THE
PRESBYTERIAN MONTHLY
RECORD.
Vol. XXII. PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 1871. No. 10.
BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS.
OUR COUNTRY.
ENTHUSIASM OF MISSIONARIES CONCERNING IT.
It is a pleasant thing to see any pastor in love with his parish, or missionary in love with his field. And it is quite amusing to receive letters from missionaries in different parts of the West, rehearsing the beauties and excellencies each of his particular section of the great field, and framing arguments why we should bestow special care on that part which is under their own observation.
The following letters will illustrate our meaning, not that the testimony they afford is any different from what we have from scores of others, in other parts of the country, but because these have just come to hand.
Our country is a great country, and full of promise. Our brethren are none of them too sanguine or too anxious to plant any section with churches and occupy it with missionaries.
The first letter is from North East, Mo., and is as follows :
Dear Brethren , — I take the liberty of addressing you personally on the great subject of missions in this State. You know I am an old pioneer. I came here in 1827. Have had some experience in Home Missions.
In the first place : In every place where there are people, there is a class that are reached only by our church. I could give many instances of the kind. I am satisfied a Presbyterian church can be built up under the Divine blessing anywhere, by faith and patient work. Our church is essential to the spiritual prosperity of the other denominations.
2d. The icorld and errorists , I am sorry to add, seem more opposed to us than to any other church. We have all this to encounter, so that we need to be sustained until we get fairly on our feet. We have to create a taste for our kind of preaching and church order. There is no community where this cannot be done. We can dip down to the lowest strata of society as well as reach the highest. All that is wanted is the right kind of man sustained until G-od enables him to mould public opinion. All this State is thus open to us and calling for our aid.
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3d. Whilst I do not underrate any field in our broad land, yet I do think that the country from St. Louis to Keokuk on both sides of the Mississippi River for from fifty to a hundred miles east and west , is the cream of this vast valley. It will be the great centre of population, wealth, and intelligence, and as a matter of course, of influence. If not largely possessed by us, will be possessed by the man of sin and his miserable minions. This the Jesuits know, and they are expending all their power to occupy this country and dispossess us.
Now take your map and look at the whole extent of the country; view its soil, its minerals, and what is now, and must be in the near future, the busi- ness of this section of our country, and can you come to any other conclusion than that I have just stated ? The towns along the Mississippi River will be large cities and great marts of commerce. What are they to be, Protestant
or Papist ? Look at to-day ! Overshadowed by the Beast. There is
something wrong in this, some fault somewhere. You will judge for yourself.
In 1866 both branches of our church had only twelve or fourteen churches. All the self-sustaining except two, went with the D. and T., and left us with the weak churches and the unoccupied field. We now have forty-three churches and twenty ministers, with new fields constantly opening to us and inviting us to occupy. Nearly all our ministers are aided by the Board, for the obvious reason that church buildings have to be erected; and further, the mass of our members are new comers with limited means. Yet with all this we are making great progress. We are clearing away the debris, and begin- ning to build. After the foundation is well laid, the superstructure will go up rapidly, with God’s blessing. We must be helped now, just now, and encouraged in the work, or the hearts of the workmen will become faint, and the work fail. We must have more men — they must be sustained until they can be sustained on the field, which will not be very long.
We are doing without a District Secretary, or Presbyterian missionary, and doing the work through the Committee on Missions. They are doing a good work in waking up the churches to supporting their ministers and general beneficence. If I am not very much mistaken in the near future, this Presbytery will not be behind any sister Presbytery. The idea of the Board seems to be that only Presbyterians are to be cared for, and their opera- tions to follow them in their immigration. If I am correct in my suppo- sition, it is a great mistake. All men are to be preached to, and gathered into the Presbyterian fold. This can be done. I have never found the place, however preoccupied by others, that a Presbyterian church cannot be planted and built up. By the grace of God I have done it.
The next letter pertains to the almost unknown country, southwest Kansas, or along the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, stretching out west- ward and southwestward from Emporia, Kansas.
If you have a map of Hutchinson’s Kansas, please open at page 107, and read Hohneck’s description of the region west of Fort Zarah, on Walnut Creek, then ’look at the map in the back of the book, at Ness and Rush
counties. I met at L a young man who was one of the Governor’s
surveying party through that region, and he described it as far the best region
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lie ever saw, and marked on my map over that region the word “ superlative.” While northwest from that region he said was the most rocky and desolate
region of the State, lying in T county and south westward. The Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad will be at Fort Zarah this coming season, and there will be a rush for that “ superlative ” region, and so our work will go on, ever on.
