816 07 members, 850; College ch 12 52; Hopewell ch, of which part from coloured members, 13, and Oxford ch 43, bal to con Rev J N WADDELL D D1d; folly Springs ch 50 65. Pby of Memphis-Emmaus ch É T Taylor 1, Dr J B Maclin to con Mrs Lucy L MACLIN 1 m 30, Mrs L L Maclin 5, Rev P R Bland 10; Hickory Withe ch 40, and Macon ch 21, of which 30 to con REV L MCNEELY 1 m; Somerville ch Sab sch to ed Fannie Q Boyd at Wa-pa-nucka 25; Portersville ch 43; Covington ch in part 15; Le Grange ch, J Locke 2; Germantown ch 2075; Salem ch Sab sch 1 SYNOD OF SOUth Carolina.-Pby of South CarolinaRecd from financial com of Pby 8 40; Greenville ch 1685; Laurens C H ch 3, mo con colls 1680; Roberts ch 16 20; Rock ch 1010; Friendship ch 4; Midway ch 2 55; Anderson CH ch 1 25; Good Hope ch 2305; Broadway ch 175; Antioch ch 2; New Harmony ch 2; Providence ch 4; Gelders Creek ch 4 30; Aveleigh ch 3; Smyrna ch 2 65; Greenville CHch 3; Lebanon ch 5 50, two females 6; Pickens CH ch Rev W McWhorters 3; Hopewell ch 30; Rock ch 20; Liberty Springs ch 3 10; Wellington ch 20. Pby of Bethel-Pleasant Grove ch 30; BulJocks Creek ch 8; Catholic ch to con Rev W Banks 1 m 4250; WM HEMPHILL, to con self and two daughters, Misses SUSAN and MARY HEMPHILL | m's 100; Ebenezerville, SC, J M A 10. Pby of Harmony-Bethesda ch Camden 34, juv miss soc 7; Pine Tree ch 11; Williamsburg ch 57; Cheraw ch 224 25; Colonel McFarlan to ed Allan McFarlan at Spencer Academy 100; Darlington ch 71 75; Lebanon ch 25; Mt Zion ch 155 50; Bishopville ch 5; Hopewell ch 69; Midway ch 3; Salem ch (Little River) 30. Pby of Charleston-Columbia ch 115 58; Edisto ch 111; Beersheba ch 27; Beech Island ch 15; Bethel ch 5); Charleston 2d ch ann coll 150 11, mo con 37, coloured members 30 1731 19 SYNOD OF ALABAMA.-Pby of Tuscaloosa-Tuscaloosa ch 75; rec'd from Treas of Pby 105. Pby of Talladega-Jacksonville ch to ed child at Tallahassee 187 00 7 SYNOD OF MISSISSIPPI.-Pby of Mississippi-Pine Ridge ch, of which 8 75 from Sab sch to ed Elizabeth S Williams 75 20; Port Gibson ch 85, do 7, L F S 3, Sab sch to ed AJ McGili 10; Natchez, Mi, E B Fuller to con Mrs HANNAH COTTON, Miss MARY LOUISA FULLER, Mrs T C HOLTON, and Miss MARION HOLTON m's 120. Pby of Louisiana-New Orleans 3d ch mo con coll's 20, Sab sch to ed Grace Leeds and Abby E Beatty at Tallahassee 50; Carmel ch juv miss soc to ed Wm Dunbar in China 25; Woodville ch 46 50; Comite ch 10; Homer ch 3. Pby of Tombeckbee-Presbyterial coll 1; Columbus ch 23; Caledonia ch 160; Bethsalem ch 2; Lebanon ch 1; Friendship ch 2 485 30 daughter FRANCIS MARY HASwell, 1 m's 90; Presbyterian Board of Publication, donation of books for mission schools 62 50; First Assoc Refd Pbn ch, Phila, miss soc to ed Elizabeth Dales and Maria Lansing at Wa-pa-nucka 25; Clinton co, Pa, Central Union Sab sch to send Bibles to heathen children 1 50; -C L FORD, in part to con himself 1 m 10; Monmouth co, N J, Mrs Sarah T Roy 10; a friend 1; children of Mrs Bensel 4 48; Staunton, Va, M S N 5; Marshall, Mich, Sab sch for sup of Rev H V Rankin, Ningpo, 10; Little H's "gold dollar" for Iowa mission 1; A Colporteur of Board of Publication for church at Turin 5; Tremont, Pa, TA Godfrey for Otoe and Omaha mission 5; Ashwood, Tenn, S Doddridge Frierson 5; Hampton, Va, Samuel Cummings 86 cts; Harrisburg, Pa, A Burnett 2; Tenn, Mrs Catharine Brown BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. LETTERS relating to the Missions, or other operations of the Board, may be addressed to WALTER LOWRIE, Esq., or the Rev. JOHN C. LOWRIE, Secretaries, Mission House, 23 Centre Street, New York. LETTERS relating to the pecuniary affairs of the Board, or containing remittances of money, may be sent to WILLIAM RANKIN, Jr. Esq., Treasurer-same address. PAYMENTS OF MONEYS for the Board may also be made at- Philadelphia, Pa., Samuel D. Powel, 265 Chestnut street; Columbus, Ohio, Thomas Moodie; Cincinnati, Ohio, John D. Thorpe ; Louisville, Ky. Andrew Davidson. Memphis, Tenn. J. B. Kirtland; St. Louis, Missouri, David Keith; Natchez, Mississippi, Thomas Henderson; BOXES OF CLOTHING, intended for the Missions of the Board, may be sent to the Mission House, or to any of the Agents of the Board; and should be preceded, or accompanied, by a written statement of the source whence they came, and of the value of