proceedings. The Presbyterian Education Society and its branches have assisted 58 beneficiaries since they commenced their operations. Their receipts last year amounted to $2,310. The Education Society of Philadelphia have assisted 17 beneficiaries since their organization; and have at present seven entirely dependent on their funds for clothing, books, board, and tuition; besides five others, whom they have assisted in part. This society has expended, in the last year, $1392, 75. The Presbytery of Redstone has formed a society auxiliary to the board, and supports two young men who are pursuing their academical studies. The Presbytery of Miami has three beneficiaries, on whom they have expended in the last year $180.

The Presbytery of Missouri have two beneficiaries under their care; but unable to support more than one, they ask that assistance from the Board, which, alas! it is unable to givé.

The Assembly has recommended that the auxiliary societies and presbyteries send up their reports to this Board by the 15th of May annually. In our judgment, all the presbyteries ought to report to this Board by that date, all their educational proceedings, that a digest of them may be prepared for the Assembly. This would save much time which is now occupied in appointing a special committee on the subject annually, and in hearing and deciding on the attention which sixty-two presbyteries have paid to this important business. In short, the Education Board should manage as completely the whole business of presbyterially educating poor and pious youth for the gospel ministry, as the Board of Missions does that of the missionary concerns of the Assembly. Every presbytery which has no young men under its care, should take up collections nevertheless, and transmit them to the general funds of the Board, for the benefit of the

most needy members of our ecclesiastical body. This would present the pleasing spectacle of a great whole providing for the wants of every constituent part, by that which every limb and joint supplieth.

Two.references of considerable interest were brought before the Assembly. One related to the validity of the ordination of a Baptist elder, on which subject the Assembly adopted the following minute:

"It is not among the principles or usages of the Presbyterian church to consider the ordination of ministers by other Protestant churches as invalid; on the contrary, the Presbyterian church has always considered the ordinations of most other Protestant churches as valid in themselves, and not to be repealed, when those who have received them become members of the Presbyterian church. Nor is it perceived that there is any sufficient reason why the ordinations in the Baptist church should not be considered valid, and sustained as such.

"But while the Presbyterian church can act as has now been stated in regard to ordinations, it is among those principles and usages which she regards as most sacred and important, to secure for her churches, both a pious and a learned ministry; and she cannot admit of any usage, or exercise any apparent liberality inconsistent with security in this essential particular. On the whole, therefore," the Assembly "resolved, that when applications are made by ministers of the Baptist or any other Protestant denomination, to be connected with the Presbyterian church, the presbytery to which the applications are made, shall require all the qualifications both in regard to piety and learning which are required of candidates for licensure or ordination of those who have originally belonged to the Presbyterian church; and shall require the applicants from other denominations to continue their study and preparation till they are found on trial and examination to be qualified in learning, and ability to teach in the manner requir ed by our standards; but that when found to be thus qualified, it shall not be necessary to reordain the said applicants, but only to instal them, when they are called to settle in Presbyterian congregations."

The other reference was from the Synod of Pittsburgh on the subject of Free Masonry. It seems that this ancient institution, designed to pro

mote benevolent purposes, has been | abused in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, so that if a man became a Freemason, it was nearly certain that he would absent himself from every place of public worship, and from all the ordinances of our holy. religion. This induced the synod to lift up their warning voice against masonry, to guard their young people from what they conceived to be its legitimate fruits. But the best of institutions may be perverted to the worst of purposes; and because in Pittsburgh masonry may have been used as an engine of evil, it would not be fair to infer that masonry in itself is immoral, and ought to disqualify one for admission to the privileges of the church.

The Assembly patiently heard the temperate remarks of Drs. Miller and Blatchford, who are believed themselves to be of the masonic order, and of several reverend members of the synod of Pittsburgh. It was then decided, with very little opposition, that the main question on this subject should not be put; and according to our rules the whole was thereby indefinitely postponed. The Assembly, from the first introduction of this business seemed inclined to pursue this course, because masonry itself was not deemed a proper subject of ecclesiastical legislation. It is certainly productive of many works of benevolence; and many lodges have been forward in supporting the cause of the Bible and of missions. If any mason, who is a professing Christian, conducts amiss, let him be dealt with according to the laws of Christ, and let not masonry be charged with his faults, until they can be proved to have originated in the principles and legitimate practices of that order in society.

The only other business of the Assembly, of any permanent interest, related to several appeals from inferior judicatures.

Mr. William Vance having been married to a sister of his deceased

wife, was, for this connexion, suspended from church privileges, by the Session of Cross Creek. He ap. pealed to the Presbytery of Washington in Pennsylvania, which confirmed the judgment of the Session, and then appealed from the decision of that Presbytery to the General Assembly; which supreme judicature resolved,

"1st. That in the opinion of this Gene. ral Assembly, the marriage of a man to the sister of his deceased wife, and all similar connexions, are highly inexpedient, unfriendly to domestic purity, and exceedingly offensive to a large portion of our churches.

