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some progress had been made, in receiving communications on the state of religion, the Assembly adjourned till 4 o'clock, P. M. Concluded with prayer."

It will be recollected by the readers of this Magazine, that, in a former number, notice was taken of a society recently established at Washington for the benefit of the Indians. This subject came before the Assembly, who expressed their favourable opinion of that society, as will appear from the following minute :

"The committee, to which was referred a communication from Dr. Morse, Corresponding Secretary of the American Society for promoting the civilization and general improvement of the Indians within the United States; together with the constitution of said society, reported, that they had examined those documents, and they recommended the following resolutions, which were adopted, viz:

"1. That the General Assembly highly approve of the objects proposed to be accomplished by said society.

"2. That the plan of operation of the said society appears calculated to awaken general attention to this important subject, to command great facilities, and obtain efficient means for promoting the temporal and eternal welfare of our heathen neighbours; and for securing peace and friendly intercourse among those who have been too much alienated from each other, although belonging to the same common family.

"3. The Assembly, therefore, would devoutly implore the blessing of the God of mercy upon the exertions of the said society; and recommend to the members of the Church to lend what assistance they can, in forwarding this laudable design."

The contemplated union between our church and the Associate Reformed Church, was consummated during the sitting of the last Assembly. On Tuesday, May 21st, the following communication from the general Synod of that Church, was presented by a committee appointed for the purpose:

"Resolved, That this Synod approve and hereby do ratify the plan of Union between the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and the Associate Reformed Church, proposed by Commissioners from said Churches.

"Extract from the minutes of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church.-Philadelphia, 21st May, 1822.

"JAMES LAURIE, Moderator, "J. ARBUCKLE, Clerk.

"Resolved, That a copy of the above resolution, authenticated by the Moderator and the Clerk, be immediately sent to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and that Rev. Ebenezer Dickey, and Dr. Robert Patterson be a committee to wait upon the Assembly with said resolution.

"J. ARBUCKLE, Clerk." The above communication having been read, the Assembly passed the following resolutions:

"Resolved, That the Assembly receive this communication with great pleasure; and the Rev. Jonas Coe, D. D.; the Rev. Thomas M'Auley, LL. D.; the Rev. William Gray, of the Presbytery of New York, and Mr. Divie Bethune were appointed a committee to wait upon said Synod; and, inasmuch as the different Presbyteries under the care of the Synod, cannot appoint Delegates to attend the present General Assembly, cordially to invite all the Delegates to the Synod, to take their seats in this House, as members of the Assembly,

"Resolved, moreover, that the committee aforesaid be directed to request the members of said Synod, to attend this Assembly on to-morrow, at 4 o'clock P. M. that we may, unitedly, return thanks to Almighty God for the consummation of this union."

The committee named in the last resolution having discharged their pleasing duty, "the members of the Synod attended" the next day in the afternoon, when "an appropriate psalm and hymn were sung, and two appropriate prayers were addressed to the throne of grace; one by a member of the Assembly and the other by a member of the Synod." ""The scene was deeply interesting and affecting;" it "exhibited a union of heart, as well as a union in form."

It is matter of congratulation that two sections of the Presbyterian Church in this country, having the same admirable standards of doctrine, and holding the same principles of ecclesiastical government, long sundered apart by points, in our estimation, of no importance, have now become ONE CHURCH. We only regret that the union was not consummated with greater unanimity on the part of our brethren; and that any whom we had hoped to receive as members of our family, should hesitate to dwell with us in the same habitation.

It appears from the Assembly's minutes, that they have under their care 66 presbyteries, and 1411 congregations.

A committee was appointed by the Assembly for the purpose of proposing to the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church a union of correspondence; and we are gratified in learning that the proposition has been accepted by that body, and that they have appointed delegates to attend the next General Assembly.

In consequence of a communication from the managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society, the Assembly passed the following recommendatory resolutions :

"1. Resolved, That it be recommended to our churches to form Auxiliary Societies and Associations, in aid of the United Foreign Missionary Society, wherever it may be practicable.

