stitution, doctrines, and worship of that Catholic Church, whose universal reception, and evangelical inflaence among men, is to constitute the blessed reign of millennial glory; and whose exalted hallelujahs, in its triumphant state, are to celebrate the eternal praises of God and of the Lamb!

With this animating view of the character of their institution, the Board respectfully submit to the Society, a Report of their proceedings during the past year.

The permanent fund of the Society has received but little augmentation during the past year, in consequence of a large donation to the Auxiliary New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society. Still it has somewhat increased, and now amounts to the sum of $4301 89.

During the past year, 340 English Bibles, and 570 Prayer Books have been gratuitously distributed.

One hundred French Bibles, mentioned in the Report of last year, as having been purchased, have been placed with the Bishop, to be disposed of by him. Some of them have been given to Mr. Eleazar Williams, (who is employed by the Church in this Diocess as school-master, catechist, and lay-reader to the Indians,) to be distributed among the Indians on the borders of Canada, and in that province, where the French language is generally better understood than the English. The Rev. Mr. Péneveyre, Minister of the French Church du St. Esprit, in this city, has also been authorized by the Bishop to apply for any number of those Bibles which may be usefully distributed by him.

The sum of $246 53 has been granted to the Auxiliary New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Sotiety, to aid them in the purchase of a set of stereotype plates of the Book of Common Prayer.

At a late meeting of the Board of Managers, the sum of $430 was voted for the equal purchase of Bibles and Prayer Books, to be gratuitously distributed according to the established rules of the Board on that subject. A resolution has lately passed the Board

to procure stereotype plates of the Book of Common Prayer of the Svo size.

The Board have been for some time deliberating on measures for the augmentation of the funds of the Society. The situation of our country, and various circumstances connected with it, have led to the postponement of this business from time to time but the Board hope that some effec tual plan will soon be adopted for the accomplishment of so desirable an object. Still the Board are persuaded that the Society will join them in gratitude to God for the good which they have been instrumental in doing. The Bibles gratuitously distributed by this Society, since its formation, amount to 1990, the New Testaments to 500, and the Prayer Books to 2766. Total number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Prayer Books, 5256.

We surely may indulge the pious and animating hope, that our labours have not been without effect, in awakening the careless sinner, in comforting the penitent, in encouraging the humble and faithful; and also in diffusing the practical influence of the evangelical doctrines, the primitive order, and the scriptural worship of our Church.

It is gratifying to see our fellow. members of this portion of Christ's Church, animated by its blessed spirit, and uniting to diffuse a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Since the last Report, most satisfactory proof has been afforded of the zealous and beneficial efforts of the Auxiliary New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society. Too much cannot be said of this very encouraging and animating evidence of the pious emulation of the young members of our Church. The stereotype plates of the Book of Common Prayer which they have procured, have materially lessened the expense of that inestimable volume, and aided its extensive circulation. It appears from their Report, that during the first year of their operations, no less than 521 Bibles, and 2750 Prayer Books, have been distributed through that Society; an extent of operation surpassing, it

With a view to aid in procuring the above set of stereotype plates of the Common Prayer Book of the 8vo. size, a Sermon will be preached, and a Collection made in Trinity Church, on the evening of Trinity Sunday, the first of June.

A few Hints on the subject of a Theological Seminary for the Protestant Episcopal Church.

It is expected that the subject of a Theological Seminary will occupy a portion of the deliberations of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, now sitting in the city of New York.

It is presumed that there can be but one opinion as to the necessity of providing funds to aid youth of piety and talents, who are destitute of pecuniary means, in their preparation for Holy Orders. On this subject there has not been a total indifference. A Society, endowed by the Corporation of Trinity Church, has been in operation in the city of New-York for twelve or fifteen years past, which, among other objects connected with religion and learning, has devoted portion of its funds to the important end of educating young men for the ministry. From four to six young men are constantly the subjects of the bounty of this Institution; to which, under God, the Church, not only in the state of New-York, but elsewhere,

is indebted for some of its most useful and respectable Clergymen. It must be admitted, however, that far superior means are necessary to provide for the increasing demand for Clergymen, not only to maintain or to revive Congregations of long standing, but to institute and cherish new ones in the rapidly extending settlements of our country. Numerous applications for aid, from pious young men, have been unavoidably rejected by the Society in New-York. And there is not the least doubt, but that, with ade quate funds, the number of those educated for the ministry, might be so in creased, as to meet the present and future exigencies of the Church.

for some time in operation in some other states.