"2dly. That it be, and it hereby is earnestly enjoined upon the ministers, elders, and churches of our communjon to take every proper occasion to impress the sentiments contained in the foregoing resolution on the public mind; and by all suita ble means to discourage connexions so unfavourable in their influence on the peace and edification of the church.

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3dly. That while the Assembly adopt the opinion, and would enforce the injunction above expressed, they are by no means prepared to decide, that such marriages as that in question, are so plainly prohibited in scripture, and so undoubtedly incestuous, as necessarily to infer the exclusion of those who contract them, from church privileges: they therefore refer the case of Mr. Vance back again to the Session of the Church of Cross Creek, agreeably to former decisions of the General Assembly, in similar cases, to be disposed of in such manner as the said Session may think most conducive to the interest of religion."

An appeal from the decision of the Synod of Geneva, by Mr. Jabez Spicer was considered. He had been deposed by a sentence of the Presbytery of Onondaga, which was confirmed by the Synod. The assembly on mature deliberation

"Resolved, That the appeal of Mr. Spicer be sustained, on the ground that the sentence pronounced upon him was disproportioned to his crime; it not appearing substantiated that he was guilty of more than a single act of prevarication. While, therefore, the Assembly express their entire disapprobation of the conduct of Mr. Spicer, as unbecoming a Christian and Christian minister; they reverse the sentence of deposition passed upon him by the presbytery, and direct, that after suitable admonitions and acknowledg

ments he be restored to the ministerial office."

Another appeal was connected with the preceding case. The Synod of Geneva decided, that one of the charges on which the Presbytery of Onondaga deposed Mr. Spicer, had not been proved. The Presbytery appealed; and the Assembly confirmed the judgment of the Sy

nod.

Mr. James Gilkinson, of Kentucky, was suspended from the privileges of the church, by the session of the particular church to which he belonged, on the positive testimony of one witness to his criminality, connected with the corroborating evidence of several other circumstantial witnesses. He appealed to the Presbytery of Transylvania, which affirmed the judgment of the session; and then to the Synod of Kentucky, which reversed the sentence of suspension. The presbytery appealed from this decision of the synod to the General Assembly, which supreme judicatory sustained the appeal of presbytery, reversed the judgment of the synod, and confirmed the original suspension by the session. This was a difficult case; and while the judgment of the Assembly is thought to be equitable, every one who has heard of the trial, or had any participation in it, must sincerely wish, if Mr. G. is innocent, that his innocence may be brought to light; and that the perjury of his accuser, if she is a perjured person, may be exposed.

An appeal of Mr. Benjamin Bell, from a decision of the Presbytery of Geneva, and from a decision of the Synod of Geneva, was laid before the Assembly, who dismissed the same, because it did not appear that Mr. Bell had given the judicatories appealed from, due notice of his intention to appeal. He had informed individuals of the presbytery and synod of his appeal, but the judicatories, as such, had never been notified of his appeal, and consequently were unprepared for trial.

An appeal of Mr. James Atwater, from a decision of the Synod of Geneva, was brought before the Assembly. He requested that some member of the Assembly might be appointed to manage his cause for him, because he could not attend; and the writer of this article was desired to act as his counsel, in the trial. Mr. A. had been excommunicated by the church in Genoa; and the synod had confirmed this sentence. It appeared, that the charge on which he was tried was not relevant; for it did not charge him with any crime worthy of church censure. It accused him, indeed, of the want of due circumspection in some statements, which were not proved to have been false, and uttered by him, with an intention to deceive, he knowing them to be false. The Assembly learned that he had some time ago removed from Genoa to the bounds of another congregation; and it was

"Resolved, That the appeal of Mr. Atwater be sustained, and it hereby is sustained; and that Mr. Atwater have liberty, as a member of the Presbyterian church, in regular standing, to connect himself with any church which may be disposed to receive him."

The judicial committee brought before the Assembly an appeal of Mr. Joseph Sheldon, from a decision of the Synod of Geneva, which affirmed his excommunication from church privileges. The appellant being absent, requested the Assembly to appoint some one to act as his counsel in the trial of his appeal; and the writer was called on to perform this service. Here too, was a trial, and the infliction of the highest censure of the church, without any sufficient charge of any violation of any one commandment of the moral law. He was not charged with passing, or attempting to pass, counterfeit money, knowing it to be so; or with having passed it at all; but with delivering a five dollar bill, to a man who received it, with the allegation, but not with a

positive oath, of his having received it in payment of the taxes of the person to whom he delivered it, through his son. The recipient of this bank note gave his own personal note for the same amount, which he was obliged to pay. It was a matter of complaint, that the sum paid for this personal note was not refunded, when the son of the recipient attempted to prove a negative, that he did not pay it to Sheldon; but the counterfeit note was never offered to Sheldon with the demand that he should again receive it, and refund the five dollars of good money, paid on the personal note given for it. Sheldon always professed his willingness to have this matter settled by law, that he might detect the source of these bad notes; and to abide by the decision of a court of justice in the case. It was not proved, that he was bound in justice to take back the bad note, which he believed he had received for the taxes of the person to whom he returned it, and from whom he obtained five dollars in current money; nor was the least evidence of fraudulent intention proved to the Assembly by all the testimony sent up on the appeal. The Assembly, therefore, sustained the appeal of Mr. Sheldon; and he of course stands as he did before the commencement of the process against him.

