Theological Seminary at Princeton. 167 Since the last annual Report, the following students have been licensed to preach the Gospel, viz. Phinehas Camp, by the Presbytery of Hudson, Stephen Saunders, Otto S. Hoyt, A certificate of his having fully finished the whole course prescribed in the plan has been given by the Professors to Backus Wilbur. The studies which have been attended to through the year by each class are the following, viz. The first class which completed its course in the fall, have attended to the composition and delivery of a Sermon, and the Pastoral care. The class which in the fall became the first, to Didactic and Polemic Theology, Ecclesiastical History, and Church Government. The second class, to the study of the Scriptures in the English translation, Biblical History, the original languages of Scripture, Campbell's Dissertations, Didactic Theology, and Ecclesiastical History. And the third class which was formed at the commencement of the winter session, to the study of the Scriptures in the English translations, Sacred Chronology, Sacred Geography, Biblical History, the Original Languages of Scripture, and Jewish Antiquities. The Professors in their report to the Board have repeated their former favourable statement, respecting the general spirit and deportment of the students under their care. And the Board are peculiarly gratified to have it in their power to state, that of the small number of the students, who have been in this seminary, no - less than thirteen have through the year past been engaged in missionary labours; and several of them with much success, as appears from their journals read before, the Assembly. At the close of each of the sessions through the year, the Board attended to a careful examination of the students, in which they received entire satisfaction. On the subject of Female Societies, for the support of necessitous students, the Board are happy to report, that they have been informed by the Professors, the following sums have been forwarded for this object, viz. Female Cent Society of 2d Church, Newark, (N. J.) $76 25 1st do. do. Philadelphia -150.00 145 04 do. Bridgetown (Cumb. N. J.) 35 76 Philadelphia 54 371/20 $461 42 168 5th Report of the Directors of the Brought forward 461 425 Female Cent Society of Brick Church (N. Y.) do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 2d do. do. Elizabeth Town (N. J.) Blooming Grove (N. Y.) 104 00 48 58 30 28 101 00 "} 41.50 33.93 Number of Ladies of Philadelphia Female Association of 1st Presbyterian Cong. Newark 32 18 294 00 100 00 376 00 Total $2263 55/ By means of these generous donations, there have been supported, through the year past in the Seminary, either in whole or in part, sixteen students, the most of whom would probably otherwise not have received the advantages of the institution. Through the year past, several valuable books have been added to the library. Nineteen volumes have been purchased, and fortyeight volumes have been presented. The Board have through the year progressed in the erection of the principal edifice for the Theological Seminary. It is now enclosed, and has been erected on the plan, reported to a former Assembly, and approved by them. The Board have expended the whole of the appropriation of the last year, and the unexpended balance of the former year, amounting together to $20, 598. And the Building Committee finding that this sum was insufficient to put the building under cover, and secure it from the weather, which was deemed very important before the winter commenced, and which the last Assembly ordered to be done, felt themselves reluctantly constrained to incur an expense beyond the appropriation. They accordingly expended $3,000, and became responsible themselves for the sum, in confidence that the Assembly would agree to assume the same. After expending this sum, the committee found on carefully collecting the outstanding accounts, and which it was impracticable to collect before, that there was due an additional sum of $1,400. In the spring they found that several things still needed to be done on the exterior of the building, to secure it from the weather. But unwilling to take further responsibility on themselves, they procured the calling of a special meet Theological Seminary at Princeton. 169 ing of the Board, and laid this matter before them. The Board considering the necessity of the case, passed the following resolution, viz. "That it be recommended to the committee of building, to proceed immediately in doing those things which are absolutely necessary to protect the edifice from the weather." Conformably to this resolution, the building committee have proceeded in necessary expenses to the amount of $900; making an excess of expenditure, above the appropriation of $5,300. The Board believe that imperious necessity, required the course that has been pursued; and they had no alternative, but either to leave what they had already done to great injury, or to exceed the appropriation in the expenditures as they have done. The Board would further report that they have on hand materials amounting in value to about $1,500. Of the appropriation of the last Assembly for the general purposes of the Institution of $4,000, together with the balance of the former year of $541, the Board have expended the following sums, viz: Professors' salaries and house rent Travelling expenses of distant directors $4,200 00 Contingencies for Printing, &c. 53 80 135 41 $4,389 21 Leaving a balance of this appropriation unexpended, of $151 79 The Board would further report to the assembly, that to render the Theological Edifice fit to accommodate the Institution, it will be necessary to finish the two lower stories, except such public rooms as may not be immediately wanted, and also some lodging rooms in the third story; and that the expense to complete this will be about fifteen or sixteen thousand dollars which sum, according to the statement they have just received from the Treasurer of the General Assembly, is about the amount of the whole of the funds of the Theological Seminary, except those which can be appropriated only to the support of necessitous students. From this statement the Assembly will readily perceive the imperious nesessity of making, without delay, vigorous exertions to increase the funds of the institution.