their contents in detail. THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY is published monthly, in two editions. Terms: Newspaper Edition, at the rate of two dollars a year for twenty copies to the address of one person, postage prepaid. Under twenty copies, at the rate of thirty-five cents for five copies to one address; on these, postage to be paid by subscribers, at the office of delivery-half a cent for each copy if paid quarterly in advance. Pamphlet Edition, twenty-five cents a year for each copy. This edition contains several pages of additional matter. Copies are sent free, when desired to donors of five dollars and upwards, and to min. isters. Address, for both editions, "The Foreign Missionary," Mission House, 23 Centre street. New York. OVERLAND LETTERS.-Letters for the Overland Mail, to India, Siam, and China, should reach the Mission House in time for the steamer nearest the first of each month. Postage: assessed according to weight, at the rate from New York of forty-five cents for half an ounce. This may be paid by sending post-office stamps to the Mission House. FORM OF BEQUEST.-The Board is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. The corporate name to be used is-The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Certificates, of Honorary Membership, on the payment of Thirty dollars; of Honorary directors, One Hundred dollars. to April 1, 1853, have amounted to thirteen thousand nine hundred and eleven dollars and one cent, BOARD OF PUBLICATION. ($13,911.01). Total receipts, $86,657.36. PUBLICATION ROOMS, No. 265 Chestnut st., Philadelphia. Total excess of receipts of sales and donations over last year, $2146.75. AGENTS.-The Rev. Joseph Mahon has continued Letters relating to agencies, the appointment of colpor- his labours in a portion of the South. The Rev. J. teurs, and the general interests of the Board, to be addressed to the Rev. GEORGE W. MUSGRAVE, D D. Corres-Y. Alexander has continued to act as Superintendponding Secretary and General Agent, No. 265 Chestnut ent of Colportage in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. street. Reports from Colporteurs and letters relating to their accounts, to be addressed to Mr. WINTHROP SARGENT, Superintendent of Colportage. COLPORTEURS AND COLPORTEUR LABOUR. - One hundred and forty-five colporteurs have been emOrders for books, and letters relating to the business of ployed during the year-one hundred and forty of the Depository, to be addressed to Mr. JOSEPH P. ENGLES, them in twenty-six different States of the Unionfour in Nova Scotia, and one in Northern India, viz:-In Massachussets, five; Connecticut, one; New Hampshire, one; Maine, five; New York, Publishing Agent. Letters relating to manuscripts and books offered for publication, to be addressed to the Rev. W. M. ENGLES, D.D., Editor of the Board. Donations to be remitted to A. W. MITCHELL, M. D. twenty; New Jersey, four; Pennsylvania, ten; Treasurer. ABSTRACT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF Maryland, two; Ohio, ten; North Carolina, seventeen; South Carolina, four; Georgia, ten: Florida, THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLI-three; Michigan, two; Indiana, ten; Illinois, five; CATION. Presented to the General Assembly, May, 1853. PUBLICATIONS.-During the year ending March 31, 1853, the Board have published 24 new books, (two of which are in the German language,) of which have been printed 60,500 volumes. They have also added to their catalogue 21 new tracts, of which have been published 80,250 copies. Whole number of new publications, 140,750. During the same period, they have published new editions from stereotype plates, of books and tracts, to the amount of 604,800 copies. Total number of books and tracts published during the year, 745,550 copies. Of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school Visitor, 41,000 copies are now published semi-monthly. Of the Home and Foreign Record, 11,000 copies of the newspaper and 400 of the pamphlet edition are now printed monthly. The aggregate number of volumes published by the Board, from their organization in 1840, to March 31, 1853, has amounted to 2,020,450. The aggregate number of tracts published during the same period, has amounted to 2,131,450 copies. The total number of volumes and tracts published by the Board, from 1840, to March 31, 1853, has amounted to 4,151,900. RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR.-The receipts for the year are highly encouraging. The sales have amounted to seventy-two thousand seven hundred and forty-six dollars and thirty-five cents, ($72,746.35) which is six thousand two hundred and thirtytwo dollars and sixty-three cents more than the amount reported last year. The donations received for colportage and distribution, from April 1, 1852, Wisconsin, three; Iowa, four; Missouri, three; Kentucky, five; Tennessee, five; Alabama, one; Mississippi, two; Arkansas, one; Louisiana, one; Texas, six; Nova Scotia, four; Northern India, one. Of these, one has been employed jointly in Tennessee and Alabama. The Synods of Virginia and Pittsburgh are still conducting their operations as independent auxiliaries of the Board, with efficiency and success. AGGREGATE OF COLPORTEUR LABOUR.-The follow ing are the aggregate amounts of labour performed during the past year, so far as returns have been made to the Board, by the one hundred and fortyfive colporteurs, viz:-time spent, thirty-four years and nine months; volumes sold, 87,938; volumes distributed gratuitously, 9386; number of pages of tracts given away, 925,172; families visited, 63,262; families conversed, or prayed with, 21,802; families having no religious book but the Bible, 2262; Presbyterian families without the Confession of Faith, 2924. From April 1, 1850, to April 1, 1853, a period of three years, one hundred years and three months of colporteur labour have been performed; 178,678 families have been visited, of which 66,791 have been conversed, or prayed with; 217,580 volumes have been sold; 20,417 volumes, and 2,035,282 pages of lies have been found destitute of all religious books tracts have been distributed gratuitously; 6371 famiexcept the Bible, and 2000 without the Bible; 7933 Presbyterian families have been found without the Confession of Faith. These aggregates refer to the labours of the colporteurs who have been employed, during the period mentioned, directly by the Board, and are exclusive of the results obtained by the Synods of Virginia and Pittsburgh. DONATIONS.-Donations to a considerable extent have been made during the year, in addition to those made through the colporteurs. These donations of books and tracts have been, in many cases, most gratefully acknowledged by those who have re ceived them, and we have reason to believe that they have accomplished, by the Divine blessing, a vast amount of good. The Board regret that their limited means have so restricted their grants; and they would express the earnest desire, that the churches would be more liberal in their contributions, so as to enable them to increase them. The grants of the year, independent of the donations of books made by colporteurs, have been as follows:-Sabbath-schools, 1367 volumes; ships of war, naval and military posts, 89 volumes; humane institutions, 161 volumes; Literary and Theological Institutions, 578 volumes; indigent ministers, 966 volumes; feeble churches, 1103 volumes; individuals for gratuitous distribution, 626 volumes; and also 246,337 pages of tracts, independent of the donations of tracts made by colporteurs. The aggregate number of volumes given away to ministers, congregations, Sabbath-schools, public institutions, &c., independent of the donations made by colporteurs, from 1847, when we commenced making donations, to 1853, is twenty-five thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, (25,768.) The aggregate number of pages of tracts given away during the same period is one million, sixty thousand and five hundred, (1,060,500.) Total number of volumes and pages of tracts given away up to March 31, 1853, independent of donations made by colporteurs, one million, eighty-six thousand, two hundred and sixty-eight, (1,086,268.) The following persons were elected by the General Assembly, on the 28th May, members of the Board of Publication. Ministers.-Nicholas Murray, D.D., Joshua Moore, Geo. W. Musgrave, D.D., T. L. Cuyler, Wm. C. Matthews, D.D., J. W. McKennan, James Morrison, James W. Alexander, D.D., H. A. Boardman, D.D., John C. Backus, D.D., John Hall, D.D., Alexander T. McGill, D.D., John Miller. Laymen.