The necessity, also, of Theological Seminaries, in order to furnish Candidates for Orders, with those means of theological, literary, and pious attainments, which institutions of this nature can alone supply to the greatest advantage, seems to be generally admitted.

ral institution for this purpose, under the The expediency, however, of one geneauthority and direction of the General Convention of the Church, has been doubted by some who are in the highest degree impressed with the indispensible necessity of making much more extensive provision for theological education than at present exists. They have apprehended that an institution of this nature, professing to regulate Candidates for Orders, as to their religious faith and principles, with a view to unity of opinion, if not at the outset as to its location, its government, and other appendages, the cause of jealousy and discord, would, in the course of time, become so; and that the General Convention of the Church, from which it is of so much importance to exclude all subjects of serious dissention, would be thrown into perpetual conflicts with respect to the management and control of this most powerful instrument of forming the character and principles of the Clergy.

They have also not been without their doubts whether a single institution, under the authority of the General Convention, and indirectly at least precluding others, would not interfere with the rights of the respective Diocesses.

blish Institutions of their own. The Bishops, as a body, and the General Convention, having no other control over these Institutions, but that of determining, generally, the qualifications for Orders, they would not be the cause of jealousy or discord in that body; while provision would, in some degree, be made for unity of faith among the Candidates for Orders, by the general course of study prescribed by the Bishops.

On the subject of a Theological Institution, two pamphlets have recently appeared in the city of New-York. The author of one of them, forcibly advocates a measure which, to the writer of these remarks, has always appeared of fundamental importance in reference to the reputation as well as the prosperity of the Church, the establishment of a College under the control of Episcopalians.* The Presbyterians possess several Institutions of this nature, in which religious instruc tion and worship are conducted on their principles. Not one solitary College of this description is to be found among the Episcopalians. Can an Episcopalian reflect on the apathy to literature which this dis covers, and not be ashamed? Can he view the consequences of this state of things, in reference to the religious principles and habits of the rising generation, and not feel deep regret that his Church is destitute of the advantages which, in this respect, the Presbyterian denomination enjoys?

Advocating a Theological Seminary under the control of the General Convention, the author of this pamphlet considers New-York as the proper situation for it.

The writer of this pamphlet mistakes the design of the author of the Prospectus of a plan of a Theological Seminary and Grammar School, announced three years ago. So far from its professing to be "the exclusive Institation of an individual member of the Church," it was proposed to place it under "the immediate care of a Board of Trustees." And so far from his designing to undertake "the whole superintendency and conduct of the course of studies," he contemplated only "a general and faithful superintendency, and an occasional participation in instruction and discipline."

establish a Theological Institution. With this view, a benevolent individual has recently vested in certain persons, land, consisting of above sixty city lots, in trust for the purpose of a Theological Seminary. These lots, from their immediate vi. cinity to the city, are now of great value; and in the course of 20 or 30 years their value will be greatly increased.

A Theological Seminary contiguous to the city of New-York, would not only enjoy the advantages of this endowment, but would probably call forth more liberal donation's than could be raised for an institution in any other situation.

It would be in a part of the country, where, from particularly favourable circumstances, the Church is flourishing. And what is of the greatest and of deci sive importance, it would be contiguous to Connecticut, and New-England, which have hitherto furnished, and will continue to furnish by far the greatest proportion of young men for the ministry, and of laymen for the new congregations of our Church. More, it is believed, than two` thirds of the Clergy in the State of NewYork are natives of New-England. Almost all the Missionaries are of this description. The greater number of the young men educated by the Society in New-York are from that quarter. And but for New-England and Connecticut Churchmen, our Church would not have existed in many places where she now flourishes. New-England Churchmen are extending themselves through Ohio, Indiana, and the Western States; and the most useful Missionaries and Clergy among them would be their own countrymen, connected with them by acquaintance, by kindred, by similarity of manners, and endowed with the same unconquerable and persevering enterprise and zeal. An institution that is to educate young men for the Ministry should be as near as possible to the fountain of supply.

