affecting impression. While on these subjects it does not accord with the design of this narrative to descend to particulars, we do not hesitate to invite the attention of our churches to the reports respecting them, which are now before the public; and, particularly, to that of the Society for meliorating the condition of the Jews. The Theological Seminary at Princeton has been unusually full during the last year. At present it numbers eighty-five students. But the Board have still to detail the embarrassments under which it labours for want of funds.* The Theological Seminary at Auburn is yet in its incipient state, but is represented as rising in prosperity. Its number of students at present is thirteen. The Board of Missions, acting under the direction of the General Assembly, have, as usual, made an interesting report. This Board have a few important auxiliaries in different remote sections of the country, and extracts from the journals of their Missionaries show that their labours, in many instances, have been suddenly and extensively blest. The Board make an urgent appeal for more liberal patronage in behalf of this ancient Missionary Institution. There are many other local societies within our bounds, aiming at the same grand object, among which the Assembly observe with pleasure the United Domestic Missionary Society of New-York. The proceedings of this assembly contain a distinct representation on the education of pious and indigent young men for the gospel ministry. We are happy to perceive that this important object is commanding more attention among our churches, and as evidence of this, we refer to the exertions of the various Education Societies, with their auxiliaries; and those, in particular, of the Presbytery of Albany, which alone is represented as having expended about $12,000 for this object during the past year. The United Foreign Missionary Society, though not confined to our denomination, commands, it is believed, throughout our churches, a good and increasing degree of favour. Hitherto its labours have been confined to our western Indians, among whom it has now five stations with well organized education families. There should be but one sentiment among Christians on the duty of patronising this noble institution. The directors have, nevertheless, to complain that their resources have been limited to an amount far short of their expenditures; and the assembly would cordially unite with them in the hope, that the peculiarly imposing claims of this Society will not, much longer, suffer it to languish. Having alluded to most of the means of religious improvement, enjoyed by our churches, it becomes us now to inquire what has been * Will any of our congregations remain unmoved on this subject, when they learn from the Report of the Directors, that promising young men are every year prevented from uniting with the Seminary for the want of pecuniary means? the result. On this subject we should speak with great caution. But it is important to exhibit the spiritual state of the churches under our care. From the Presbyterial reports it appears that the whole number of communicants belonging to our church has been much increased, but it cannot now be ascertained to what precise extent, as many of those reports are imperfect.* Admitting these additions to have been of such as shall be saved, it is of little importance to us whether they have been gathered into the Christian community by the gradual distillations of the Holy Spirit, or by that increase of his influences which constitutes a revival of religion. Still there are many reasons for considering revivals of religion as peculiarly desirable; and the Assembly would disappoint the churches under their care, if they failed to designate those which appear to have been the most remarkable. During the last year, the following congregations have been graciously visited, viz. In the Presbytery of Niagara, Freedonia. In the Presbytery of Gennesee, Shelden, Orangeville, and Warsaw. In the Presbytery of Rochester, Riga and Bergen. In the Presbytery of Geneva, Romulus. In the Presbytery of Bath, Naples and Putney. In the Presbytery of Cayuga, Sempronius and Groton. In the Presbytery of Onondaga, Granby. In the Presbytery of Oneida, Utica, Paris, Shenandoah, Herkimer, and Little Falls. In the Presbytery of Otsego, Butternutt's and. Bowman's Creek. In the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, the continuation of former revivals, in Brownville, Adams and Watertown. In the Presbytery of Champlain, notwithstanding many and great causes of mourning, they speak of a pleasing work of grace in the congregation of Mooers and West Port. It is gratifying to learn that this Presbytery has recently extended its limits by organizing a Presbyterian church in the city of Montreal. In the Presbytery of Londonderry, an extensive revival has taken place in the congregation of Chester. In the Presbytery of Albany, the congregations of Knox, Edinburgh, Kingsborough, Esperance, and Ballston. In the Presbytery of North River, South Salem. In the Presbytery of Long Island, Freshpond. In the Presbytery of New-York, the Rutgersstreet church has been blessed with a special revival; and in the city, generally, there is evidently an increase of the spirit of religion, as appears