Thoroughly Educated Ministers.

God will provide for his church in the latter days of Christianity eminently learned ministers-ministers who will "feed the people with knowledge and understanding." As a preparation to this, they must have their minds well disciplined, and be well versed in classical literature and theological science. This discipline and knowledge must be attained by thorough education.

That the ministers of the gospel will be eminently learned in the latter days of Christianity, may be inferred, from the enlightened state of the church at that time. "Then

66

the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations, shall be taken away and destroyed. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim; and the ears of them that hear shall hearken." Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days." Now as the church will become greatly enlightened as the millennium approaches, it may be inferred, that the ministry will be proportionably illuminated; for the light and knowledge possessed by the church, will be communicated principally by her ministers. It is by hearing, rather than by reading, that faith comes. As with the Ethiopian nobleman, so with men generally, they need some one to guide them in understanding the Scriptures.

Ministers must be raised up for all departments of labor, in enlightening, converting and saving mankind ;-ministers of vigorous native intellect, whose faculties are expanded, whose minds are liberalized, whose energies are developed, whose benevolent hearts embrace a world. Such ministers are needed for our old settlements, where the habits of the people are established, that they may be carried onward in the doctrines, duties and graces of religion, and in the benevolent enterprises for bringing this revolted world to Jesus Christ. Such ministers are needed as master-builders for our new settlements, where a world is to be formed out of crude and contending elements. Such ministers are needed as pioneers of the cross in heathen lands, where, in a moral sense, all is chaos and "darkness visible,”-ministers who, by the blessing of God, shall bring light out of darkness, and order out of confusion.

In preparing such ministers for the latter days of Christianity, this Society will bear an important part. While it has indirectly done much for this object, and while it will continue to do much, by exciting the community to the erection of colleges and theological seminaries, which favor a thorough education, and by inducing, in various ways, multitudes to prepare for the ministry, who have pecuniary ability to educate themselves; it will also directly exert a powerful influence in bringing forward competent functionaries for the sacred office, who shall be greatly instrumental in enlightening, sanctifying and saving this world. No young man, according to its principles, can receive assistance unless he possesses respectable natural talents, and take a regular and full course of education for the ministry. The rule is, No person shall be patronized, who does not furnish satisfactory evidence of promising talents and decided piety, and who is not in the way of obtaining a thorough classical and theological education; that is, either preparing to enter college, or a member of some regularly constituted college, where a thorough classical course is pursued; or engaged in theological studies with the design of taking a regular three years' course." The Society is unwilling to bring into the ministry any whose minds are not thoroughly disciplined by study and adequately furnished with scientific and theological learning.

Efficient Ministers.

The ministers whom God will furnish for the church in the latter days of Christianity, will be eminently efficient. It should be gratefully acknowledged, that he has raised up, in different periods of the church, many able and successful preachers of the gospel. But a far greater number of energetic and efficient ministers must yet be provided. The gospel is to be preached to every creature; the world, converted; and the millennium, introduced. Nothing can accomplish this work but "the sword of the Spirit," skilfully wielded and aimed at the sinner's heart, accompanied with the blessed influences of the Holy Ghost. Ministers, therefore, must be possessed of great courage and energy. Jehovah says, "I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Their ability, fidelity and efficiency are described by the term feed. They will plentifully supply those to whom they minister, with spiritual food. They will be devoted, self-denying pastors, pleased with their Master's work, and rejoicing in the prosperity of his cause,-pastors who will by their spirit, instructions and example, indelibly impress their own image on all around them; and who will ardently desire to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Such men will be prepared to lead on

"The sacramental host of God's elect,"

in the subjection of this world to Jesus Christ.

That pastors in time to come will be eminently efficient, is evident also from the fact, that the standard of ministerial piety and education will be greatly elevated. As they will be more holy and better instructed in their profession, so, consequently, they will act more efficiently in their vocation.

In furnishing such a ministry, this Society is peculiarly adapted to be highly instrumental. A large proportion of its benficiaries are from among the laboring classes of the community. They have generally been inured to hardships, and they will still be inured to labors and trials while preparing for the ministry. Their privations and difficulties will be of great service to them, by promoting economical and industrious habits, and the operations of the Society will subserve the same purpose, by throwing them, in a great measure, upon their own resources. A prominent design of the institution is, to assist young men to help themselves. It may be observed too, that individuals thus aided will, in general, be more distinguished for piety and learning, than they would be were they differently educated. Consequently, the institution will be greatly instrumental in raising up an efficient ministry.

Number of Beneficiaries.

The number of young men assisted by the Society the year past in different institutions is as follows: 234 in 18 theological seminaries; 595 in 38 colleges; 296 in 96 academies, or public schools; amounting in all to 1,125 at 152 institutions-a number greater by 85 than were aided the last year. Of these 621 were aided at institutions in the New England States, and 504 at institutions in the Middle, Southern and Western States. The number of new beneficiaries received during the year is 289, being 52 more than were admitted the preceding year. Of these, 146 were at institutions out of New England. The following table contains a full and complete list of all the young men assisted the past year, and the institutions at which they pursued their studies.

In the above list, the names of those only who have received assistance during the year are included, though some of them are reckoned twice, having been at two different institutions. A large number who have previously enjoyed the patronage of the Society have not the past year either requested or received aid. The reasons of this, in most cases, are either, they have suspended their studies for a time, being engaged in teaching school, or they have received larger supplies than usual from their parents or friends, and consequently do not need assistance, or they have been unusually successful in their exertions to support themselves. These individuals are considered as still connected with the Society, and they expect at some future time, perhaps the present year, to ask further aid. They are not, however, embraced in the preceding estimate. Were they, the number would probably be increased to 1,300 or 1,400.