"2. Resolved, That it be recommended to our churches to take up collec. tions at the monthly concert prayer meetings, in aid of the funds of this Society, that their alins may ascend with their prayers for a memorial before God, and that their benefactions may prove how sincerely they desire the coming of the Redeemer's kingdom and the conversion of the world."

This Society is sometimes confounded with "the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions." But they are entirely distinct, though fellow labourers in the same blessed cause. The latter institution is located in New England; the former in New York, and is under the immediate patronage of the General Assembly of our church. It was originated by the Assembly; when first established it embraced as members persons belonging to three denominations of Christians; but in consequence of the amalgamation of the Associate Reformed

Church with our church, it now embraces but two denominations. To the support of this important society the Presbyterian church stands pledged.

We take the liberty of suggesting to the managers the propriety of sending agents to solicit contributions from the churches in New England. Agents from the American Board have, year after year, made numerous collections and formed auxiliary societies within the bounds of the Presbyterian church. The managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society have then a just claim to assistance from the churches in New England. We praise their exertions in the Missionary cause; we wish them increasing success. But have they done in the way of pecuniary contributions what their circumstances would have enabled them to do? A few have acted nobly; but the great body of Christians could have done much more. All that has been expended by the American Board might have been easily contributed by the New England churches without foreign aid. If then agents were sent by the managers of our society to visit those churches, a new argument might be urged which could not be resisted. They might say, "we have helped you; and now in return we ask you to help us in the common cause."

But let it be observed, this is not proposed in order to relieve the Presbyterian churches. Relieve them, did we say? From what? A burden? What burden? What have they yet done in this great business of sending the gospel to the benighted pagans ? Some congregations have freely and frequently contributed, but the great mass of our people have done very little. One eighth of a dollar contributed annually by every member of our numerous congregations, would not only replenish, but make our treasury overflow; and there would be an abundance for some time for all our missionary purposes, both foreign and domestic. And could not almost every individual contribute such a pittance for sending the gospel to the destitute and perishing? Multitudes could give much more: many one dollar; many five; many ten; many twenty; many fifty; not a few an hundred; and some, on whom God has bestowed abundant riches, two, three, four, five, and even one thousand dollars. Nothing is wanting but a willing heart.

We are happy to state that the Assembly have appointed a third professor in their Theological Seminary at Princeton; and that the Rev. Charles Hodge was, with great unanimity, elected Professor of Oriental and Biblical Literature.

This appointment will not, for three years, increase the expense of the Assembly in supporting their Seminary; for a few individuals have engaged, during that time, to make up the additional sum which the salary allowed to this professor will occasion in the annual expenditure.

THE PHLADELPHIA SUNDAY AND ADULT SCHOOL UNION, Held their fifth annual meeting the 21st of May last, in the First Presbyterian Church. The report and the appendix which they have published, present an interesting view of the progress of those valuable auxiliaries to the gospel ministry, Sunday schools. In 1815, the first school of the kind in this country was established, whether at New York or at Philadelphia is of no great consequence. From that time to the present, they have spread over all our states with astonishing rapidity.

The following statement of the number of schools in their connexion is given by this Union:

"There have been added to the Sunday and Adult School Union within the past year, 89 schools, 473 teachers, and 7079 learners.

"Making the whole number now in connexion, 402 schools, 4,197 teachers, and 31,297 learners.

"Of the above schools,

Four are in Massachusetts.

Fifteen in New York.

Seventy-seven in New Jersey.

Two hundred and twenty-six in Pennsylvania.

Sixteen in Delaware.

Eighteen in Maryland.

Twenty-three in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

One in North Carolina.

Twelve in South Carolina.

Six in Kentucky.

Two in Ohio.

One in Indiana.

One in Missouri.

In Philadelphia connected with the Union, 72 schools, 754 teachers, and 7090 learners."

