Men must be called to God, and that he calls through meaner as' he carries on other parts of his work of grace in the world, and that labor for the increase of the minis try can not 'be in vain in the Lord. Let all the churcheS regularly contribute to the Education Fund. Let the Presbyteries make the subject a part of the business of their stated Meetings. Let all this be done, which is but carrying out the plan adopted by the Assembly and unfolded in the Education Manu al, and we shall be far advanced in supplying the urgent demand. Much will be accomplished di rectly. More candidates will offer themselves. The number may soon be doubled. There will be suffi cient money to sustain them, and instead of fifteen We shall soon be introdUcing, by this means, thirty or fifty annually to the ministry. Then:More will beaccomplished indirectly. Those who can sustain, themselves or be sustained by their friends will be prompted , to undertake the work. Others, who are in a course of education, will devote theniselves to it. Others whose collegiate education has been completed will hear the call and consecrate the attainments made for other purposes to preach ing Christ and Him crucified. The Committee recommend the adoption of the folloWing resolutions: 1. Resolved, That the education of young men for the ministry is essential to the work of the Church in giving the Gospel to the world. 2. Resolved, That all our ministers be earnestly requested to preach at least once during the year upon this subject, and all our churches to take col lections and forward to the Committee at an early day, not deferring beyond the Sabbath preceding or succeeding the day of prayer for Colleges and Semi naries of learning. 3. Resolved, That the present demand for men gives peculiar emphasis to our Saviour's single direc tion with regard to the supply of laborers, and shmild lead all who love Him and His cause to pray earnestly and without ceasing that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest. 4. Resolved, That appropriations be continued at the rate of last year; one hundred and sixty dollars to a theological student, one hundred and thirty-two dollars to a collegiate student, and one hundred dol lars to a preparatory student, with liberty to the Permanent Committee to increase the amount in special cases; but in no case to exceed two hundred dollars. The Committee recommend the appointment of Mr. J. W. Dunning to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Walter S. Griffith, and the reappointment •of James P. Wilson, P.D., Robert R. Booth, D.D., J. Glentworth Butler, D.D., Charles S. Robinson, D.D., and Mr. Fisher Howe, to fill the vacancies made by expiration of their term of office. • The propriety of a change of the day of prayer from the last Thursday of February, to the first of that month . or the last of January, in order to avoid the recurrence so near the 224 of February, and to SeCure its religious 'influence earlier in the season, has been suggested. As, however, other bodies than ours, and other institutions than those connect ed with us are interested, we simply name the de sirableness of the change and invite general attention to the subject 'that whatever final action may he taken shall be united. In consideration of the impaired health of our highly respected brother, the general Secretary, Rev. Thornton A. Mills, D.D., to whom the Church owes a large debt of gratitude, especially for his devotion, efficiency and success in the Education cause, and in order that his usefulness may be prolonged, we recommend that the Permanent Committe afford him entire relief from active duty for a year, with a competent salary, and make provisional arrange ments to supply his place during that time. This recommendation was .not prompted in any way by Dr. Mills, but originated with the Committee, and is made as the best result of their deliberations. Rev. Dr. Mills, the Secretary, was heard. He wished there could be more time for this question, what may we go home and practically do for educa tion? He wanted all to stop saying and commence doing. *He wants the ministers to pleach on the subject. This is what has been done for missiona ries. We want the same for education. He does. not 'want resolutions, but action. He reads in the. Scriptures about the acts of the Apostles ; but not about the resolutions of the Apostles. The Secretary expressed surprise at the leave of absence granted, unsolicited by himself. He was improving in health, and thought he could do his work, if he could take time for it. He was very glad, however,-that the matter was in the hands of his Cominittee, who were his personal friends, and he was sure they sought only that which was best. If he retired for a - time;liowever, he should be back again. - If, like the won - tided soldier, he went to the rear•to recover; sh d 'notlong stay there. My place, he said, is at the front. (Applause.) • Adjourned: (Continued on page 180.)
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