~.„, , , ,?. r , ~., R. ... „.,,,,..,..• ~.. ~. , • A) B i ~ ,t. . .... . ~ AtIVOCATP,. . . !' '•., 111111ffillm 1/111111.11 ' '.. ' wawa Bazusere Vol. VII NO• ' 37 . I "ONE THING IS NEEDFUL:” "ONE THING HAVE , DESIRED OF THE LORD:" "THIS ONE THING I DO." WHOLE N ...,,. , t i t , Varian Advocateo Vol. XIX, Mo. 3% :: ~ • ' 111 11 , , FIF n STREET, ABOVE • SMITHFIELD, PITTSBURGH, PA. . . . . , . B. DIN f' . SATURDAY, JUNE 69 1557. .4E6 .• 457, have been less, as comparatively large, and without explana- at 'oft ~'Nineteenth Annual that`the number of churches contributing to not be '' i ii tit ‘eipts ,from March 1, tion may readily mislead the patrons of the of the B , -1 1 -otPubliOation... ' ' Vdti, Fund has increased about forty per cent. 101' • .." : ,, t ijaenibzy , at Lexington, during, the, last year. ' Yet, owing to the bat= In as e Lli n ee i a all $3,995.63. The Board. It should be borne in • nund,.how- the Gen , • ' vidnal or special ever, that the amount on hand at the period " Ky.; .„,- ;1857. 'i ". •' . aim tin from the Colfortenk -Mind at the itionaries 1 . , . . beginning of the year, and to the enlarged language; '91.33, and in of the year when our balance is reported, is. The entire aspec ,Of the' work - entrusted .. s, $1,8430. ,always larger than at any other time., Fromnumber'.. Po employed,Fund " -' • 'of . f eol Acura tthe who had f to the Board of Pro 1 ttation 'at 'the doge iladelphia, the month of March, the receipts begin to had sown another year, is One ; •'' decided progress ' and ris still overdrawn , in the slim, of $2,887.77.1 dominion; 'es, were . fall off, and during' the latter part of the . t:. encourauement. In '.verY department Of its':::',Agencies.,---N e t a single!. collecting , agent On the lit - ' or 'cots at Spring, : tike entire pawner, and the9aY I -y operations there h:: &en an iiirportaiit'ad-',' ihrss been employedhy thußoard during the„ the ream , • ' ill, $6,- part of the . Fall, the receipts areeoinpara. . -- 'i ud • tiveky small ; so that unless our available yance made upon:i I a forinta , .•yeant:.."•, This . !Past. . , Year.. Hence, every : dollarreontributed the objet balance 'at the t , lhat, important work, without any deduction ' B ,9r e il v l ii tt," will appear from • the °Hawing , facts present , ; *)r, CPiportage; .ltas ,been , appliedi,directly to printer t commencement of Alte &Sal ed to the Assembly ": : last year; under the Lfibli: ..„, year is comparaliVelY large, it would be th r ee convenient 1 1 ,:: ~ , ',,cf, •,,,., , ~ . .. I , for such ,agencies . _,.:AMIA II .! . re, sults above ".' . . We Inaatidable to carry . on the Operations - of .v 'D A.. .1_ RQDITOTIO . ;,;., , ,i'.);:il , - '; , , ,-; ~ i Telstc4;Atoonrage. the. Board. to-hope . that,. ' many ~, Ai Board'during • the' year: For example, -H. DISTREBun • ~„ 1.. ~ ~, ... ~. ~, i. ' ilailfaS . , special emergencies should a r ise, it ' them. `. ncl beginning of the fiscal' year, MarchltT. .SUSTENTiT f: " : ' : . '' ''' ' ' . . t r ,g - 04 1 i ca 0 : a r . b . e . - neCe . 7 1 7 . to resort to , .collecting 1 amongi soiatio V we reported an 'available balitnt I. PRODUCTION.' rf. e , Publishing Agent , .., . , , .. - -. his inq Nan`. $214000.00; and yet hy' the . reports that there h. ', been issued,six' tytnpv,ll-2-.1 , .. , , . , ~, ~...----• . .. .to say me Imber ensuing; .we ' had' only' we works,,viz.,l •: mew in hand !=not more than forty V 'e' - • W b . °4 , , , bests s and' four' ii ~,...., s ',l:rem .zi eux-L . wdon l eu h rre A spe i nd m ent.. :, ?sive teen new tracts. o'',. , go. there have. been 1- , rt_i, s , o „,, ~,,,„,„,,,.„,., ~,, . r „.,, „ t ,„, 5 .„ 1 ru . 81 I le usual payments for two, .. ~. „ „ -I ,• • ''- -. issued 7,3,000 volwn -,. '' , •o.47 4 o9,v i popipa 0r„.,!, : .1-,piarch - ;dliationit,' Sunday School, and Hibernian. : ' t J' ii , new tracts besides . - P • - 1,01 ~'.• . , , , -:. , ',.. - k; 4 .. 4 4 ...,,. a:4 ..k i g e pi e g- oa f ,2 , A, ,21,..kia. I dish , ' , lr balance at the be- . 2 .. ' .. .. ,--, ' ,i • '.: -''s- ' • --- , -7 , •.,I.' .;-',“ - 5* -. ` - '''• '''' , 4 ;• - • --, .' .. : . ~. _.4..3 IA z Presbyterian Alma. , y .., . - .., ' f` , 1., ,P,4 'a "; ' '!.••• " . r 'oneuieraine increase ',.. .1.,. '.. • •'-' ' Va l id awing la g ear ~ on e .a' , •., .. , - increase of 47 500 c, , ionanas—and an - 2 . i M. ° :!•k e • bop''*s, over . ; , e. - frih , J'etbi 'i? ''F ' . merman o„. •'. e . „ (Off oret,,if ISSICHIS, „ ' t..P , . . , la st year. . tinting to near- . . ...Bale Translation, Society-L:Scene' in-'a Baptist I or , „ The reprints of 'o er publications h ave Chapel—Nercy, and not Sacrifice:--Baptist Tract, 1' '' our availableroe ) ' been 677,500 copieli exclusive of 18,000 ' Society, and Irish . Missionary Society,--Sermone, 'tied as - the -1 . bet ~ , . copies of selections *Pm Rolige's Ye:l4n of to 'the Society,, Classes-L.Birminahant. and Dr. ' •C 4 'rely ex- - Psalms. . . s , , • lett. the ' of i ~ The total nunibeti of copies 'of old 'anti th , d the new publications issued during the gear, has ;the , ,been 802;500 copiestbeingian increase over . ..,,,r., to gi _.,ll'last year of 212,250!Pcipies.: • - '•, , , t in The total number - of Copies. published i• , f . • e. theurganization of theßoard, to March ti aw '' , 7, has been 64353,438. .. i , s 'l,eport notices especially, a volume of t c Na, Sermons," , by a Boutb,.Caroli ,. , ' A L admirably adapted to be, 'useful ! d minivan dames of people,, is 'rt. - tended for ,the . benefit ~ of !, ' %don . :of, .our Southern v' v d ,volume, '„ ta , t T ed he i nt oo i n su ai u te rru r i rt h a e lr fa tr in ss e. iori ea s r, w l er B c l rs , b tr y - ., isi sll 9 . .© f . . • . • 1 12 le. of_ehildipn. in .;1 2na lind if The • ithe Rev. Mr. Dallas, an Engl is h clergyman,. , ... „ , • ?,. I na now i n , who was led to take a special interest in ~ adapted to Ireland. The influeUee'of this Society has It , ----i ti ve n . been' very remarkable,, both' in the Western' is F ( 'T .