The following is from a State that is rising in importance every day:
NEBRASKA.
Nebraska will be one of the great States of the West at no distant day. Its soil is exceedingly fertile. No more beautiful valleys can be found than those of the Platte, Papillion, Elkhorn, Wood River, Salt Creek, Nemaha, Republican and other streams. The uplands are beautiful rolling prairies with a most productive soil. All the grains and fruits of the Middle States can be raised here. Grapes and peaches are bearing well this summer.
An association has just been formed for forest and fruit tree planting, along the valley of the Platte. There are extensive branches at Nebraska City, Brownsville ' and other points. The great inducements offered by Ne- braska to settlers are just becoming known, and hence settlers are now flock- ing in. The Union Pacific Land Office has sold this year, during seven months, over 111,000 acres of land to seven hundred and nineteen persons, representing about four thousand people. In the Government land office more than double that amount has been sold, and as much of this is in “home- steads” of eighty acres, a much larger number of persons have settled on these lands than the other.
The sales of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad have been large. And competent and reliable judges think it safe to estimate the increase of our population during 1871 at not less than 40,000.
Many colonies are forming. The Michigan and Nebraska Colony expect to settle two hundred and fifty families near North Platte. Another colony has obtained 40,000 acres of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, in the southern portion of the State, and propose to erect churches and schools at once, and begin with all the appliances of civilized life at once.
As to our Church and its wants, the writer adds :
“ The State of Nebraska has forty counties, some of them as large as a New England State. In twenty counties we have organized churches, large and small. We have twenty-seven churches in the State ; of these some of the more important are now, and have been vacant for months. Other churches might be organized and fine opportunities be secured to our Church had we but the man to attend to this work; and if our Church is to secure its proper place in this State, we must work with wisdom, zeal, and energy, as though we intended to accomplish something. The Methodist Episcopal Church has four presiding elders in the State, who act as district missionaries, organize churches, secure lots for churches and parsonages, and obtain contributions from all classes of the people, by the claim that they are the first on the
292 Board of Home Missions. [ October
ground. The Baptists, the Congregationalists, and the Lutherans, have each a State Missionary, who gives his whole time to the work. The active and popular bishop of the Episcopal Church is organizing parishes and erecting churches. If we would not he the last in the field and see all the growing towns pre-occupied, we must enter on an active missionary work now. But we have no man to give his time and interest to this work. We would there- fore represent that we believe it to be indispensable to the success of our missionary operations in Nebraska, that a District Missionary should be appointed at once to labor in this State, and would therefore recommend such an appointment.’7
FROM THE SYNODICAL MISSION- ARY IN INDIANA.
The union of the two Assemblies, and the uniting in many towns in the State of two churches, and the facts growing out of this state of things, has made about twice the work to be done in my line of business in comparison with other years.
When Ywo churches united, both the ministers ordinarily left, and this, with other reasons, gave us six months ago many more vacant churches than both bodies had ever before known at one time.
Each of the eight Presbyteries have an efficient Home Mission Committee, and all cooperate harmoniously and heartily with me, and together we have seen fifty vacant churches supplied since September 1st, 1870. Many of these are good strong churches, such as Wa- bash, Peru, Plymouth, Crown Point, Anderson, New Castle, Shelbyville, Connersville, Columbus, Vernon, Edin- burg, Danville, Rising Sun, Fort Wayne 3d, &c. In some cases the supplying has left others vacant; so with these we have quite a number destitute still. Some of these are in correspondence with ministers, and in a few cases we shall get theological students to help us in their vacations.
It is worthy of remark and of thanks- giving, that in our meetings of Synods and Presbyteries, not an unpleasant word about old issues has been spoken, or any thing done to revive the old quarrels ; and in this large number of churches supplied, they have not seemed
to care from which of the two old As- semblies they received their ministers.
There has been quite a number of churches organized, and of meeting- houses built or repaired, but these have, no doubt, been reported by the mission- aries.
The revivals in the State have not been quite so numerous or powerful as the year closing May 1st, 1870, and still there has been some precious meet- ings in a good number of our churches, and the Minutes of the Assembly will show quite a large addition on exami- nation.
