effectually to secure the extension and prosperity of the Church. When she needs all our contributions for religious purposes, ought they to be applied elsewhere ?

New congregations at Buffalo, Rochester, (Genesee-Falls,) Monticello, Ticonderoga, Redhook, and Mamaroneck, have been organized.

In my provisional charge, according to the Canons, of the Diocess of Connecticut, my visitations have been so general, that, it is presumed, little more of my services there will be necessary, until the election of a Bishop for that Diocess. It is desirable that circumstances should admit of this being soon effected.

In the month of May a meeting of the General Convention of our Church was held in this city, which, from the respect. ability of its members, and the objects of its counsels, excited great interest. Among the measures there adopted, provision was made for the establishment of a Theological School under the auspices of the General Convention. The Clergyman appointed to collect subscriptions in this Diocess, is pursuing his arduous work with all that zeal which a strong sense of the importance of the object can inspire; and by the documents with which he is furnished, and his own judicious representations, is calling forth the liberality of the community.

But I think I should fail in my duty, if I neglected to impress on you, my brethren, and through you, on the Episcopalians of the Diocess, the immense importance of the proposed Theological Establishment. There cannot be an object presented to them, which has equal claims on their beneficence. Without a ministry the Church cannot exist; and destitute of a learned, as well as a pious ministry, she cannot flourish. These are axioms, which it would be an insult to the understanding of any person to suppose that he denies or doubts. As a general proposition, it is also true, that the ministry will not be distinguished for learning, unless there are public institutions, which, in the professorships attached to them, in the libraries with which they are furnished, and in the association of young men of

similar pursuits and views supply both the most advantageous means of theological improvement, and the most powerful motives diligently and faithfully to employ these means. A candidate for orders thus situated, directed by able, affec tionate, and pious professors, having access to richly furnished libraries, associated in the exercises of piety, as well as in his studies with those who are preparing for the exalted office of ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, would make much greater and more substantial progress in all the preparatory qualifications for the ministry, than if left to solitary instruction, and solitary study.

But a still further, and most eminent benefit of the contemplated Theological School, will consist in the pecuniary aids which it will furnish to youths of piety and talents, who are destitute of the funds to procure the necessary education for the ministry. Young men of this description have often furnished the brightest examples of ministerial fidelity, talents, and zeal. Many such, however, are now lost to the Church, from the want of funds with which to aid them in procuring the necessary education. There can be no species of benevolence more grateful to the friends of religion, and of the temporal and eternal happiness of mankind, than that which takes a youth of piety and talents, from a state of depression and obscurity, and furnishing him with the means of education and of theological study, prepares him for becoming the respectable and successful herald of the cross of the Redeemer, and the dispenser, under God, of spiritual blessings to his fellow-men,

But for all these purposes-for the sa laries of Professors, for procuring libraries, for supporting candidates for the ministry destitute of pecuniary means, for erecting the requisite buildings, funds are necessary, and large funds. This, then, is no ordinary call on the liberality of Episcopalians. It is a call, on the successful issue of which, in procur ing large contributions, depend, if not the existence, certainly the extension and prosperity of their Church. I would re

spectfully say to you, brethren, especially my brethren of the Laity, and to Episcopalians in general-Look at what is done in this respect, by other Christian denominations-professorships handsomely endowed, commodious buildings, extensive libraries, numerous students. They annually send forth ministers disciplined by the exercises of piety, and fitted by the studies of the School for the eloquent and faithful exercise of their functions. Ought we not to be alarmed for the welfare of our own Church, destitute as she is of all public provision for theological education? Benevolent individuals of other denominations freely bestow contributions to this object to the amount of hundreds, and frequently of thousands of dollars. Should we not be excited to, at least, equal liberality in the cause of a Church which has every possible claim on our affection, and on our zealous exertions? Many Episcopalians in this city, and elsewhere in the state, have already liberally contributed. They will have the prayers and the gratitude of the Church, and affording the most effectual means of perpetuating the blessings of our holy religion, they will

have the gratitude of posterity; they will not be forgotten, for this good which they have done, by their God. May their example be emulated by others; may every Episcopalian, when called on for his subscription to the Theological School, consider that he is to make his contribution to an object of more importance to the interests of religion and the Church, than any other for which he can be solicited; and which, therefore, demands the largest exercise of beneficence.