-- x ' ,part, of Ireland, - and 'in Dublin ° itself. A' i Xi , it ii' m - real work of conversion went on with great t'''..,'i (li e ' ' success for'several 'Yeare;' and Scriptural schools were spread ' . "over 'the length ani3 44.: breadth nf tbe . Sbutli - and• West. • In tln iieeese of Tuain,:a large numbiirof thrizthe 're= opene - d for new , congregations. 'I 'in,' , controversial sermons, diacussio attended by•adults; *ere regular - . •• ' or held; and both Popish bight) . , k weret medal° tremble. , A lar 4' le;-has',:sustained; the ope "ociety. In; spite, of, Aro .4. p pastorals, -,the extram " , e. priests, ',and prea •:, ~.. ions. ,of, the-Redei Ts, stirring, up ' 0 ,v ~ 'and reed ' 1 n ' le e d - ,' E e r av Pa h l li t , e E 4: ..,.... ~ . !.., .ita 4 Da ..e ha h as va 311 • r eh 'or ~1 , - , i. • is la . , :•" )..I ' ' • V ,- .,. 4 '; ' • . .. rl iil ..' , l 'FO P ,54 64 em opt *is ; CI, we • its 1., • ,ea o' r •Ins k ,Lo DI 4're ~ re re ee f .m ' he • ' ~,„, 0 , eh , i ~t '.. ne oh it' . , • r, . ' he :as -:' vi ea 9, e v s a l .• , I MeKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor. -IN ADVANCE. ottrg, Meeting and Parting. BY W. WHITTON REDICK. —"Ah me! is full of meetings suoh as this 1, a voiceless challenge and reply, ideu partings after." often in gladness meet here together, part full of sadness, . doubting much whether Are ever shall meet thus again. ! Father and Mother, ;et words of protection ister and brother, bonds of affection, , ugh dear, must be sundered in twain. 'ones and new places interests borrow ; friends and bright faces pert us from sorrow, As on through life's changes we roam, come spirit congenial, gentle, and loving, .1 altar hymeneal lure us from roving, And bind us once more to sweet home, ever we're forming friendships, that yearly wooing, and charming, I binding us dearly; Yet these must all fail us at last, life is a vapor, 'Descent and flying, r-lighted taper, sorrow soon dying, Or quenched by some hurricane blast hopes it the distance, is scenes ever changing, earthly existence fight else be estranging - Us all from our home in the skies. t, thanks to Our Father, Whilst here all is fleeting, e turn from earth rather, - And hope, THERA, a meeting— No parting, no sorrows, nor sighs burgh, May, 1867. of the Annual Report of Domes tic Missions for 1856-7. Board of Domestic Missions in pre. their Fifty-fifth Annual Report to 'era! Assembly, desire, first of. all, to ledge with gratitude their obligations • reat Head of the Church, for the of success with which He ,has y crowned their labors during: the year. le respects we are,r4alt: l ,alo,„ Ler migilrt ;sae; yet in others, reArie. a gratifying progress. While our have fallen off, as compared with ,r preceding, the number of our 'ries has been considerably augment operations of the Board extended, t is better than all, the blessing of manifestly rested upon the labors of .nts. PERATIONB OF TILE YEAR:, rss Tom. —Statistical Details.—The of missionaries in commission March was 387, to which have been added, . 1, 1857, 203; making the whole 590, and more by 24 than the year umber of churches and missionary wholly or in part supplied, (as far ed,) by our missionaries, is 904. number of newly organized churches number of admissions on examina -1,940, and on certificate 2,054, a total of admissions of 3,994. \umber in communion with churches d with the Board i 5.21,863. ,umber of Sabbath Schools is 326; , rs 2,610; and of scholars 16,- Limber of baptisms is 2,144. e 590 missionaries who have been mission during the year, 188 have no special report for the Assembly; one third of the whole number; eon- qtly we must increase all the returns one-third, to make them correct. PnovnrATroNs.—The appropriations to our missionaries from March 1, to March 1, 1857, have been at the in Philadelphia, $58,885.17, and at ice in Louisville, $37,219.75; making of $96,104.92. appropriations made to our mission from March 1, 1855 to March 1, were, at the °Moe in Philadelphia, 1 ,8.34, and at the office in Louisville, :5.83; making a total of $87,194.17. this statement it appears, tlisit the iations made at the office in ,Phila ., e. cceeded those made the year'befOre 3:j, and at the office in Louisville r e more by $2,573.92; thus making' it appropriations this year more than, Lr preceding, by $8,910.75. the purpose of further comparison,. Ay state, thdt the average appronria made during the preceding four years, 1852 to 1856, were, at the office in Ldelphia, $44,776,21, and at the office iuisville, $28,729.19; making a, total Ige of $73,505.40. )ui this statement it appears that the }priations made from March 1, 1856, to di 1, 1857, at the office in Philadelphiai 3ded the average of those made during :our previous years, $14,108.96, and at office in Louisville, $8,490.56; thus ig the total excess of appropriations 'ear above the average appropriations four preceding years, $22,599.52. ..Evers.—The total amount of 'receipts ‘il sources, from March .1, 1856, to 1, 1857, is 93,218.99, to which add !es on hand in the different treasuries, 1, 1856, $21,133.17; 'making ~the (able resources of the Board during the $114,382.16. amount paid out at the different cries for the same time, is $95,121.76, ug an available balance in .'all.' the= isuries, on the Ist of Maroh, 1857, of 260,40.' The amount due the mission at the same date was $12,964'56, ing an unexpended balance of $65296., The aggregate receipts t from March 1 1856 to March 1, 1857, have been less, as compared with the receipts .from March 1, 1855, to March 1, 1856, $3,995.63. The falling off has been in individual or especial donations and legacies, $2,191.33, and in the contributions of the churches, $1,804.30. The receipts at the office in Philadelphia, including the Presbyterial Treasuries, were greater. by, $2,333 20, and, the receipts at i the office n Louisville were less by $6,- 328.83. N. P. WILLIS OUR Mingows.