OHIO.
A NEW ENTERPRISE IN CLEVELAND.
Prospects for the ensuing year are very good. The congregation is slowly but steadily increasing. The arrange- ments for collecting the salary and funds needed for Sabbath-school and congregational purposes works admira- bly, and will secure larger contributions to the Boards than we have been able to secure the past year.
The prayer-meetings during the year have been well attended. During the past month there have been several con- versions, and others are now seeking the Saviour.
The Sabbath-school is under excellent management, and in several of the classes more than usual interest is manifested. Some from the Sabbath- school have already united with the church and others are coming.
We need a new building for Sabbath- school and church purposes very much
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indeed. The new lot, costing a little over four thousand dollars, has been paid for entirely, and some three hun- dred dollars ip bank, with four thousand dollars more subscribed for our church building.
We hope to have the building erected before October 1st, if the Lord prospers us, and, what is more, paid for.
FROM A HOME MISSIONARY.
RESPONSE TO A CIRCULAR.
Dear Brethren , — Enclosed please find twelve dollars for the suffering home missionaries on the frontier , from Mrs.
T , (my wife,) and Miss Myra
K , her sister. You are aware that
I am a home missionary. Our resources are limited, and we are growing old, and may soon be unable to labor. But we feel deeply for those who are suffer- ing, and are disposed to share with them.
Mrs. T and sister have a little of
their own, out of which this contribu- tion is made.
Out of your last remittance, (duly re- ceived and thankfully,) a portion is set aside for a kindred object. To do this, we dispense with some things usually deemed necessary.
Our little church, numbering only about thirty-five, are working hard to cancel a debt on the manse, of about five hundred and fifty dollars. We hope to report it paid at Presbytery next week. We have expended sixty dollars on the church. In all, over six hundred dollars on the Memorial.
As ever yours, E. W. T.
IOWA.
STEADY GROWTH.
Dear Brother : — Once more I beg to forward my usual quarterly report, as your missionary in this part of the home field.
1st. Members. — Since my last report we have had one communion. It was a delightful occasion. Although only two persons joined the church, yet more people sat down with us at the
table of the Lord than I ever saw in this place, proving that we are gaining steadily on the affections of the God- fearing people of this locality. Several of our members talk of leaving this parish; but they all express regret at losing the happy and delightful exer- cises of Divine worship as conducted in our dear little prairie church. Not a communion season has passed since I came here that we have not had acces- sions. I think only one may be ex- cepted. The population is fluctuating ; but our increase has been steady, and our defections few, and absolutely not one for immorality since I have taken this parish in charge.
2d. Finances. — The failure for the last two or three seasons in our wheat crops has much affected our prospects as a church. My purse has suffered greatly. Yet we have tried to keep the enterprise clear of debt, and have suc- ceeded so far. I am fully aware of our relations to the Board, and should be glad if the few sentences that so point- edly refer to all similar cases were brought under the notice of all our people. But you must bear with us a little longer. Since my appointment to Malcom, my constant care has been to make the church as little burdensome as possible on the Board. We have had much to contend with ; and our poverty, and not our will, consents to our still needing and asking for assist- ance from you. Nominally in receipt $1000, I shall be glad if I get $800. There is no chance of realizing the $100 of which you, in your need I suppose, docked off us. I don’t repine ; but deprecate further reduction till we get a little better off. Many of my mem- bers don’t give a cent ; and it requires time to train them to better habits. Several are Scotch, and come from churches of large membership and small individual subscription. Time is needed to train these to American manners and American liberality. The Baptists have had regular preaching for several months past ; it don’t affect our attendance, although it touches our income. So
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[. October
with the Universalists. Still, I re- peat, our numbers are not affected, for the Methodists, Baptists, and Uni- versalists, all taken together, have not one-half the numbers attending the Presbyterian Church ; but several of their members used to subscribe for us, and whose money will now flow into the other denominations.
3d. Dedication. — I must tell you something of this. Last Sunday morning we dedicated our house to the worship of Almighty God. We had a great success. The Presbyterians stand higher in public esteem than ever. I only wish I had a larger population, and then, by God’s grace and earnest endeavor to work, I should hope to prove to you that I am not unworthy of your confi- dence and support.