Unconnected with this society there are in Philadelphia " 18 schools, 190 teachers, and 1368 learners ;" which, added to those in connexion with the Union, make in all in this city 90 schools, 944 teachers, 8458 learners.

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In regard to schools in other parts of this country, not in union with them, the Board inform us that they can present but a partial statement."

"In Boston there are about 16 schools and 1500 learners.

"In New York there are three Unions, having about 90 schools, 1100 teachers, and 8000 learners.

"In Baltimore, 40 schools, 430 teachers, and 2825 learners."

Among the Indians there are more than eleven schools, in which are 508 scholars.

"Three of the schools are located in New York; four in the Cherokee nation; one in the Choctaw nation; two in the Chickasaw nation; one in Indiana; two on the Arkansas, and one in Missouri."

During the year the Board have published:

"173,000 Tracts,

81,000 Premium Books,

25,000 Sunday School Hymn Books, 4th and 5th editions,

1,000 Sunday School Prayer Book,

2,000 Sunday School Teacher's Guide,

3,000 Scripture Illustrations,

3,000 Copies of the Fourth Annual Report, 8,000 Class Books and Class Papers, 500,000 Blue and Red Tickets."

"To a mind interested in the progress of the gospel, it is peculiarly delightful to survey, as from an eminence, the present state of the church. When Robert Raikes first put forth his hand to the erection of a Sunday school, little did he suppose, that, under God, he was giving an impetus to the energies of Christendom. Little did he suppose, that, the few names assembled by his influence, were the first fruits of a whole generation. We, however, are privileged to behold, not only throughout Europe and America, but, also, in Asia and Africa, the sacred day devoted to training multitudes of infant hearts for Heaven."

This is encouraging indeed; and we hope this society and all others of the kind will press on their benevolent work with increasing zeal, cheered by the smiles of Heaven, till in all lands and nations infant voices shall be heard singing the praises of our Immanuel.

FROM BRUCE'S JUVENILE ANECDOTES.

ADVANTAGES OF PARENTAL INSTRUCTION.

"I esteem it an honour," said one, "that I am descended from ancestors more eminent for their piety than their rank, and more illustrious for their virtues than their wealth." Such children are distinguished as the "seed which the Lord hath blessed;" and "they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." They are early brought into the bond of the covenant, and are favoured with pious instruction, enforced by a holy example, and watered with many affectionate tears and prayers. In all cases, a religious education is a powerful restraint from the commission of sin; and in many instances it is blessed to the conversion of the youthful heart to GoD. Timothy, by reading the holy scriptures, which, probably, he was early taught by his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice, was made wise unto salvation: and many of the brightest ornaments of the Christian church have received from godly parents their first serious impressions.

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"Children," says Mr. CECIL, "are capable of very early impressions. I imprinted on my daughter the idea of faith at a very early age. She was playing one day with a few beads, which seemed wonderfully to delight her. Her whole soul was absorbed in her beads. I said, 'My dear, you have some pretty beads there? Yes, papa.' And you seem vastly pleased with them? Yes, papa.' Well now, throw 'em behind the fire.' The tears started into her eyes. She looked earnestly at me, as if she sought to have a reason for so cruel a sacrifice. Well, my dear, do as you please: but you know I never told you to do any thing, which I did not think would be for your good.' She looked at me a few moments longer, and then summoning up all her fortitude, her breast heaving with the effort, she dashed them into the fire. Well,' said I, 'there let them lie: you shall hear more about them another time; but say no more of them now.' Some days after, I bought her a box full of larger beads, and toys of the same kind. When I returned home, I opened the treasure, and set it before her: she burst into tears with excessive joy. These, my child,' said I, are yours, because you believed me when I told you to throw those paltry beads behind the fire; your obedience has brought you this treasure. But now, my dear, remember as long as you live what FAITH is. I did all this to teach you the meaning of faith. You threw your beads away when I bid you, because you had faith in me that I never advised you but for your good. Put the same confidence in GoD: believe every thing that he says in his word. Whether you understand it or not, have faith in him that he means your good.'

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