—Dnring the year, the Board hive , established new missions in various sections' of our country., They have also to the extent of their ability re enforced our missionaries in the newer States and Territories. Two additional missionaries haves ‘ been sent to California, three to Minnesota, one, in addition to those already there, has' - been employed in the Territory of Oregon, and , one in the'Terri tory . of Washington. We have also coin-, missioned one in the State of New Hanip shire. Seven additional missionaries have been employed in Missouri. Ten'ttevi Men have been coinmissioned in WisconSin;and seventeen in lowa,'which, with the changes that have taken place, make an increase of fifteen in thee° two 'States. We' haie also added two to the number of our missionaries in the Territoty. of 'Kansas, and the • same number in the Territory of Nebraska.. The Board <bave also continued to employ a number of missionaries among our 'foreign population. During the past ,year,,one has labored among the French, one ;; among the Bohemians, .one ; among the . Welch, and thirteen, among, the Germans. Six of our missionaries have labored chiefly among, the colored people. With regard .to the spiritual ,state of ~our missions, the Board state that, so fai as they can judge from the reports, of the mission aries, there is gtound for gratitude and OrArEpro.—Clothing valued it 89,131.- 81 has beehreeeived 4rtrizig'the year; 'and distributed among the missionaries who needed it. Of this ansourit $049.72, were received at the • offi.ee in. Philadelphia; $2,488.45 at the' -office in Lottisville; and $1 ; 693.64, at the depot in Pittsburgh. During . the.pait year, thirkf-three of our missionaries haie" been liounnissioned and employed' as itinerants. "-The greater part of our missionaries ~p erform more or less of such service, but the number aboie men tioned are either whelly, 'or almost entirely employed as itinerants: The Board again , •strongly urges the im portance of :placing .a number of, weak , and feeble churches under the charge of itinerant missionaries, in order to, economize both the men and the means of the Church. They, state, however, the impracticability of em ploying any very large number, fjtinerants in wholly destitute . districts, where there are, no organized, churches, and from which they coald t ,darive, no pecuniary.. , sippOrt,' without reducing amount apro- Fr ' l,rll p Prlata PrArY` O 4OhET • OBJECTS OF THE BOARD, AND, THEIR IM • The objepts of the, BOard of Domestic Missions are taro-fold: To supply vacant churches, and assist weak'and feeble congregations in the sup . port of pastors.. 2. 2. To extend the boundaries of the Church, by employing ministers to preach the Gospel, organize new congregations, and form ehurchesin the :hitherto neglected and waste places of our country. The last General Assembly expressed 'no more than, the .truth when they declared, that "the cause of Domestic Missions, in its present and prospectiVe relations and objects, is second to no other in magnitude and importance." PROGRESS MADE BY OUR CHURCH IN THE MISSIONARY WORK. +. In 1828, the year of the re-organization of the Board, there were but thirty-one missionaries, and an income of *2,400.00 only. In 1840, two years after the division of the Church, and when the parts were fairly separated, there were two hundred and fifty six missionaries and an income of $4O 734 - 1 00. In' 1856-7, the number of Missionaries employed was five hundred and ninety, 'and' the income $93,248.99. Since the re-organization of tbe` Board, we have increased. fourteen Synods,. fifty eight' Presbyteries, 1,035 Ministers, 1,178 churches, and 87,447 members.' Since 1840, two years after the division of the Church, we have increased thirteen Syneds, fifty-three Presbyteries, seven hundred and five ministers, 1,473 churches, and 107,172 communicants.' • These results may. well excite our grati tude to God, and ought to •stimulate ,us to greater activity, liberality.mtd prayer.. During the past year, the- Board have increased their average appropriation to the missionaries $17,48. , The average iiipro prit4ton by the Beard, to the`missionaries last year, was $191.20: 'During the last four years the Board have increased their average appropriations to the misSioniries'ss9.3B, which' is a 'little'over forty-five per cent. By this advance, the annual . liabilities : of the Board with the present - number of missionaries, have beer. augmented More than $35,000.-00. If the ' people whom they serve had, advanced proportionably, our missionaries would now be comfortably sustained.. But while the Board have Increased their ap propriations over forty-five per cent., their people have advanced only about thirty per cent. nit) total'aVerage salary, paid by, the Board and the:people, to the last year, was $503.60. , NEED OF . FUNDS. The receipts, of the Board, from all sources, as compared,with the year preced ing, fell short nearly $4,000.00, ,while, the appropriations exceeded those of the previ ous year nearly $9,000.00. The receipts from the churches felt, short of the payments last year upwards of 'twen, ty-three thousand dollars! ($23,282.70,) and' hut for the balarde on hand at the coin, pencement of the year, and the' largt amount received from individual donation» and kticies, Vae woula'have been largelyia'- deittio'oar missionariesitt the clone' of thd year'. • It is true, , the available balance in' hand? un the-Iste , of March, 1857'i-though k:ss 'nearlyl,oooloo , than the? ,, preliotts'yeariil* o-07. ITINERANTS. PORTANCE SALARIES OF MISSIONARIES. '1: . 