from the erection of several new churches, and an augmented number of communicants. In the Presbytery of Jersey, Newton, and New-Brunswick, the congregations of Rockaway, Hanover, Patterson, Chatham, Morristown, Baskingridge, Hacketstown, Pleasant Grove, Mansfield, Lamington, German Valley, and Boundbrook. In the Presbytery of Susquehanna, Pike, Silver * According to a standing order of the General Assembly, the names of the ministers and churches under their care will be published next year; and it is to be hoped that all the Presbyteries will be careful to send up their reports in the most perfect form. Lake, Windsor, and Athens. In the first Presbytery of Philadelphia, Doylestown, Neshaminy, Newton, Deerfield, and Kensington. These revivals, together with the good order and spirit of religious zeal which prevail in the city of Philadelphia, render this a highly interesting part of our spiritual vineyard. In the Presbytery of Newcastle an extensive work of grace seems to have commenced, and the congregations which have principally shared in it are Fagg's Manor, Upper Octorara, Nottingham, Charleston, Pencador, St. George's, and Doe Run. The Presbytery of Carlisle must be added to this list; and in the interesting revival which has visited both the congregation and the college of Carlisle, we find an occasion for lively gratitude. In the Presbytery of Washington, Penn. Mill Creek and the Flats. In the Presbytery of Hartford, Newcastle, Slippery Rock, Long Run, New-Salem, Mount Pleasant, Hopewell, and Nishanok. This revival has been greatly promoted by Sabbath Schools, and a system of visitation by several ministers. In the Presbytery of Grand River, Warren and Geneva have experienced small revivals. In the Presbytery of Winchester, a number have been added to the church, in consequence of revivals at Fre dericksburgh and Hartwood. In the Presbytery of Lexington, Lexington, New-Monmouth, Oxford, Timberridge, New-Providence, and Fairfield. In the Presbytery of Hanover, Petersburgh, Norfolk, Cumberland, Cubcreek, and Briery. In the Presbytery of Abingdon, three congregations. In the Presbytery of Orange, Eno and Little River. From the Presbytery of Georgia we have heard, with peculiar emotions, not only of the wide and melancholy desolations which spread around them, but of the reviving showers of divine grace which have descended upon some of their churches. A powerful work of grace is said to have commenced in the congregation of Medway, and more than ordinary additions have been made to the churches of Augusta, Savannah, Darien, and St. Mary's. We have given a brief enumeration of the places which have been favoured with the outpourings of the Spirit of God. These revivals, bearing, as they do, the marks of a genuine work of grace, must be regarded as among the most cheering dispensations of Divine Providence towards our churches during the last year. We are happy to state that our friendly intercourse with the churches of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New-Hampshire, continues to be cherished; and that from the annual reports furnished by the delegates from those bodies, the impression is favourable in regard to the prevalence of truth and godliness in that region. Their colleges, and Theological Seminaries, and Missionary Institutions, are flourishing, and many of their churches have been visited with revivals of religion. The colleges of Hamilton, Dickinson, Jefferson, Alleghany, and North Carolina, have been represented as in a flourishing state. Many of them embrace a considerable proportion of pious students; and in all, it is believed, the cause of morality and religion is decidedly gaining ground. With regard to errors on the subject of religion, it would probably be correct to state that they are not making progress. Still it is deplorable, that in this age of light and revivals, so many teachers of false and destructive systems of religion should exist. They are chiefly to be found among our new and unprotected churches, and such a state of things calls as well for the watchfulness of those churches, as the sympathies of more highly favoured Christians. There is another truth which fidelity does not permit us to conceal. In many parts of country an unusual degree of opposition to the religious charities which adorn the present age of the world has been displayed. The manifestation of this spirit should be considered as furnishing an evidence of the power and progress of religious exertion. It was not until the fire of God's altar was cast into the earth, that there were voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake. Still such a state of things should be met by a growing spirit of prayer and circumspection on the part of the friends of Zion. Calling into action the gentleness and firmness, the humility and perseverance of the gospel, they shall not fail of success. The events of the past year give strength to the impression that the Church is rapidly approaching an important crisis. There is grief in our hearts, but it is not the grief of consternation. We mourn over our vast and increasing desolations. We lament the lukewarmness of many who profess to be the followers of a self-denying and zealous master. We deplore the false zeal of errorists, and the fruitless hostility of