JOHN HENRY HOBART.
New-York, October 22, 1817.

SYRIAN CHRISTIANS IN INDIA.

(From Pearson's Life of Dr. Buchanan.) EARLY in November I left the seacoast, having first supplied myself with plenty of gold and silver. I directed my course towards Mavelica, the first Syrian Church.

The kasheeshass (priests) received me on my arrival with much civility, perceiving that I was accompanied by the Rajah's servants. Their curi osity to know the object of my visit

was very great; still greater when I took up their Syrian books and began to read; and when I showed them my printed Syriac books, which they could read. They produced the Scriptures, and their Liturgy; also Lexicons and Grammars, Syrian and Malayalim. The Malayalim, or proper Malabar, is a dialect distinct from the Tamul; but the character is nearly the same. It is considered by the learned Brahmins of this coast as the eldest and legitimate daughter of the Shanscrit.

In the evening the church was lighted up for prayers, at which a good many of the people attended. Nothing objectionable appeared at this service. The priests pronounced the prayers without book, and chaunted their hymns, having their faces turned towards the altar. They have no images, but on the walls were paintings from subjects of Scripture history.

One of the elders, named Thomas, or Didymus, stepped forward and said, "To convince you, Sir, of our earnest desire to have the Bible in

the Malayalim tongue, I need only mention that I have lately translated the Gospel of St. Matthew for the benefit of my own children. It is often borrowed by the other families. It is not in fine language; but the people love to read it.

But how,' said the old priest, shall we know that your standard copy is a true translation of our Bible? We cannot depart from our own Bible. It is the true book of God, without corruption; that book which was first used by the Christians at Antioch. What translations you have got in the West we know not; but the true Bible of Antioch we have had in the mountains of Malabar for fourteen hundred years, or longer. Some of our copies are from ancient times; so old and decayed, that they can scarcely be preserved much longer.' I rejoiced when I heard this.

'But how,' repeated the aged priest, 'shall we know that your western Bible is the same as ours?' 'I have here,' said I, a western Syrian Bible, which yourselves can read; and I have an English Bible, which will be inter

preted to you. Let some portion of Scripture, selected at a venture, be accurately examined. You can compare the whole at your leisure hereafter. They turned over the leaves of my Bible with surprise, having never seen a printed Syriac Bible before. After some consultation, they proposed that the 3d chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel should be critically compared word for word, in the eastern Syrian, western Syrian, and English. St. Matthew was selected, I believe, at the suggestion of Thomas, who had got his Malayalim translation în his hand.

It was an interesting scene to me to behold the ancient English Bible brought before the tribunal of these simple Christians in the hills of Malabar. They sat down to the investigation with great solemnity; and the people around seemed to think that something important depended on the

issue.

I held a Greek Testament in my hand, and proposed that the sense of the Greek copy should be first explained, as the New Testament was first given to the world in Greek.

In the vicinity of Rannial there is a high hill, from the top of which the people told me I might have an extensive view of the country. The hill was steep, and of laborious ascent, and I left my servants below. When I had gained the summit, I felt myself much fatigued, and sat down to contemplate the delightful prospect. The mountains of the Ghauts were at some distance, but from their great height they appeared to be close at

hand.

In a few minutes I saw a man coming up from a village below, with a cocoa-nut in his hand. I drank the cooling water, and was much refreshed. He said he was a Christian; that seeing me ascend, he thought the cocoa-water would be acceptable. I said I was a Christian too. He smiled doubtingly, looking at my English dress. He said he was never farther from home than the adjacent mountains, where he sometimes went to fell wood. He did not seem to understand that there were Christians in

any other part of the world, than the mountains of Malayala, He pointed out to me by name the Christian parishes which I had visited, but most of the churches were concealed by the trees. The Christians are forbidden to have steeples, as they would appear too pre-eminent among the pagodas of the heathens.