Yours in. Christ.
A CHURCH BLOWN DOWN.
Dear Brother,— Since I reported to you last, our town was visited by a terrific storm, from which many suffered, and which did great damage to our church, which had then been completed only a few weeks. This, of course, occa- sioned the suspension during the warm weather of all our services, preaching, Sabbath-school, and prayer-meetings. We have since had the building repaired and are now commencing work again with encouraging prospects.
A few weeks ago a little church was organized at Walnut, a station on the railroad between this place and Avoca. I suppose it will devolve on me to supply it for a time, going out from Avoca when I can.
Yours fraternally, H.
BUILDING A CHURCH.
Dear Brethren , — With thankfulness to a kind Providence, in permitting me to labor steadily through another year, I proceed to pen my fourth quarterly report to the Board.
All my appointments have been regularly met and filled. The congre- gations and stations are in a healthful state. There are a few new settlers that have come in recently, who have
certificates which have not yet been handed in, but will be, when opportunity is afforded, which will be shortly, as the throng of the work season will soon be over.
We have not had a communion at this place for a while, for want of a suitable place to hold it. But we do not expect to be very long without it. Our church building is progressing finely. In about two weeks, the weather continuing favorable, the masons will have the brick-work completed, ready for roofing, which will be put on in a few days, and the basement story finished, ready for use, then we shall be at home. A great need will then have been sup- plied, and a heavy drawback removed.
The building is of brick. The size is thirty-two by fifty feet, with basement.
The town is improving somewhat. A branch railroad is now a fixed fact, con- necting Chariton, on the Burlington and Missouri Biver Railroad, with Cameron, on the Quincy and St. Jo’ Road in Mis- souri.
KANSAS.
I have just closed the last quarter of my first year of labor as a Home Mis- sionary. The work of the last quarter has been very similar in character to that of the rest of the year, with the exception that in accordance with the suggestion of my people, I omitted the evening services in my church during five Sabbaths in the heat of August. During this time I went out and preached at a school-house in a bend of the Kan- sas River, where the people have had no preaching during the past two or three years. My congregations there were very good indeed, and although all denominations were represented, yet they came out well. By extra effort in this direction I think my church in this place will be very much enlarged in the future. I renew the evening service in my church next Sabbath, and when I preach twice in my own church it is about all I can do as a regular work. Our church is every day assuming
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greater importance in this place. Since I sent in the report of last quarter, our people have made a noble effort, and have paid off the debt for seating the church. They have thus raised about seven hundred and fifty dollars this season for seating the church, besides paying my salary, which, with the $3225.80 of last year, I think is a good work for this little society of only forty- three members. But we have still a debt of about seventeen hundred dollars, which hangs as a great burden upon us, and will necessitate our dependence upon the Home Missionary Board at least another year.
The present quarter has not been marked by any special work of Divine grace. Indeed, the spirit of worldliness and the service of mammon prevail so
extensively in this new western country that the gospel does not meet with the reception that it should. The people have to be visited, and receive “ line upon line and precept upon precept” in reference to their duty. They need catechetical instruction and careful training in the good old way of our Presbyterian Church. Kansas as a State is peopled by thousands of families who regard not the Sabbath, and have little respect for religion. They have come West to improve their condition financially, and the service of God is not in all their thoughts. In many re- spects, however, God’s blessing has signally rested upon us as a church, and we hope that our efforts here may soon result in great spiritual good in this entire region.
HOME MISSION APPOINTMENTS MADE IX AUGUST, 1871.
Rev. J. S. Glendenning, Jersey City, Prospect Avenue ch., N. J.
Rev. R. A. Brown, Philadelphia, Trinity ch., Pa.
Rev. Geo. Locker, Philadelphia, Ger. ch., Pa.
Rev. Thos. Thompson, Doe Run and Unionville chs., Pa.
Rev. W. H. Bay, Tuppers Plains and Carthage chs., Ohio.
Rev. J. A. Meeks, Ada, Riley Creek, and North Bethel chs., Ohio.
Rev. S. Carrick Kerr, Mt. Jefferson ch., Ohio.
Rev. D. W. Cooper, Wapakoneta ch., Ohio.
Rev. E. R. Chase, Clyde ch., Ohio.
Rev. Samuel Ward, Claiborne and Howesville chs., Ind.