-W. Sargent, J. B. Martin, D. Hadden, Robert L. Stuart, Matthew Newkirk, P. Boyd, Wm. B. Spence, George Douglass, James Russell, Stacy G. Potts, Jas. N. Dickson, C. Macalester, Henry C. Blair. To supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Rev. John A. Gretter, the Rev. Henry Steele Clarke, for two years. RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1853. The Rev. Dr. Murray, from the Standing Committee to whom had been referred the Report of the Board of Publication, presented the following resolutions, which were adopted, viz: 1. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Assembly, the evangelical press is, next to the pulpit, the most efficient means for the propagation of divine truth, and the conversion and salvation of men, and ought therefore to be employed by the Church to the utmost extent of her ability. 2. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Assembly, the publication and circulation of books and tracts, in which are exhibited the distinctive doctrines and order of our beloved Church, are not only highly important, but indispensably necessary, to her prosperity and extension, and ought therefore to receive the approbation and active co-operation of every Presbyterian. 3. Resolved, That the Assembly approve of the wisdom and zeal with which the Board of Publica tion have carried forward the important work committed to their management during the past year, and are highly gratified with the result of their labours. 4. Resolved, That inasmuch as the pecuniary means of the Board would not justify them in attempting to establish local depositories, and as the necessary funds could probably be raised in the places where they are needed; it is hereby recommended that such local efforts be made wherever they are desired, and can be properly sustained. 5. Resolved, That while the Assembly would urge the Board to continue to press onward, and extend their operations over their whole field of labour, they would also urge them to continue to have a due regard to prudence and safety in the employment of the funds committed to their trust. 6. Resolved, That as the continued and extended usefulness of the Board of Publication, like every other benevolent Institution, must depend, under God, upon the liberality of the benevolent; it is hereby earnestly recommended to all our pastors and churches to give particular attention to the claims of this Board, and render such aid, by the contribution of funds, as shall enable the Board greatly to enlarge their operations. 7. Resolved, That it be recommended to all our pastors to endeavour to increase the circulation of the Home and Foreign Record, the organ of the Boards of the Church, in order that our churches may be better acquainted with their respective plans and operations, and be induced to contribute more liberally towards their support. 8. Resolved, That in view of the destitution of many Presbyterian families of our Confession of Faith, it is hereby earnestly recommended to all our pastors and elders to endeavour to induce every family in our connection to supply themselves with a copy of the standards of our Church; and the Board of Publication is requested to furnish, through their colporteurs, every practicable facility for this purpose. 9. Resolved, That Art. III. of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Board of Publication be so amended as to read as follows, viz: Art. III. The Board of Managers shall hold their first meeting at such time and place as may be directed by the present General Assembly, and shall hold a meeting annually, on the second Tuesday in June, at which time it shall appoint a President, Vice-President, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, a Recording Secretary, and an Executive Committee, to serve for the ensuing year. EXTRACTS FROM THE NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION, ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, May, 1853. The Assembly has received a gratifying account of the continual success which has attended the labours of the Board of Publication. It has found favour with the churches in an eminent degree. Its excellent publications have been widely circulated— and the general disposition to procure and read them, indicate a desire