1 :1i 11' 403 Ai : IVA 8 80 comparatively large, and without explana tion may readily mislead the patrons of the Board. It should be borne in mind, how ever, that the amount on hand at the period of the year when our balance is reported, is always larger than at any other time. From the month of March, the receipts begin to fall off, and during the latter part of the Spring, the entire Summer, and the early part of the Fall, the receipts are coinpara tively small; . so that unless' our available balance at the commencement_ of the fiscal year is comparaliVely laiget, it would be impracticable to carry on the Operations - of the Board•dnring• the' year. For example, at the beginning of the fiscal year, March 1, 1856, we reported an 'available balance of 'more than . $24000.00; and yet by the Ist of - November ensuing; we' had' only about 83,000.00 in hand I—not more than enough to meet, the i usual ,payments for two or three weekil Now, with' a smaller balance at the be ginning of the year =4, considerable increase th'e nuimber Of our missionariei—and an excess of appropriaiions amenitting*to near ly 89,000.00; it is obvious that our aiailable balance• must be .gradially iedriced as the year advances, and may be entirely ex hausted before the int of. November next. Moreover, it is very important that the Board should not be hampered or embar pssed inzundertaking the establishment of new missions♦ As there are now no collecting agents in the field, we must rely upon the pastors and Sessions to see that , collections are, taken up for, the Board during the year. NON-CONTRIBUTING CHURCHES The Board of Domestic Missions, like the other Boards of Church, is trying the experiment of what is called " the Sys- tematic Benevolence Plan," and has dis pensed.with Collecting Agents altogether. This experiinent , has, =perhaps, thus worked;as. well ..as. could be , :reasonably expected: It is encouraging to, find, that ,the number of contributing , .churches is increasing, though: very slowly, from,year to year. In. 1855-6, the increase over the. previnus year was about one hundred—and last year, 1856-7, the increase over the former year was about one hundredund fifty-three. This result, although . encouraging, is far from' being satisfacipiy, while the number of non-contributing churches continues to be so large. The number of non-confributing chnrchei last year was considerably over sixteen hundred ! The Beard earnestly urges the presenta tion of the caule . ,by every minister, and a, collection by every church; hoWeverimall it might 'be, and respectfully insists'upon' the importance' =of gretifer - attention to' 'this matter on the 'part of all' 11W Prasbyteriee: Without more effective measures to =carry out the-Systematic it f ai%volcrice Plan, it will undoubtedly, prove a failute,,, ' The , Board ,express . their:. special, regret that, tiany,missmnary, clwyche _s 7 —churches reilgAng, , a4 take up no collection for the Boardl SELF-SIISTENTATION. While the Board express, their• gratifica tion that some of. the churches have, during the year, become self-sustaining, they also express.their regret that the , number id'com paratively so, small: Many churches now receiving aid, could do without it, if the necessary, self-denial and, effort ,were mao..by them 7 --and many others are receiving more assistance than is really necessary. the attention of the Presbyteries is earnestly celled to this subject as one. of, great and growing importance. The num ber of unprogressive churches is now so great, and the appropriations made to them so r lare in the aggregate, that they already absorb a large part of . the Miasionary Fund, and seriously eMbarrass the Board in the establishment of new missions. CHURCH DEBTS Many churches remain for years depen dent upon the Board of Domestic Missions, in consequence of debts contracted in the erection df church edifice,s—and many ethers apply from year 'to 'year for much larger appropriations toward 'the support of :their pastors, than they Otherwise would, from the same cause. The missionaries of the Board are there fore'advised not to encourage the building of houses of worship 'which' would :involve their congregations in an amount of debt which would impair their ability to support the Gospel among them, and protract their dependence upon the Board. CHANGE OF TITLE In order to obviate th% inconvenience, and the litigation and less occasioned by the want of a distinctive title, the Board obtained from' the Legislature of Pennsyl vania a change of the corporate title of the Board. The change consists,- simply, in the insertion of the r term Domestic: The. corporate title is = now -as follows, viz The Trustees of the. Board , of Do mestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of..America.';'.. As the benevolent intentions of testators have often been thwarted,by the imperfect and, illegal manner in which their, wills have been written r and many , thousands of dollars have been thus lost by the Board, all who desire to make a bequest to the Board, are respectfully and earnestly re quested to be careful in drawing their wills, and especially in giving the full and exact corporate title of the Board. The State laws differ so muck that no one form will answer in all the 'States, but in every case it is essential to give THE RIGHT CORPORATE NAME. When real estate: or other property'is given, let it be particularly described. CONCLUSION The report - concludes with an earnest appeal to Christians to humble , themselves before 9od in view of their rest, short comings, to be more prayerful and liberal in time to ,come—and to take encourage. : ment from, at the Lord has enabled, his ChUrOh accomplish in this.vast and moat prothising of all missionary, fields. AN APT REPLY.-" Madam," said a doc tor one day to the mother of a sweet, healthy babe, "'the ladies have deputed me to in quiro'What' you do to have ` each a lovely, happy, "unifornily good child=?"'The mother rousedl a Or morrient over the strangeness of ' , thee "queStiOn,'arid lhen replied siniply and beautifdlly, " Why,lG-od hie , -'given erne a aildl let it a,lonel, An Abstra Re'fort Presented to The entire aspee' . 'the work entrusted to the Board of Pu. weitidn, at 'the clOse of another year, is one' ' r decided progreii aria encouragement. In .very department of ita" operations there &SP iiirportaritud-` vance made upon .1 I a forinBr - idarg: This.' will appear from the Allowing facts, present , ed to the Assembly last year; under: the three convenient -; ; ),OL • • .L. PRQDITOTTO ; • IL .D.ISTRmuTI, SuSTENTAT L PRODUCTION.' r e Agent reports that thereb. been issued,sixtytum works, viz., forty-fiv, new books, sndi gur teen new tracts. 