Rev. C. K. Smoyer, Nokomis and Moweaqua chs., 111.
Rev. Donald Fletcher, Elgin ch., 111.
Rev. Alex. Bartlett, New Providence ch., Tenn.
Rev. A. Spencer, Davisville and Williamston chs., Mich.
Rev. R C. Swinton, Lima ch., Wis.
Rev. Jekn Grob, West Granville ch. and Richland Station, Wis.
Rev. John Berk, Rockville ch., Wis.
Rev. W. M. Hoyt, Middletown ch., Wis.
Rev. E. Jamieson, Robinsonville, Belgian ch., Wis.
Rev. D. W. James, Cambria eh., Wis.
Rev. A. J. Stead, Chippewa Falls ch., Wis.
Rev. Wm. Kendrick, Moulton ch., Iowa.
Rev. Alex. M. Darley, Cherokee and Storm Lake chs., Iowa.
Rev. Jas. J. Wilson, Pleasant Prairie ch., Mo.
Rev. C. H. Dunlap, Sedalia ch., Mo.
Rev. A. D. Laughlin, Millard and Wilson chs., Mo.
Rev. John Elliott, Ottawa ch., Kansas.
Rev. W. W. Curtis, Lyndon and Osage City chs., Kansas.
Rev. Josiah Welch, for Montana.
Rev. C. W. Winnie, for Minnesota.
Rev. Henry J. Brown, Detroit, Calvary Mission, Mich.
Rev. A. Scofield, California and Al^ansee chs., Mich.
Rev. A. Fitz Randolph, Bedford and Fairview chs., Iowa.
Rev. S. L. McAfee, Red Oak Junction and Valisca chs., Iowa.
Rev. E. S. Scott, Shelby County, Iowa.
Rev. Wm. Ellers, Mine La Motte ch., Mo.
RECEIPTS FOR HOME MISSIONS IN AUGUST, 1871.
Synod op Albany. — Pby of Columbia — Jewett ch 8 05. Pby of Troy — Waterford ch, quarterly coll 67 34; Schaghticoke ch 97 $172 39
Synod of Atlantic— Pby of Catawba— Duncan's Creek ch 5 00
Synod of Baltimore.— Pby of Baltimore — Ellicoft City ch 52 00
Synod of Cleveland. — Pby of Cleveland — Rev Jas Shaw, D.D. and family 21. Pby of Mahoning — Kinsman ch 56 35; Poland ch 130, less Record 5 = 125. Pby of St Clairsville— Nottingham ch
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44 55; Buffalo eh 22 60; Concord ch 46 50. Pby of Steubenville — Centre Unity ch. balance of Hanna Fund 25: Saline ville ch 11 50; Bethel ch 12 95; Belhesda ch 10; Harrisburgh ch 4
379 45
Synod of Columbus. — Pby of ZanesviUe— Coshoc- ton ch 35 00
Synod of Erie. — Pby of Erie — Waterford 1st ch
14 75. Pby of Kittanning — Kittannmg 1st ch 1164 26; Curries Run ch 11 10. Pby of Shenango — Hopewell ch 8 1,198 11
Synod of Harrisburgh. — Pby of Carlisle— Peters- burg ch 5; Rocky Spring and St Thomas ehs, estate of Matthew Patton, dec’d 5. Pby of Hunt- ingdon— Lewistown ch 70 80 00
Synod of Illinois Central. — Pby of Bloomington — Benient ch 37 50. Pby of Schuyler — Warsaw 1st ch 12. Pby of Springfield — Beardstovvn Ger ch, Ladies’ Missy Soc’y 25 ; Chatham ch 6 50 81 00 Synod of Illinois, North. — Pby of Chicago — Ninth ch Chicago 61 57; Thornton ch, add’l 1 50; Peotone ch 4 50; Chicago 4th ch 190; Joliet 1st ch, add’l 2 55. Pby of Rock River — Beulah ch Sab-sch 3 65, of which 1 50. contents of Charlie and Susie Fisk’s missionary box; Sterling ch 150 ; Edwards ch 2 415 77
Synod of Illinois, South. — Pby of Alton — Ches- ter ch 12 50. Pby of Cairo — Odin ch 2 83; Mt Vernon ch 50 65 33
Synod of Indiana, North. — Pby of Crawfords- ville — Montezuma eh 4 50; Wea ch 1 50. Pby of Mancie — Union ch 25 12 31 12
Synod of Indiana, South. — Pby of White Water — Fairfield ch 5 00
Synod of Iowa, North. — Pby of Cedar Rapids— Central ch 17 00
Synod of Iowa, South. — Pby of Iowa — Evan- gelical St Peters Ger ch 10 85 ; Rev James Welch 5; Chequest ch 5. Pby of Iowa City — Cedar Valley ch 6 50 27 35
Synod of Kansas. — Pby of Topeka— Oskaloosa ch 5 90