inconsiderate men to the institutions of religion. We find cause for humiliation in the fact, that revivals of religion have not been as extensive as those which, on some former occasions, it has been our privilege to record. Whatever gloom may seem to hang over the church is intended for her admonition. Every thing admonishes us, that what we do must be done quickly. During the past year, the names of M'Farquhar, Crawford, Smith, Blatchford,* have been added, from among our number, to the list of the worthy dead. While we cannot but feel the admoni The Rev. Colin M'Farquhar, of the Presbytery of Newcastle. The Rev. Edward Crawford, of the Presbytery of Abingdon. The Rev. Andrew Hunter, of the city of Washington. The Rev. John D. Blair, of Richmond, Virginia. The Rev. Jonas Coe, D. D., of Troy, N. York. The Rev. Uziel Ogden, of Newark, NewJersey. The Rev. Robert Wilson, of Washington, Ky. The Rev. William Wier, of Natchez, Miss. The Rev. Jonathan Freeman, of Bridgetown, N. Jersey. The Rev. George Hill, of the Presbytery of Redstone. The Rev. David Bishop, of Easton, Pa. The Rev. Daniel Smith, of Louisville, Ky. The Rev. Henry Blatchford, son of the Rev. Dr. Blatchford, of Lansingburg, N. Y. tion, which their memory awakens, the church mourns their removal, as a public calamity. Trials were needful to awaken her to a just sense of her duty. We are imperiously called to demonstrate our faith in the Saviour of men, by Hunter, Blair, Coe, Ogden, Wilson, Weir, Freeman, Hill, Bishop, our devotedness to his cause and to his glory. Shall we zealously support our Missionary, and Education, and Theological Institutions, assured, as we are, that they will eminently conduce to the prosperity and glory of the church, or shall we suffer them to languish and decline? Let every friend of Zion and of man make his election. We rejoice that the period has arrived when this question must be answered. In the confidence that many, very many, are prepared to act a consistent and faithful part; and cheered by the light which the zeal of Christians and the graces of the Holy Spirit cast through every interposing cloud, we are prepared to announce, that there is no cause for despondency. Beyond all that is obscure and cheerless, a vision of blessedness breaks upon our view. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, is the voice of the King of Zion to his church. And were the darkest of her seasons yet before her, she should still advance with a steady and increasing light, until her glory struggles into everlasting day. Day of Thanksgiving, Humiliation, and Prayer. Whereas the dispensations of Divine Providence toward our country, and especially toward the church under the care of the General Assembly, have been, during the past year, of a mixed character, calling, at once, for lively gratitude, and for deep humiliation; the Assembly would respectfully call the churches of their communion to public and solemn exercises of a corresponding character. They would, therefore, earnestly and affectionately recommend to all the churches under their care, to set apart the first Thursday of November next, as a day of thanksgiving, humiliation, and prayer to abstain from all worldly labours and recreations-to assemble in their respective places of worship-to offer their united and fervent thanksgiving to the God of all grace, for his many mercies to our country, and to our beloved Zion, in the course of the year; and to pray, that the Holy Spirit may be poured out upon our churches and upon all the churches of Christ in our land, and throughout the world; that religion may be every where revived; that the progress of error may be arrested; that every thing unfriendly to the reign of righteousness may be destroyed; that Christians of all denominations may be more and more united in affection and effort; that the Missionary Cause and the cause of Bible Societies may be extended and made to triumph in every part of the world; that wars may cease to the ends of the earth; and that the glory of the latter day may be hastened. ORDINATION. On Wednesday, the 14th of May, the Classis of Poughkeepsie assembled in the Church at Fishkill Landing, for the Ordination of the Rev. WILLIAM S. HEYER to the work of the Gospel Ministry, and for his installation as Pastor of the Church in that place, and likewise for the ordination of the Rev. JOHN HEN DRICKS, as an Evangelist. The introductory Prayer was offered by the Rev. John Gosman, of Kingston. The Ordination Sermon was delivered by the Rev. David Parker, of Rhinebeck, from Ephesians, iv. 11. "And gave some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers." The charge to the Pastor was given by the Rev. John Gosman-the charge to the Congregation by the Rev. Andrew N. Kittle, of Red Hook-the charge to the Evangelist was given by the Rev. Cornelius C. Cuyler, of Poughkeepsie. The Rev. Mr Dewing, of the Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Mr. McCarrol, of the Associate Reformed Church, being present, took part in the exercises. The Congregation was unusually numerous and attentive, and the exercises peculiarly appropriate, interesting, and solemn. A FARMER AND A BLACKSMITH WANTED. The Managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society are desirous to send, as soon as practicable, an