* Signed by order of the Board, John McDowell, Secretary. ASHBEL GREEN, President. Philadelphia, May 20, 1817. The Assembly have earnestly recommended a collection to be taken up in all the churches within their bounds, to meet the present exigencies of the institution, on the first Sabbath in November next; or, if prevented on that day, on some following Sabbath of that month; and that the pastors of the respective churches, on the day of the collection, preach a sermon adapted to the occasion. The Assembly have also appointed agents throughout their bounds, to solicit subscriptions in aid of the funds of the Seminary. 170 Students at the Theological Seminary at Princeton. APPENDIX. The Theological Seminary has now been in operation nearly five years. The number of students who have been in the Institution from its commencement, including those now in it, amount to ninety. 1 Of these, fourty-four have been licensed to preach the GospelTwenty are settled pastors, several of them in the most important congregations within our bounds; and the labours of several of them have already been blessed with special revivals of religion.— Nineteen of them have been engaged, or are now engaged in missionary labours, or have accepted missionary appointments. The labours of several of them on missionary ground, have been very signally blessed. Congregations in very important situations have been formed through the instrumentality of their labours; and the outpouring of the Spirit has in several instances followed them.The field of labour into which many of them'have gone or are going, is exceedingly important. Through the last year the students of the Seminary have been actively engaged on missionary ground in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana, and the Michigan and Illinois Territories-And appointments have now heen accepted, in addition to other regions, for the Missouri Territory, the Mississippi Territory, and Mobile and the city of New Orleans. The students have been acitively and successfully engaged in the vicinity of the Seminary in promoting the interests of religion. And there is now existing among the students a society of inquiry respecting missions; this society was instituted in the spring of 1814. It meets once a month. Its object is to store the minds of the students with a knowledge on missionary subjects, to ascertain the situation and wants of destitute regions of the world, and the best means of spreading the Gospel among them; and to enkindle and cherish the spirit of missionaries in their own souls—It is especially to this institution that the missionary spirit is to be ascribed, which has lately been excited among the students of the seminary, and which promises to be extensively useful to the Redeemer's Kingdom. These facts speak a language in favour of the Seminary which cannot be mistaken. If any thing can animate its friends, and reconcile to its support those who have hitherto regarded it with aversion, or indifference, it is the extensive benefits which it has already procured to the church. However christians may differ as to the means of doing good, they must rejoice in all those efforts which promote the glory of God, and accomplish the designs of his grace, in the salvation of men. The claims of the Theological Seminary at Princeton do not rest on the promises of usefulness, but on the actual advantages which it has furnished. Already it has sent forth able and faithful labourers into the harvest; workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The prayers of the church are answered. The borders of our country Building of the Theological Seminary. 171 are pressed with the feet of missionaries who have been educated in this institution. Sinners are now listening to the gospel from lips that have drunk deeply at the fountains of sacred truth. The student has exchanged his place at the feet of his teachers, to engage in the active labours of the cross, and to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ.-In various parts of the Church, desolated by the death of the fathers, have risen the children; and it is a most gratifying circumstance, one which we consider as a peculiar manifestation of divine favour, that in some congregations, where the pastor was chosen from among the students of our Seminary, there have been extensive revivals. In proportion as this institution shall be known, it will gain on the affections of the churches. Its importauce must be felt in every section of our community. It is a fountain which enjoys, it is believed, the favour and protection of Zion's king;-his own right hand is throwing into it the salt of grace, and its streams are already flowing to revive the desert. To protect it, to give it the full advantages of the cordial exertions and prayers of the church, are duties which the indications of Providence and palpable events have placed beyond the reach of doubt, or question. It requires the prompt and prayerful aid of its friends. This is a season of deep interest to its welfare. Every day its importance and respectability are rising. The hopes of its friends are more than realized; the practicability of its design is reduced to demonstration. We call upon our churches to contribute to its funds,-io redeem their pledge, to give it all the ardour of their supplication,. and so much of their substance as shall enable it to do all the good of which it is capable. The edifice, founded for the accommodation of the Seminary, has already nearly exhausted the funds hitherto collected. The building, now enclosed, will be at once a credit and a blessing to the church. To finish it will require a vigorous exertion. Our faith in the mercy of the Lord is unshaken. The tokens of his favour forbid our fear; the hearts of men are in his hand, and the silver and the gold will not be withheld from the work which he delights to prosper. When we reflect that there are several thousand professors of our denomination, among whom there are hundreds who could alone and without the sacrifice of one comfort of life, complete this important edifice, shall we doubt the inclination and zeal, the piety and liberality of our collected friends? From what has been done we may anticipate what this institution is designed to do. It requires not the spirit of prophecy to foresee that by its instrumentality, under the favour of God, the waste places of Zion will be rebuilt-sinners will be converted to Jesus-his children strengthened, comforted, and confirmed. To this generation it is vastly important—to the next it is STILL MORE SO; and we cannot but believe that the millennial morn will be spread upon it, as upon the mountains; that it is one of the precursors of the season of righteousness, and may have a deep instrumentality in |