Synod of Kentucky. — Pby of Louisville — Hop- kinsville ch, from Roger Thompson 3. Pby of
Transylvania — Mumfordsville ch 50; Edmund- ton ch 4 57 00
Synod of Long Island. — Pby of Brooklyn — Brooklyn 1st ch, Remsen St, add’l 28 64, mon con; Brooklyn 2d ch Sab-sch 100, add’l; Throop Ave ch, Brooklyn 18 25, mon coll; Rev P J H Myers 10. Pby of Long Island — West Hampton ch 27 ; Speonk eh 5. Pby of Nassau — Astoria ch
100 288 89
Synod of Michigan. — Pby of Kalamazoo — Con- stantine ch 14. Pby of Monroe— Monroe 1st ch
30 44 00
Synod of Minnesota. — Pby of St Paul — Oak Grove ch 16 85
Synod of Missouri. — Pby of St Louis— Kirk- wood ch 15 00
Synod of New Jersey. — Pby of Jersey City — Englewood ch 58o. Pby of Monmouth — Red Bank ch, in part IS. Pby of Morris and Orange — Myersville Ger eh 7 39 ; Morristown lstch 97 11, quarterly coll; Madison ch 229 28; Mount Olive ch 31. Pby of Newton — Newton ch 245 S3. Pby of West Jersey — Pittsgrove ch 46 10, add’l; Vine- land 1st ch 5; Bridgeton 2d ch 44 90 1,307 11
Synod ofNew York.— Pby of Hudson— Palisades ch lu2 98 : Cocheeton ch 6 50. Pby of New York — Madison Square ch 100, add’l; Rutgers St ch Miss’y Soc’y 97 51. Pby of North River — Cold Spring ch 10, mon coll. Pby of Westchester — Greenburg 1st ch, Dobb’s Ferry 10; New Rochelle ch, add’l 22 50, Memorial; Croton Falls ch 8 357 49
Synod of Pacific. — Pby of Benicia — Shiloh ch 12. Pby of San Francisco— Olivet ch, San Fran- cisco 16 28 00
Synod of Philadelphia. — Pby of Chester — West Chester ch 50; Darby 2d ch 16 50; Upper West Nottingham ch, add'd 5. Pby of Lackawanna — Plymouth ch 14. Pbu of Lehigh — Ashland ch 5. Pby of Philadelphia North — Holmesburg ch Sab-
[ October
sch 22 86; Potlstown ch 34 10. Pby of West- minster—Peqyiba. ch 60 207 46
Synod of Pittsburgh.— Pby of Pittsburgh— Cannonsburgh ch 20; Long Islaud ch 5 25: Lawrence viHe ch 31. Pby of Wash-aoton— Wheeling 1st eh 39 75, add'l. Pby of IlWf Vir- ginia— Ceutreville eh 6 102 00
Synod of Tennessee.— Pby of Union— Rev Win H LJle 5 00
Synod of Utica.— Ply of Binghamton— Tomp- kins 1st ch 29. Pby of Otsego — L E R 5; Coopers- town ch 250. Pby of Syracuse — Hannibal ch, from S W Brewster. Esq 50; Cazenovia ch 214 60. Pby of Utica— Forestport and Alden Creek chs 3 71; Grant ch4; South Trenton ch 1 25 557 56
Synod of Western New York.— Pby of Rochester — Charlotte ch 15 50 ; Nunda ch 60 75 50
Synod of Wisconsin. — Pby of Milwaukee — Dela- field and Ottawa chs 10 00. Pby of Winnebago— Omro ch 15, mon con 25 00
Total received from churches, $5,657 28 Legacies. — Legacy of Miss Sarah Downs, dec d, late of Downsville. N Y 1800: Legacy of Sarah McLaughlin, dec’d. late of Beatty, Pa 100, less col int tax 5 = 95; Ferrv Ministry Fund 75; Legacy of John S Wilkin, dec’d. late of Washing- ton Co, Pa 50, less exeh 30 cts = 49 70 2,019 70
Miscellaneous.— G M How, Esq, Chicago, 111 25; Mrs E T M, Philadelphia, Pa 15; “From a deed friend,” Philadelphia, Pa 17; Philadelphia Soc’y of Princeton College, N J 16 25; Mrs J E De Klyn, Irvington, N Y 6 53; Miss Fanny McCreary, Gettysburg. Pa 5, Memorial; Joseph Witherspoon, Gettysburg, Pa 1, Memorial: Mas- ter Bion Scott, Gettysburg, Pa 25 cts, Memorial : “D M H.” 10; Presbyterian Memorial Fund 470 25; Frederick B Hubbell. Philadelphia, Pa 5 ; Jaeob Layenberger, Oxford, Iowa 10; “ Annie.” Wheeling, W Va 15 596 28
