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' '.. ' 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
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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