Number who have Deceased.

During the year which has just closed, it is not known that more than four deaths have occurred among the beneficiaries.

Patronage withheld.

The reasons for withholding patronage are either destitution of competent natural talents, deficiency of scholarship through culpable negligence in study, or moral delinquency. Eight, during the year, have been stricken from the list of beneficiaries.

Dismissions.

During the year, one student has been dismissed from this Society to the "Board of Education of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church," and several have been

The sum paid for appropriations during the year, as charged in the Treasurer's Report, is $57,767, which includes $405, amount of appropriations for the Southern and Western Theological Seminary made for April, 1836; their returns not having been made at the usual time.

received from that Board to the patronage of this Society. A number too have been received from other Education Societies. The whole number whom, for various reasons, have been dismissed is eight.

Receipts and Expenditures.

From an exhibit of the Treasurer's report, it appears that there have been paid into the treasury of the Society, during the year which has just elapsed, $65,574 69, being $2,346 83 more than the receipts of the last year. Of this sum, $25,004 have been received through the treasuries of the Presbyterian and Western Education Societies, and the Western Reserve Branch. This is all that has been paid into the treasury of the Parent Institution from these Societies, though more has been received into their treasuries. Were the whole acknowledged, the amount in the treasury of the Parent Society would exceed $70,000. The expenditures for the year have been $66,161 98, exceeding the receipts by $587 29. This sum added to the debt of the last year, makes the debt of the Society at the present time $4,647 58.

Amount of Earnings.

The following table presents an account of the earnings of beneficiaries as reported during the year, ending April 30, 1837.

From the above statement it appears, that the beneficiaries have earned $39,685 87. Of this sum the beneficiaries at institutions in the Middle, Southern and Western States, have earned $13,115 68, and those at institutions in the New England States, $26,570 19.

Obligations Cancelled.

Seventeen individuals, of whom five were Foreign Missionaries, six Home Missionaries, and five settled over feeble churches, have requested that their obligations might be cancelled; and their desire has been granted according to the Rules of the Society.

Loans Refunded.

The whole amount refunded by beneficiaries is as follows: During the eleven years preceding April 30, 1826, $339 60-1827, $90 00-1828, $864 22-1829, $830 911830, $1,007 84-1831, $2,647 63-1832, $1,312 77—1833, $2,113 27—1834, $1,947 78 -1835, $2,957 14—1836, $4,332 53—1837, $7,644 10—making $26,087 79.

Agents.

That a benevolent society may exist permanently and flourish, agencies to a greater or less extent, are indispensable. They are indeed the life and prosperity of such institutions. The Secretary of the Parent Society has during the year been employed in the business peculiarly relating to his office, such as conducting the correspondence, pastoral supervision and general concerns of various descriptions. As the operations of this Institution are yearly increasing, the business relating to his office is proportionably increased, and, consequently, but a small portion of his time can be devoted to the collection of funds. The Rev. William L. Mather has been employed during the year as Secretary and Agent of the Maine Branch. Having spent more than five years acceptably and profitably in the service of the Society, and being desirous of retiring from his agency, and of settling in the ministry, on the first of April he resigned his office. The Rev. John K. Young, pastor of a church at Meredith Bridge in New Hampshire, has performed an agency of about two months in that State. The Rev. Joseph Emerson has been employed for a part of the year as an Agent in Vermont. He is expected, while in the service of the Society, to visit every part of the State. The Rev. Ansel Nash, who, the year before last was Secretary and Agent of the Connecticut Branch, has had his relation transferred to the Parent Society. The past year he has acted as General Agent for Massachusetts, and on Mr. Mather's resignation, the agency for Maine was committed to him. He is expected in future to manage the affairs relating to this cause in both these States, such as collecting funds, organizing auxiliaries and attending their anniversaries. The Rev. Samuel H. Riddel has been appointed Secretary and Agent of the Connecticut Branch, and has recently entered on the duties of his office. Rhode Island has been added to his field of labor. The Rev. William Patton, D. D. who has, for several years, been Corresponding Secretary of the Presbyterian Education Society, continues to discharge the duties of that office in the management and superintendence of the concerns of that important part of the American Education Society. The Rev. Benjamin Labaree, late President of Jackson College, Tennessee, will be associated with him in the labors of that extensive field. The Rev. Eliakim Phelps has continued to officiate as Secretary of the Philadelphia Education Society, and Agent for the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The Rev. Alanson Scofield has been employed during the year in the service of the Western Education Society, New York. He has recently resigned his agency, and the Rev. Joseph D. Wickham has been appointed Secretary and Agent of that Society, and also of the Utica Agency. The Rev. Ansel R. Clark, who has been Secretary and Agent of the Western Reserve Branch during the whole time of its existence, (six years,) on account of feeble health resigned his office as Agent a year since, and the Rev. Charles A. Boardman has been appointed to that agency, and has entered upon the duties of his office. The Rev. John Spaulding, who has been in the employment of the Society for a number of years, has officiated as Secretary and Agent of the Western Education Society, whose centre of operations is at Cincinnati. He will in future superintend also the concerns of the Illinois Branch.

Efforts to induce Young Men to prepare for the Ministry.

This is an important part of duty, and demands the most serious attention of pastors and churches. Prayer for the conversion of young men should be offered with greater fervency, importunity and faith. In respect to united concert in prayer for colleges, there is abundant reason for encouragement to persevere. Every prayerful aspiration of pious souls in relation to this object seems to have been noticed by Him, with whom is the residue of the Spirit. No year passes without the descent of the Holy Ghost to a greater or less degree on our colleges.