0 t Pkls), there have been.: issued 73,000 volum ' , 4 4 27 4 09P,p0piial ckt; new tracts, besides • Presbyterian Alman. increase of 47,500 c 4,e5,0 .ne over last year. ,„ The reprints of , er publications have been 677,500 copies, exclusive of 18,000 copies of selections from Rouge's Version of the Psalms. The total nunibei, of copies of old and new publications issued during the ye ar, lies been 802;500 copieVbeingian increase over 'last year of 212,2505Vepie5. The total number of copies published since the organization of the Board, to March 1, 1857, has been 64353,438. The Report notices especially, a volume of "Plantation, Sermoits," , by a -South,Caroli na pastor, as admirably adapted to beriseful everywhere, and amengsll *Wes of people, but particularly intended for ,theL benefit of the colored population of, our Southern States. _ The Board has also . issued a TRIUMO., of Music, adapted to ;the , use., of.clip,S* . k.iu families and Sabbath, Sehools - " The Juvenile Psalmodist ; " It also ; has now in, press, " The Social gsalmodiat," adapted to use in familY 7 worsl4,and, in social generally., , ' The Board has bestowed ! much attention to supplying the wants of the Chia& in the matter of Sabbath School books. A large, number of 'the newlaSAMlssiied this year have been of this dekeriptiMi, and 'of adraire ble Sititable • mannseriPts for publication are still earnestly selicited. -Periodicats.—The circulation of the Hone And Foreign Reeord'is now'19;000 copies, having increased 1500 ' copies since the bit report; i 5,;.,, • • • ; The circulation` of the ',Sabbath; Sekool ViiitOr is - now. 47,000 copiesi having, in- creased 3,000 ,aopiekt:sirice the -last report. IL • DisTursurroNl,There are three- elian-t through which ithe --publications • of the Board reach the hands of• people. t. By regular loth frorit.the publishing= hcnise.',,--TheseiilispA amounted, during the past year to 93/51 "'volumes, and 477,441 Via arOnereaseaa love r/t OS - iirtri-previonsi year, exclusive of pamphlets and periodicals. 2., Distribution by _Colportage.,ln . this department there has been great enlargement,. and peculiar enconragement during the past year. The' number of colperteurs in commission. .within the year has been 254 being .an ,crease of . forty-four over the last report. , These have been distributed into thirty-two States and Territories, besides the entire range of the British Provinces, lion the Gulf of St. Lawrence to lake ,Superior. A lare t ,er number than ever before have wen pied Florida, 'rein, Arkansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Other new, needy,- and important fields. These colporteura hive mild 124,579 vol umes; distributed gratuitously, 2,140,379 pages of tracts; have given (rimy 14,802' volumes, and have, visited 114,182 families. In every , one of these items there has 'been a large increase on the results .of former years. The Report estimates .that at least three quarters of million of immortal souls 'have received during ~the past year, either orally or in print, a message respecting eter nal life. 3. n, _Distributio by grants of the Execu five - Committee.—These have amounted to 8,951 volumes, and 162,58 . 2 pagea of tracts, which have been chiefly given to needy Sab bath'Schools, churches, and ministers; and to individuals for gratuitous distribution. The total distributions of the year have been as follows By Sales at Publishinglouae, 193,578 vols. " " by Colporteurs, 124,579 44 Given by. COlporteurs, 14 , 802 " Granted by ExecutiVe Corn'tee 3,951 " Total number of volumes, 336,910 which is an increase over last year, exclud ing sales and grants reported hy Synodical' colporteurs last year and not - this year re ported, of 42;893 volumes: • ' The total distribution of 'tracts this year has been by ' • ' Salesoat Publishhig-house, 477,441 pages. Distributed by Colporteurs, 2,140,379 " Granted by Executive Com., 162,682 Total tracts distributed, 2,780,402 besides a large quantity of pamphlets and periodical papers. SIISTENTATION.--L1 regard to the receipts of.the Board, there has.been a most gratifying increase this year from every source. The total receipts of the. year have been from all sources $119,321.03, being an in crease of $17,227.7 ,over the preceding twelve months. The total of exp enditures of all kinds has been $llB,BOB 2. The amount received from sales of books, tracts, and Sabbath School Visitors, has been $87,424.38, which is an increase of $10,512.81 over the preceding year. The balance in the Treasury, March 1, 1857, is ,$17,546.57, of which, however a large part must soon ba paid out for work now in progress. Colportage Fund.—The amount received from all source's for this Fund, has been $23,823.62. This is a very handsome, in crease over last year, of $9,008.50. De ducting i from this, amounts received from legacies, individual donations,-and , neous sources, there has been received from the churches the -sum of $15,889.25; an in crease- over the ~sum receiVed from the churches last year, of $4,68925 or within a yer3r small friction .of Stfty per cent. < in crease:' It is,;also a, highly 0444 fact LONDON, May 5, 1857. At this season. niy letteri must be mainly oceupied with a notice of the religious Anni versaries, • • • , As preliminary •to =the LONDON . MAY MERnsuls, the Rotunda in Dublin has been the scene of a series .of annual meetings. Some of these are, strictly -national, 00011- pying, Fby their, Societies, Irish • gronndi t while ,othsrs,,are auxiliary_to the Religions, SOcieties which have- their seat and centre, in this metropolis ; • The inrsu UIIIIILOR MISSIONS were insti tuted soon after the famine year 1847 by the Rev. Mr. Dallas, an English clergyman, who was led to take a special interest in Ireland. The influence of this Society has' been` very remarkable, both' in the Western' part, of Ireland, and; in Dublin ° itself. A' real work of conversion went on with great success for several Years - ;' and Scriptaral schools were spread 'ever the length and breadth of the - South and' West. In the diocese of Tuant; a large numbefof churches' were opened for new , congregations. In. Dublin,. controversial sermons, discussion' classes attended' by adults; *ere regularly preached or held; and both Popish bishops, and priests weref made to tremble. A large annual income has', sustained the opera tions of this 'Society. In; spite of. Arch.' bishop Cullen's,: pastorals, the extraordi nary, vigilance of the priests, and preach-, ling tours and,precessions of thecßeaemp torist Fathers,: and ,Athers, .stirring ; pp the fanaticism of the ~ peoPle,, and recalling waverers by their - impassigned appeals, ground'has been seized on by the Evangeli cal Protestants, which can never be re gained by Rome: a, The lIIVIRT 4 1 q-E4BLE IteWuPr.