to become acquainted with the doctrinal truths of our standards. Great care has been taken, that none but books of sterling value should be published. Such books are kept constantly on hand at their Depository in this city; and the treasures of truth and piety which they contain, should find their way into every congregation and family in our connection. The colporteur system, Catechetical instruction. MEMPHIS. Mr. Flinn, the colporteur of the Board of Publication, gave an encouraging account of his labours, and of the increasing desire on the part of our people He was affectionately comto obtain his books. mended to the churches. Our churches, with very few exceptions, have contributed with increased liberality to each of our ecclesiastical Boards. The Board of Publication, with our system of colportage, growing interest, and feel that it augurs well. is working admirable results. We rejoice to see the TESTIMONY OF CONGREGATIONALISTS IN In an article setting forth the conformity of the Presbyterian form of government to the scriptural model, a few weeks since, we stated that most churches which had nothing to correspond to the bench of ruling elders, were often compelled to resort to expedients, which, in effect, amounted to the same thing. The celebrated Cotton Mather, of New England, as quoted by the Christian Observer, says: of which the Board has availed itself in circulating raise a fund for the establishment, in Louisville, of their issues, has been instrumental in doing much a depository of the issues of the Board. The Presgood. It is an agency that promises to accomplish bytery also recommends to the churches under its great things for the cause of truth and righteousness. care to contribute liberally to this object, and reWhat blessed results could be brought about in this quests the Board to appoint such an agency as may way, by distributing these publications at the lowest be needful to raise funds for the establishment of prices, in every destitute neighbourhood, if the re- the depository, and the general circulation of the quisite funds were put at the disposal of the Board publications of the Board. for the purpose. Impressed with the great importance of the object contemplated by this Board, in the organization and support of the colporteur agen- ENCOURAGING FROM THE PRESBTERY OF cy, the Assembly would take pleasure in commending it to all their churches for an annual collection. The Assembly advert with pleasure to the uniformity with which the Presbyteries speak of the increased and growing attention to Biblical and The doctrines and the spirit of that form of Christianity which is drawn from the Bible and embodied in our Catechisms, are the glory and the life of the Church. In the living power of these precious and holy doctrines, our youth and children must be trained up, if we would hope for a generation of Christians suited to the day in which we live, and more especially those eventful times which seem to be approaching, when will come the great conflict between truth and error, which is to shake the nations. In the training of the youth of our congregations in the sound knowledge of the truth of God, is our best hope of success. What else is to lead this nation in safety through the volcanic heavings and agitations of the various forms of a demoralizing and infidel philosophy, which threaten the destruction of our institutions, civil and religious? What shall effectually withstand the papacy, in its last efforts to lay its iron sceptre upon this land of freedom and of Protestantism, but the most wakeful attention to this duty, on the part of parents and pastors. Though the instructions of the Sabbath-school are to be prized, and to be prized highly, and though the advantages accruing to the Church from this mode of instruction are so manifest and abundant, that it would be superfluous to add anything to the testimony of preceding Assemblies in their favour, yet we ought not to lose sight of what is the more important and excellent way, viz., parental, domestic, religious instruction. Nothing is to supercede and take precedence of the systematic religious training of children around the family altar, and by those upon whom God has made it obligatory, to whom he has principally intrusted this work, and of