Total in August, $8,273 26 S. D. POWEL, Treasurer,
30 Vesey Street, New York.
clothing.
2 boxes from York ch. Pa, valued at 415 00 2 barrels from Allemowu ch. N J, valued at
79 00
$194 00
The Board of Domestic Missions acknowledges the receipt of the following, since March last.
Balance of legacy of Josiah Shelton, dec’d, late of Spencertown, New Y'ork, 1,208 63; Legacy of Mrs Anna Maria Moore, dec’d. late of Da Graff, Ohio. 31 25; legacy of Elizabeth C Chauncey, dec’d, late of Philadelphia, Pa, 5.000, less tax 237 50 = 4,762 50 ; legacy of Alson Sherwood,! dec’d. late of Fishkill, N Y 300; legacy, in part, of Virginia M Holbrook, dec’d, late of Galesviile, Wis, 92 75; rent 807 S8; legacy of Wm S. Baird, dec’d, late of Philadelphia, Pa 1,000; Lusk es- tate, Mississippi 205, loss exchange 1 03 = 203 97 ; estate of Wm Hempstead, dec'd, Galena, 111 50; legacy of Rev Jeremiah Miller, dec’d. late of • Philadelphia 750 f9,206 48
S. D. POWEL, Treasurer.
PRESBYTERIAN ROOMS,
No. 80 Vesey Street, New York City. Cor. Secretaries— Rev. Henry Kendall. D.D.,
Rev. Cyrus Dickson, D.D. Treasurer — Samuel D. Powel.
Letters relating to Missionary Appointments and other operations of the Committee, should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretaries, No. 30 Vesey Street, New York City. Letters re- lating to the pecuniary affairs of the Board, or containing remittances'of money, should be se^t to S. D. Powel, Esq., Treasurer— same address.
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BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the
HARVEST, TEAT HE WILL SEND FORTH LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST. — Matt. ix. 37, 38.
Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children.— Ps. xc.
THE CHIEF END OF A STUDENT.
Just at the season when nature has poured her richest gifts into the lap of man, and begins again, as we see in the falling leaves about our path, the task of the preparation of the soil, in restoring to it and dissolving the products which man could not use, for a new seed-time and harvest, it is customary for our schools of all grades to begin anew the annual round of instruction. There is no time in which the student can more fitly and profitably ask himself: “What is the chief end which I have set before me?”
On the 15th of September, 1648, the English Parliament finally ordered the publication of a document which had been laid before it in the previous November by an assembly of the greatest and wisest men of the kingdom. “The like of that assembly,” says one of its original historians, “ I did never see; and, as we hear say, the like was never in England, nor anywhere else is shortly like to be.” This document, with others, was the fruits of five years’ discussion; “for being to estab- lish a new platform of worship and discipline to their nation for all time to come, they think they cannot be answerable if solidly and at leisure they do not examine every point thereof.” The first words of that document, which have been taught to every generation since, and probably will be taught “for all time,” are these: “ Question — What is the Chief End of Man? Answer — Man’s Chief End is to Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever.” This idea that great assembly of divines in the Abbey of Westminster judged to be at the foundation of all that man is to believe concerning God, and of all that God requires of man.