Further-It is in the Northern States that education is principally conducted. There are almost all our literary institu tions; to which gentlemen of the south send their sons. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, though not extending northward of New-York, have

their boundaries.

These remarks, hastily thrown together, are offered under the deepest conviction of their importance, and under the influence of an affection that will yield to none for the interests of our Zion.

AN EPISCOPALIAN.

New-York, May 21, 1817.

HOUSE OF BISHOPS.

The Right Rev. William White, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania, presiding Bishop.

The Right Rev. John Henry Hobart, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York.

The Right Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Epis. copal Church in the Eastern Diocess.

The Right Rev. Theodore Dehon, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of South-Carolina.

The Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Virginia. The Right Rev. James Kemp, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Maryland.

The Right Rev. John Croes, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-Jersey.

HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES.

N. Hampshire-Rev. Charles Burroughs. Massachusetts-Rev. Titus Strong, Rev. Thomas Carlisle.

Rhode-Island-Rev. Salmon Wheaton, Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, Hon. Benjamin Gardiner, Alexander Jones, Esq. Col. Thomas Lloyd Halsey.

Vermont Rev. Stephen Beach, Mr. O.

Ferris.

Connecticut-Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. Roger Searle, Rev. Harry Croswell, Burrage Beach, and Elijah Boardman, Esq'rs.

New-York-Rev. Isaac Wilkins, D. D. Rev. Thomas Y. How, D. D. Rev. William Harris, D. D. Hon. Rufus King, Hop. Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Dr. John Önderdonk, William Ogden, Esq.

New-Jersey-Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rev. John C. Rudd, Rev. Simon Wilmer, Rev. James Chapman, Joshua M. Wallace, Joseph Higbie, and Robert Boggs, Esq'rs.

Pennsylvania-Rev. Frederick Beasley, D. D. Rev. Levi Bull, Rev. Joseph ClarkMontgomery, Dr. P. F. Glentworth, Thoson, Rev. Jackson Kemper, *Rev. James Meredith, Esq'rs. mas McEuen, Richard Dale, and William

Delaware-Rev. William Wickes.

Maryland-Rev. H. L. Davis, Rev. Walter D. Addison, Rev. William E. Wyatt, Rev. Samuel H. Turner, Tench Tilghman, and Beddingfield Hands, Esq'rs. Alexander C. Magruder, Francis S. Key,

Virginia-Rev. William H. Wilmer, Rev. Oliver Norris, Rev. John Dunn, Hon. Charles Fenton Mercer, Hugh Mercer, Esq. South-Carolina-Rev. Andrew Fowler. North-Carolina-Moses Jarvis, Esq.

Several Clergymen of New-York and the neighbouring Diocesses, attend the Convention. Divine Service is celebrated before the Convention every morning, and a Sermon preached by one of the Bishops. The Sermon of Bishop Griswold, at the opening of the Convention, is in the press. On Thursday morning, the Right Rev. Bishop White preached a Sermon from Isaiah lii. 7. How beautiful upon the mountains, &c. The following conclusion of the Sermon, containing some interesting information on Church affairs, we have procured from the Bishop.

"To the Right Reverend and Reverend immediately addresses itself: they being of the Brethren in this assembly, the subject more number of the messengers contemplated in this prophecy of Scripture, through whose agency it should be carried into effect. It might be proposed to them in various points of view; and made a source alike of admonition and of encouragement. But there is not entertained the design, of carrying the audience again over the ground, which was yesterday occupied in this pulpit; and of thus displaying the various topics which were then listened to with satisfaction, and, it is to be hoped, with edification. It is now thought sufficient, to limit attention to the encouragement growing out of the assurance in the text.

by intelligence from his family, to resign his The Rev. Dr. Beasley having been obliged, seat in the House, the Rev. James Montgomery was appointed to fill his seat.