- wards of five hunared auxiliaries over the country. At, the time of its institution, in 1806, there were only thirteen towns in Ire land at whiff li the Scriptures could be pur chased; at any price. Now, the Word of God is multiplied "every where, and each year the circulation increases. The Irish - Sunday School Society is laxgety a'Bible * Society also; but it receives supplies chiefly from the British and - Foreign Society;. thus furnishing classhoeks, premiums, and reward Bibles and Testa ments for the more deserving - scholars. Its revenue is £3,695; there are nearly two hundred and twenty thousand scholars, and twentythousand teachers: The < Hibernian Bible. Society , has made grants during the period of its existence, of the value- of £70,000. . The receipts last year ; were £4,632. Colporteurs ,are now generally employed. In spite of opposition, they have sold or distributed forty-eight thousand five hundred and seventy-nine Bibles. Emigrants, leaving for the United States, or, the Colonies, many Of them- Ro manists, have, received nine thousand six hundred and fifty-six copies ; and to schools have been given four thousand four hundred and thirty-eight copies. The . Hibernian Bible Society is supported by the contributions of Irish Protestants of all denominations, and is on a catholic basis. The benefit: it has bestowed on Ireland are incalculable; and while'much napes been sown' in faith, and but the first fruits have been gathered, we cannot donbt that yet a full harvest shall be reaped, amid songs more sweet and jubilant than ever echOed from Erin's 'harp since the days of Patrick and Columba: Coming back now to England, and our own Anniversaries, I shall mention, first, the Tun sn MISDIOW'g AID SOCIETY: As you are already aware, its objeet is, not to originate any new Mission, but to raise funds in aid of existing Evangelical American MWli.olll3in the Turkish Empire. It is, how r ever, comPetent to the Committee, to make grants.to individuals laboring in that field, provided that such 'laborers be under some recognized and'responsible supervision. The popularity of ,this Society, consider ing its comparatively recent establishment, has been great. It owed its 'existence to the Rev. Cuthbert Young, a piens minister, who, in ill health, visited' the East, and be came acquainted,with the' working of Meer ican Missions, and the openings for the Gos pel among the Armenians, and others. He came home, and soon infected others with his enthusiasm; and • when he hak fairly established tke Society,, making many . a • deputational ;tour ,in its behalf, and forming auxiliaries throughout the United Kingdom he was again laid aside, and his work—a great one—being accomplished, the Master called him up to, his presenee. In 1855, the sum of £2,428 was sub scribed; ,whereas, last year, the funds in creased to £3,161. The prominent person on the platform of ~the Annual meeting,' was General Sir William F,.Williams, of Kars. The following is his testimony as to the American .Missionaries; General Sir W. P. Williams, of Ears, then came forward, and was received with loud cheers. He commenced by reading Op resolution which had been entrusted to him. He regretted' that he was not able to attend the last meeting .of the Society to 'which he was invited ; , and he,was glad, of' the: present opp o rtunity to bear testimony to the labors, of the American missionaries: lit 1889 he visited Turkey as a traveler; and •in' 1840 be was' sent there on a special mission, by her Majesty's gov ernment. He had been a witness of the efforts of.' these missionaries to spread a knowledge of:the, Gespeliiilint Country, and too much CreBted-40i =OEM Miner—Br:4op Skinner, and &Mich Episcopacy -Rumored , Restoration; to King's College, of Profeseor. Nauriee—His Sondes. not be given to them. They had been exposed to persecution at the hands of the Greek and Ar menian archbishops, who exercised civil as well as ecclesiastical authority. The American mis sionaries printed the Scriptures in ,the; Turkish language; they educated a number of youths, who had spread themselves through' the Sultan's dominions ;. and he hoped the' seed which they had sown would .produce an abundant, , harvest; On the borders of Lake Oroomia , was assembled the remnant of the Nestorian Churah, Who were the objects of especial care. There he found 'the printer at work, and before he left, the entire Scriptures lied 1: 1 em!, rePrinteiL . Thatwitannly portion their ; ork. These, nnseionari.es, had established a saheb], and he thought they had as many as a hundred When he' Was - amengst them. llndaunted,bv death;.they went constantly amongst the people, administering spiritual .con 4 solatiori While the doctor gavAthem the benefit of his professional skill. On the whole he felt bound to say that these geed men were Worthy . of their best support, and he trusted that they would ceive large and liberal aid. .cuptain Hull stated, thatiu , the Armenian Ilistyiuts " a, waiulteulAchange had. been The'lßntishl - 7" 'r. 11 • rtmr.volltorMr SOCietifertlie`Fitol i PAGAmw OF THE oStir; 111 f (Aid aiW 7 l3, et itB recent anniversary,' reported in` income of £4,286, including