additional Farmer to Union, and a Blacksmith to Harmony. They should be men well skilled in their respective occupations; in communion with some Christian Church; and able to furnish satisfactory recommendations. It is also desirable that they should be married men, as female assistance is wanted at each station. Application, for either, may be made to Z. LEWIS, Domestic Sec. and Tr. of the U. F. M. S. New-York. Collection in the Presb. Church in Windham, Collection in the Presb. Church in Rockaway, N. J, by the Rev. Barnabas King From Aux. Society of Watervliet and Niskeuna, Albany Co., N. Y., by Mr. John Schuyler, Jun. Treas. From the Female Aux. Society of Danville, Pa., by Robert Ralston, Esq. 22 00 55 00 30 00 S 00 6 75 Collection at Monthly Concert in the Ref. Dutch Collection in the Ass. Ref. Congregation in Rev. Robert Forrest, Annual Subscription Collection in the Congregation in Lorrain, Jefferson County, N. Y., by the Rev. Enos Bliss Collection in Harrison Society, in Rodman, Jefferson County, N. Y., by the Rev. D. Spear From the Aux. Soc. of Baltimore, by George T. Dunbar, Tr. 5.39 3 84 3 55 Collection in the Churches of Sinking Creek and Spring Creek, Centre Co., Pa., including the proceeds of a Mission field, cultivated by two young men, by the Rev. Jno. Coulter From the Aux. Society of the Forks of Wheel. ing, Va., by the Rev. James Hervey Collection at the Monthly Concert in the Presb. Church in Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y., by the Rev. Horatio J. Lombard 30 17 18 50 9 50 24 00 3 00 3 06 19 67 200 00 From the Aux. Society of Schannach, N. J., by Nicholas Williamson, Tr. 82 14 Remittance from Mr. Charles Hyde, Agent From the Hon. S. Van Rensselaer, to constitute his Son, Wester C. Van Rensselaer, a Life Member 115 00 50 00 From the Female Aux. Society of Warwick, Orange County, N. Y., by Miss Ann Maria Austin, Tr. From a Mission Box, "Teach all Nations," by 2.00 18 00 11. 00 2.00 17 44 From the Aux. Soc. of Trumbull, Conn. by Mr. Elihu Beach, Tr. 10 00 Collection at the Anniversary Sermon in the Church in Murray-Street, N. Y. 226 66 For educating an Osage Youth, by D. Wolmer, of Norristown, Pa. 31 12 From a friend of Missions in Parsippany, N. J., by the Rev. Jehu Clark 1.00 "For the Union-a tribute of gratitude to God, on the baptism of a dear Son" From the Missionary Box in the Oratory of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., by Mr. George Stebbins Collected at the Monthly Concert in the SchoolHouse at Rocky Hill, N. J. Six Dollars; and from the Mission Box of Sabbath School in do. One Dollar Thirty-one Cents, by Mr. H, N. Brinsmade Collection in the Presb. Church in Cranberry, N. J., by the Rev. S. C. Henry 6 66 Missionary Register. VOL. IV. JULY, 1823. Reports of Societies. No. 7. SEVENTH REPORT OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, Rev. DR. MILNOR.-Secretary for Domestic By the abstract we shall now give of this Report, it will be seen, that, notwithstanding "the pecuniary embarrassments" existing in " a large section of our country, and their effect in paralyzing exertion," yet "the receipts into the treasury and the sales of Bibles and Testaments have been fully maintained." Our abstract, although concise, will embrace the principal topics of the report. Erection of a Depository. The corner stone was laid shortly after the last anniversary; and the building was finished in the early part of the win ter. The expenditure for this object, including the ground, has been about $22,500. Between 8000 and 9000 dollars were obtained from liberal and benevolent individuals, for the express purpose of paying for the Depository; and the remainder of the sum has been temporarily supplied out of the general funds of the Society. The Board earnestly hope to obtain further contributions towards this object. They solicit such contributions from all whom God, in His Providence, has favoured with the means, and who are friendly to the good work. They have adopted a plan of a sinking fund, by the operation of which the sum advanced from the general funds will be repaid, with interest, in a few years; and the temporary advance will not interfere with the business of the Institution, nor result in the diversion of a single dollar from the precise object for which it was VOL. IV. paid into the Treasury. This Depository has now been occupied for a number of been made to realize the expectations of months, and a sufficient trial has already those who urged its erection. All the business of the Society is now done under one roof. There is the most ready access to every record and every document, to which reference may become necessary on the part of the Managers, or of any of the Committees. The Ma.nagers and the Committees have suitable rooms for their meetings; and the Secretaries and the Agent have convenient offices. It is now practicable to carry on the business of the Society with more regularity and system, and to maintain a more constant oversight of all its operations, particularly in the printing and bookbinding departments. 25 Temporary suspension of operations. The operations of the Society were, in a considerable degree, suspended for some weeks of the past year, in consequence of the removal from the old to the new Depository, and the delay which was |