We cannot but remark, that if persons are sentenced to be hung, they ought first to be accused of, and tried for, some alleged crime, worthy of death.

Other transactions of the Assembly, it is not important to particularize in this summary view. Suffice it to say, that the Assembly of 1821 was numerous, respectable, and uncommonly harmonious; and that prosperity seems to attend on all the exertions of the widely spread, and still extending Presbyterian church in the United States of America.

E. S. E.

THE MODEST CHRISTIAN.

The man whose heart is modelled after the image of his Redeemer, is one, who ever keeps in view that perfect pattern of all perfection. Knowing the deceitfulness of his heart, he treads the vale of this life with fear and trembling. The more his understanding is informed by the word and Spirit of God, concerning the great principles and duties of the Christian life; the more humble he becomes, and steadfastly looks to, and learns of him who was meek and lowly. He is aware that there are many actions of his Lord and Master, his glorious head and best friend, in which he never can follow him: but his chief desire is, rather to attain to a resemblance of his Saviour in holiness of heart and life, and in obedience to the will of his heavenly Father, than, might it be given him, to unstop the ears of the deaf or openthe eyes of the blind.

It is the moral part of the character of Jesus Christ, which he copies; and he feels that this he could not do, unless he were really interested in him as his propitiation for sin. He values highly the examples of saints, which are to him incentives to piety and godliness; but to follow the footsteps of his divine deliverer, he esteems more eligible and safe; for, by following them, he cannot err from the way that leads to holiness, and terminates in life eternal. He walks by faith in him, who is the only way to heaven. In proportion as his faith in the Redeemer is strong, the greater is his fear of offending so good a God, who has done so much in and for him, by any rash deed that would dishonour his name; or by cold indifference to his cause and interest. Being called by the Spirit of grace to a holy profession, his greatest care is to glorify God in soul, body and spirit, because he has redeemed him from guilt and condemnation by the blood of atone

ment, and rescued him from the dominion of sin by his almighty power:

His faith is a living principle, active and operative; for he continually draws supplies of strength and grace from Him who is the source of all good. This grace leads him to conceal from the eye of man, those charities of life, those deeds of real goodness, which the ostentatious man boasts, and takes the utmost care to display. The maxim of his pattern, he practises-not to let the left hand know what the right hand doeth. He sounds no trumpet before him. When he enters the house of God, he is the attentive hearer, the faithful applier of the word of life, that in the world he may be the doer of that word, by having his conversation in every scene and circumstance, similar to that of his Lord. He retires to the bosom of his family, there to rule his house in peace. With them he surrounds the domestic altar, in humble praise and prayer, to that God, whom though unseen he loves; and offers his whole heart, through the merits of his great High Priest, as a pure offering to God; for it is a broken and a contrite heart. His devotions flow from the living principle of gratitude and cheerful thanksgiving to the Great Being, in whom he hourly lives and moves; for he, by happy experience, can adapt the language of the saint of old to his state and frame; "all my Springs are in thee." Here it is, that the deepest awe pervades his heart, when he approaches the throne of God, through the mediation of his Redeemer. His words are few, but well ordered. He comes with filial fear, yet with humble boldness, and pours out his whole soul, because he pleads for mercy through atoning blood.

When called to active duty, in his social intercourse with the world, his chief endeavour is to keep a conscience void of offence, in the eye of God and man; for having his divine model ever in view, although VOL. I.

like his Master, his good may be evil spoken of by the wicked of the world, and the tongue of envy may withhold its applause, yet the men of the world cannot deny him the approbation of their hearts. In worldly affairs his maxim is that divine one, "to use the things of this world so as not to abuse them, knowing that every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of light." His wealth, if blessed with it, he spends not in the sumptuous entertainment to pamper the bloated fool, the voluptuary, or sycophantic flatterer; nor in the gewgaw shadow of a fair exterior; but in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and pointing the houseless stranger to a home; with that modesty which desires concealment, even from those, whom his generous heart has relieved from misery. And if an all-wise and good Providence has withheld his bounties from him, he is content with devising that good for others, that he has not the power to perform.

He is chiefly found in the midst of the household of faith. There he encourages, by his presence, the timid, and confirms in faith the wavering. If, in the warmth of his zeal, he exhorts sinners to turn unto God, it is more by his actions and godly example, than by unmeaning, fanatical and boisterous declamation. If he enters into the fold of Christ, it is by the door, for he hates the thought of climbing into the fold by any other way, than that which Christ has opened and appointed.

The flock of Christ is dear to him for his shepherd's sake; but he will not wrest them from their proper overseer for party purposes, or to gain a name. He is willing to collect the wandering, and by his faithful admonitions to warn them of the pitfalls, snares and dangers, that are laid for them in a sinful world, if they stray again from the fold. In him the carnal man beholds the reality of

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