a' balance in hand, at the beginning of the year, of £B6O. One' of the speakers mentioned, that an agent of the Society in London had deViited himself to the study •of , Ilindostarree; in order te gain access to the , attendants - of the 'royal family of Oude, (now in the metropolis) and that lie, wasliow in frequent communication' with them. The Rev. A; Myers, (an elo quent Episcopal clergyman, and a:converted Jew) stated, that at the ectiumencement of the. present century . , , there was not on. this island single Jew converted to Christian ;' whereas, now the;number of such _ con verts were two hundred thousand, of whom two hundred `were` preachers of ,the Gospel. . This Society is mainly supported by Evan gelical'Dissenters: It - has agents in various parts of England L'also, on the Continent, and on the 'African Coast of the Mediter ranean. - As4eirs are , nowlioelring in large numbers to the United -States, and setting up their - synagogues there, could nothing be done to convince them, exit' of their own Scripture's, that Wenn; is the Christ Can it be right• to'confine' our MiseiOns to Gen tiles ? And if; as-is the feet; at the present time the number of converted , Jews is larger than since; the days'of the Apostles, might not American Christians do something to swell : tho number, and bring Ireeh trophies from,the Rebrewnation, (who are still "bey: loved for the . Father's sake," and whose "receiving", -shall be " life- from ,the dead" ,to the whole world).to the Messiah's feet?_ The Landow Society for the CONVERSION ilzwa, is .of much more extended means Ind , influence than. that.-already de scribed. Its , revenue approaches, if it does not ,exceed, £lOO,OOO. Most of its pro ' meters believe in the literal return of the .inn i tothair own land, and of :the. personal - pie advant ~ saf Christ to reign.nt kirm l2 44Ahaftsbury is Aits4tresidenti; ti; agents are not found awfar as lirnow in England; but are scattered widely over the Continent, and throughout the world. The BAPTIST MISSiONS itre always held the earliest of our anniverearies, toward the close of April. The Rev. Norman M.!Leod preached the annual sermon for the-Foreign Missions. Lord Shaftsbury presided at the annual meeting. The year's income amounted to £21,752, being an increase over last year, , of X2;065 •The East and West Indies are -the chief seenes of this Soeiety"ti trials and triumphs. The English Baptists have held a meet ing in aid of BIBLE TRANSLATIONS; the Chairman, John Marahnian, Esq, bearing a name suggestive of the days of toil and nights of .weeping, in the hiistory• of mis sions to the heathen, when Carey- and Marshman set up their printing presses at Serampore, out of the -ninth•' of a . hostile East India. Company. No doubt it is right that the Baptists should raise money ler Bi ble translation. It' is, however," impossible for the ; British and Foreign Bible Society to support the movement; audits Commit tee,. composed, as it is, ,of various denomina tions,, has been obliged .to refuse aid from the funds to translations which invariably. render the word " baptize ",.in the sense of immersion. Our Baptist friends insist that the word signifies " dip," and " nothing but dip .;" but even scholars differ, and con scientious F'edobaptists cannot circulate ver sions which they must look upon as sectarian. Well pleased am I`to see the continua tion of the able articles in the ~Ti'anner and Advocate, ' on Baptism. They are surely worthy of au answer, if it can be given; especially the statements' as to j immer.sion being a , Jewish, custom, precedzng the'real baptism. A recent scene has come to my knowledge, where two young 'persons were dipped, and both in delicate' health. One, as I. know, was fairly'sent to bed brit for several days, and the kind minister tried 'to encourage- her . beforehand; by telling , her ", not to be Afraid ;" while as to second; the good ,man .finding • she was subject to - a heart disease, was " very solicitous" about her, and .went so far: in his anxiety: as: to hint that her wish to be x baptized; .might perhaps be all that was required- -I honor his kindliness; .but I 'should like it to 'as sume a - ' morepractical shape:throughout the denomination. A venerable Independent minister at Cheltenham, once -told me that he had known several 'Baptist ministers, whose lives were shortened, by coming down into the cold baptistery, heated, from the pulpit,. In _the baptisms to which .I have just referred, the water was made tepid Is ads, can this he "Heaven's,easy, artlessomeneumbered ;plan?'' With all this fright, and all thix 'peril, may we not asluour bretbren , to • read 'over again the words, ." I will have mercy and.note sacrifice ?" The BAMST • TRACT SOCIETY has held its Sixteenth Annual Meeting.' 'Eighty-four thousand Tracts had been printed`during the year, making a total since 1841, of upwards of two millions: As our Baptist friends'are liberal supporters of the Religious Tract Society, (one of its Committee, Mr. Joseph Gurney, whom I greatly honor and love, being at the expense of the publication of the beautiful new Paragraph. Bible) with •,notes,)l presume, that ~, , the ..Tracts -reported Rime, as circulated, by the, Baptist Tract Society, besides pressing the grand essentials of Chnetianity, also have inter r , wovenwith them,cleperfkinatioiwilinntimontn t!i The Strihk Baititis Eigliid 111111 Philadelphia, 111 South 'tenth Street, below Chestnut By DNA or at the Mee, $l5O per Yenl BEE n ospEcT i o. Delivered in the City, 175 . " area limited body, and besides holding (1) vinistic views so - extreme' as to verge on Antinioniani*, and "forhid Asdoifie tions for ContraryS4,the, of G-od, :they will not; admit.to their -fellowship.any who have not been immersed. 