whom he will chiefly demand an account. Under the impression that this duty is committed, to a very great extent, from mistaken views to other hands, we would exhort parents and guardians to remember that Sunday and parochial schools are but secondary and auxiliary in this important matter; while parents are to be regarded as the principals, appointed and commanded of God himself, most solemnly and imperatively, to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If, then, they should prove delinquent in the discharge of their solemn trust, it is greatly to be feared the divine blessing will not, in ordinary cases, follow those means by which their care and efforts have been supplanted. From the Presbyterian Herald. RESOLUTION OF THE PRESBYTERY OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. It was resolved that Presbytery cordially approves of the proposition of the Board of Publication to "All our churches will acknowledge to me, that it is an usual thing with a prudent and faithful pastor, himself to single out some of the more grave, solid, aged brethren, in his congregation, to assist him in many parts of his work, on many occasions, in a year; nor will such a pastor ordinarily do any important thing in his government, without having first heard the counsels of such brethren. In short, there are few discreet pastors, but what make many occasional ruling elders every year. I say then, suppose the church, by a vote, recommend some such brethren, the fittest they have, unto the stated assist ance of their pastor in the church rule, wherein they may be helps unto him. I do not propose that they should be biennial or triennial only, though I know very famous churches throughout Europe have them so. Yea, and what if they should by solemn fasting and prayer be commended unto the benediction of God, in what service they have to do-what objection can be made against the lawfulness? I think none can be made against the usefulness of such a thing. Truly, for my part, if the fifth chapter of 1st Timothy would not bear me out, when conscience both of my duty and my weakness made me desire such assistance, I would see whether the 1st chapter of Deuteronomy would not." President Edwards, the great light of New England says, in his letters to Erskine: "I have long been out of conceit of our unsettled, independent, confused way of church government, and the Presbyterian way has ever appeared to me most agreeable to the word of God, and the reason and nature of things." P. 412. President Dwight, without any other inducement to declare in favour of Ruling Elders, than that which the force of truth presented, declared: "Ruling Elders are, in my apprehension, scriptu Presbytery of Blairsville. ral officers of the Christian church, and I cannot but The little crew of the Mayflower had an Elder Presbytery of Columbus. Mount Pleasant ch, per Thomas Moodie, Treas. J Presbytery of Wooster. Presbytery of Coshocton. "Touching the ecclesiastical ministry, viz., of pastors for teaching, Elders for ruling, and deacons for Wooster ch, per Thomas Moodie, Treasurer distributing the church's contributions, as also for the two sacraments, baptism, and the Lord's Supper, we do wholly and in all points agree with the French Reformed churches, according to their published Confession of Faith. There Elders and deacons are annual, or at the most for two or three years; ours perpetual."-Presbyterian of the West. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP. Hoee, per Thomas Moodie, Treas. 10; Apple Presbytery of Hocking. Athens ch, per Thomas Moodie 3 00 1675 20 20 35 00 14.06 Presbytery of Vincennes. 6 58 Presbytery of Sangamon. 4.00 A donation of Thirty Dollars at any one time constitutes Carlisle ch, per T H Alderdice the donor, or any person whom he may designate, an Honorary Member of the Board of Publication. Honorary Members receive an elegantly engraved certificate of mem- Springfield ch, per John Williams bership, and are entitled to draw one dollar's worth of children's books or tracts annually, provided they are called for during the year in which they become due. Presbytery of Winchester. Presbytery of Concord. Rocky River ch, per Rev P H Dalton 26 55; Mor- Presbytery of Maury. Presbytery of South Carolina. 42 24 70 00 735 129 50 12 90 |