While I surveyed the Christian districts all around, I reflected on the inscrutable counsels of God, in finding this assylum for the Bible during so many ages; and yet in confining it for so long a period to this region of the heathen world. I indulged the hope that the same Providence was about to unfold itself by dispensing the Bible throughout the East, by means of this people.

I passed two hours on the top of this hill. I do not know its name. But I called it Pisgah; for I believed that I had a sight of kingdoms promised to the Messiah in the Second Psalm. 'I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.'

I proceeded into the interior of the country, to visit the Syrian Christians who inhabit the hills at the bottom of the great mountains of Malayala. The weather was cool and pleasant. The country is picturesque and highly cultivated, diversified with hill and dale, and winding streams, These streams fall from the mountains, and preserve the vallies in perpetual verdure. The Christians received me courteously, seeing I travelled in some state, escorted by the Rajah's servants. But when they found my object was to look into their books and religion, they surveyed me with doubtful countenances, not well understanding how an Englishman could have any interest in the Christian religion. And the contrary was only proved to them by long and serious discussion, and by the evidence of facts which for the first time came te their knowledge.

The Cause of Christianity in India.

(An extract from the British Review.)

THE cause of Christianity in India

Report of the Sciety (in England) for the Propagation of the Gospel. Delivered February 21, 1817. THIS Society, incorporated by charter of William the Third, renders an annual account, as the charter directs, to the Lord Chancellor, the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, of the money received, and of the management of the revenues.

Beside the members elected from time to time by the Corporation, the following twelve persons are appointed, by the charter, members for the time being: the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of London and Ely, the Lord Almoner, the Deans of Westminster and St..

Paul's, the Archdeacon of London, the Regius Professors of Divinity in Oxford and Cambridge, and the Margaret Professors of Divinity in the

same Universities.

RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.

The Receipts of the year, from Contributions and Dividends on Stock, have been 52087. 7s. 2d. In addition to this sum, Parliament has granted, in aid of the expenses of the Society in the North-American Colonies, the sum of 7860l.; making the disposable receipts of the year, 13,068.

7s. 2d.

Of this amount, the sum of 12,1471. 18s. 9d. has been expended in Salaries and Gratuities to Missionaries, Catechists, and School-masters; and in Exhibitions to Scholars at the College in Nova-Scotia.

MISSIONARIES.

In Newfoundland, the Society has five Missionaries at annual salaries of 2007. each; and eight School-masters at salaries amounting together to 1157. In Nova Scotia-One Missionary at 400. and fifteen at 2001. each,

with four Stations vacant; nineteen School-masters, whose salaries together amount to 2907. and five Schoolmistresses, whose stipends amount to 45l.

In New-Brunswick-Eight Missionaries at 2001. each, with one Station vacant; nine School-masters, whose salaries make 1157. with two vacancies; and one School-mistress at 10l. per annum.

In Cape-Breton---One Missionary at 2001. per annum.

In Upper Canada-One Missionary at 2751.; two at 2201. each; five at 2002. each; and one at 100%.; with a School-master to the Mohawks at 201. and a Catechist at 10. The Missionary at Kingston, the Rev. George Okill Stuart, is also Missionary to the Mohawk Indians; and the Rev. Robert Addison, Missionary at Niagara, is also appointed to visit the Indians.

In Lower Canada-One Missionary at 2151. and four at 2001. each. TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BISHOP OF NOVA

SCOTIA.

The venerable Bishop of NovaScotia departed this life in the month of February, 1816, after more than fifty years devoted to the service of Religion in the North-American Colonies; first as a Missionary in the United States, previously to their separation from the Mother Country; and afterwards as the Primary English Bishop in those Colonies, which are now designated British NorthAmerica. The Society, under whose auspices this exemplary Prelate continued for the greatest part of his long and laborious life, were ever sensible of the value and importance of his unwearied exertions in the cause of virtue and religion. The prosperity of the Church, in those distant parts of his Majesty's Dominions, is principally owing to his active superintendence; and his frequent correspondence with the Society bears full testimony to the zeal and ability with which he executed the functions of his high office.

The Rev. Dr. Stanser, Missionary at Halifax, has been appointed to suc ceed to the See of Nova Scotia.