'There are among thetatrngfirefehliehrteenr, better than their principles, 1 hothlllieir ,11t prettehtng and their efforts..Wl°, gap. The BAPTIST IRISH MISSIONARY SOOnFifx ldiesions)to , Roman -Catholics of- ,mtidern times. • The schools established among the native Iribh, to, instruct them an-their ; . . ow tongue in the *ay of `life; were gieutly hon ored and blessed. The Society still'exist, bii its-i'efforts-kre -limited, the dity,'Sclioels being attended by two and twenty five children, and-the-Sabbath Schools by ;six hundred and .twenty.. - '2 Thera iti - also tabs nifireeilLtheLßArruir or.x i lifissiorr thei an. Pa 5 Vg :-•Offe? ace 'l'„ --every *tat r bril GOitape"ed. nullifier of central stritionii' assisted throughout the year ma 5 ,97.; the aiimber-of tributary stations I'l3-;-making a total of 210. The ininiherbf Sabbath SchoOlile 99, 'containing aboittlOOD teachers; and 4000 _scholars._ The number of weekly hearers is from 17,000 _to 18,000, and, of, Church Members, Upwards of 4,000. it is thus in many's parish ihere'ieigps the coldness of spiritual''.death; by reason' of '-Higk Church or Tractarian clergy, or gay and.. worldly clergymen, .a people are gathered out : 'far Christ, and the lamp of truth gloivs _and burns amid the darkness. .. But now, leaving 'other Anniversaries for my next letter,- let mi. vary this epiitle by a reference touthettopies. Amongst these, mot the least , interesting is a noblaeffort in the North of • London, in, the parish of Islijagtort, for the SPIRITUAL WELFUN •or xHE WoRKING.CIassEs: For their benefit, r‘iding . arid coffee rooms have been opened, and public . lectures •delivered i during the Winter, on various topics of interest;. But this week, in the, parishchurch, a series of sermons are being' nightly delivered by very eminent Evangelical ministers;: expressly to the workingelasses. Theyrhole of the lower part of the church is thrafvn,opentrithern, and as they come in they are shown into the pews. The preachers are, for the . six Week even ings, Ryle, (the Tact Vriiterd Maguire (an earnest Inshman,). Miller, .of Birmingham, Close,, (Peen of : Carlisle, and formerly of Cheltenham,) Goodhart, of Chelsea, and Owen, of St. _John'e,„B.,edford Rew. The subjects .chosen ere- very, suitable.. us hope : ' ahirpray. that an abhndant blessing may'fellow. I have Myself, two years in sirocession, preached - an annual sermon to working men, and found that it was indeed a blessed ser. vice th, all engaged, tokens, of real good ha, 'iig been vouehSafed. If conld hnt bridge over the gulf Which . - separates the 0%181;409)d' itruhii mir.' 'wailing , Arid' labor , ern, what gloriouS .resultatiotdd /follow I Of what has been. done in.,thiw way , at ighanl, (by the Mr. Miller, who has been.preaching at Islington, this week,): by out-door preaching an other efforts for the working men, and how the class ,wliose terests are studied,,appreciate a the truth": spoken : fave,'?.. zthe a pleasing illustration , The Birmingham' Mercury reports the helf-year ly tea and music ; party of St. Martin's Working Men's Association. NO less than twelve hundred persons sat down to the tables. Mr. Miller passed amongst his people, with a face lighted =up by a joy reflected from the merry countenances of all present; and the respected minister's unalloyed delight, at, the pleasure experienced by.those who composed that meeting, was not a „whit more in tense than the satisfaction glowing in the heart of every one surrounding him. The- sight was a meet welcome and interesting one, and : a strik ing lighedisplayed how' immensely instrumental for good Might be our clergy,' if each cidtiVated in like manner, the sympathies and affections' of the lowly, as well as the higher portions of the flocks intritated , to their spiritual care. Upon the conclusion of tea, • Dr. -Miller took, his seat as President idnid general cheers, ,and, previous to the musical performanCes, `ade a few reniarks. It is whisiered that Dr: Miller . (still a young man,) will be made a Bishop, should a.; vacancy pe9tir. BrsitoP SKINNER, thn" Primus ". of the Scottish more. His excommunication of an Evangelical clergy man, Sir William Dunbar, will be in the memory .of some of 'your readers. The Scottish'Episcopalians are intensely Tracts rian, with a few exceptions. As an illus tration of. the popular leeling in Edinburgh, a short time ago It notice was seen affixed to the, gate of Dean Raursay's nhurch, running: thus: "There is .a purpose ofmarriage between, the Scotch Episcopal Church and the Church of Rome." Next day appeared underneath, another notice: " I forbid the bans the, relationship being too clo." se . There is a paragraph in tjte Morning Chronicle, that - ,PitoFissoit Hairition is about to . be restored to his Profesiorship in King's College, of which he' was' deprived some years ago, becauSe of his - denial of the Joctrine of eternal punishment. It is alio said that Dr. Tait, Bishop of London, will indorse the re-appointment. It,is, I believe, put out as a feeler ; and, as Maurice has, since his .dismissal, a Book on "Sacrifice," completely ignoringsthe' atone ment of Christ, As a substitution for the guilty, Dr. Tait milt hardly; consent to out rage the feelings of the• Evangelical Chris tians of the . etnpire. J. W. P. S. This dzty, Prince Albert will open the grand Art ,Eihibition, at Manchester. The colleatioir of pictures, supplied by pri vate individtuds.in Great Britain, from'the Queen downward,- is magnificent. -. The Journey of Life. Ten thousand human beings set, forth to gether on their journey. After, ten years one-third, at least, have disappeared. At the middle point of the.common' measure of life, but half are still upon the road. Fas ter and faster; as thi 3 ranks grow thinner, they ,that .reniain till ,now= become weary, and lie ( dow and rise no more At three score and ten, a band of some four;hundred yet' struggle on. At ninety, these have ik a beeredueed to handful of thirty trend)- . lingipatriarchsi Year• after year. they fall-' 'in ,dimilishidglnumbers. One .lingers, per -haps; a marvel, till " the= ectitury is I.over. We' link . again, and„ the ,virork of ;death is finished.—Bisholi ffurgess BEEi to b e rr4 6ll o ;01* # 6 Ye.4 l gi'Velond, 0.246
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