' What is the Chief End which you have in study? Is it the enjoyment of intellectual pursuits? Is it reputation as a scholar? Is it in order to attain a respectable position in society? Is it for the maintenance and relief from bodily toil, which that position may afford? May God save you from such selfish, earthly, perishing ends. Daily pray that your souls may be cleansed from such motives. Daily seek to fill it with the knowledge, the encouragements, the cautions, the directions, the hopes, which pour upon us like “alight thatshineth in a dark place, until the day dawn,” through the medium of the pages of the word of God.
God may be glorified and enjoyed both in earth and in heaven. Some persons suppose they are only to glorify him here, and that the enjoyment is held in reserve for heaven. But Jesus purposed that his words should bring joy now and here: “ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” The condition, however, is complete consecra- tion and faithful obedience, even unto suffering and death: “I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit.”
Your principal duty now is diligent, patient, thorough, prayerful preparation for your future work. It is like what Nature is doing in dissolving and dissemi- nating in the so’Athe elements for the coming blossoms and fruit and multiplica- tion of the seed.
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In the acquisition, and by the use of every separate study seek to glorify and enjoy God. You are enduring trials and temptations; but even in these, Peter says, we may, through Christ, possess a double gift, and “ rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory/’ To obtain help, consider and imitate Payson’s example as a student. He says : “ Since I began to beg God’s blessing on my studies, I have done more in one week than in the whole year before. Surely it is good to draw near to God at all times.” Aim at his spirit: “ To be a fellow-laborer with Christ, in the glorious work of bringing souls to him, seemed to be the most delightful and honorable of all offices ; and in this service I felt willing to spend and be spent; to suffer pain, contempt, and death itself.” Seek to realize what a pious father and mother, now perhaps in heaven, taught you when a child, and would have you never forget: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” “ Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
A PROTESTANT CHAPLET.
The Roman Catholic, Greek and other churches put into the hands of their members a string of beads, called a rosary or chaplet, which is often made of scented woods or valuable stones, that it may be used in fixing the attention and in remembering the number of their prayers. With some such design do we pre- sent to the pious members of a purer form of faith a series of facts, with the hope that they will bear it in mind in their prayers every morning and evening, and give it consideration in determining their use of the means of doing good which God lias put in their hands. The facts are as follows:
That the salvation of our nation and the evangelization of the world demand a far greater number of men to preach the gospel of Christ.
That it has pleased God greatly to prosper the efforts of our beloved Presby- terian Church; to increase the number of candidates for this great duty; and to grant it at the same time a reasonable security against mistakes in their selection, through the office and care of the Presbyteries.
That the increase of godly and earnest preachers of the gospel is a matter which concerns every congregation of the Church, and most of all the poorest and smallest; and that therefore every congregation should aid this object.
That every father of a Christian family, and every pastor of a flock of the sheep of Christ, is under obligations to give sons to the work of the ministry, and to help to sustain those who are preparing for it ; and those who have not supplied men are the more bound to supply means.
That the Presbyterian Church is determined to encourage her students for the ministry, and aim to relieve them from oppressive cares and hindrances to study, by a more liberal scale of appropriations from her Board of Education.
That the General Assembly has ordered the Board to increase the rates about one-third, so that henceforth theological students will receive $200 per annum ; collegiate, $160 ; and academical $120 ; and that these rates, with the addition to the number of students, necessitate contributions from the churches one»half larger than last year.
That this most important cause needs now thirty thousand dollars each alternate month until May, and, from the circumstances of these young servants of Christ, must have it promptly.
That the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods ; and ^;o every man he gave according to his several ability. After a long time the Lord of those servants
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cometh and reckoneth with them, and him that has been faithful over a few things He will make ruler over many things; and he shall enter into the joy of his Lord.
The two ends of this chaplet are suited to tie together. Each bead is precious, and should be tarried over in prayer and meditation. There are many chaplets whose beads have neither sweet scent nor real value ; whose prayers secure no blessings, either to the person praying or to the object of them. But the chaplet carved all over with the promises given from the lips of the coming Messiah, and relating to the spread and glory of his kingdom, cannot fail of securing a great recompense. And such this chaplet is.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The past generation has witnessed a wonderful revolution in the opinions of the Methodist Church as to the necessity of education for her ministry. No other church has addressed itself with such zeal to the increase of colleges, at suitable locations over the country, of sufficient equipment to meet the wants of the mass of