BOARD OF EDUCATION. PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION ROOMS, No.265 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. ' Business Officers of the Board. C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. D., Corresponding Secretary. Letters and Communications for the BOARD OF EDUCATION on the subject of Ministerial Education, or of Schools Academies and Colleges, may be addressed to the Rev. C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. D., Corresponding Secretary, No. 265 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Remittances of money may be made to JOSEPH B. MITCHELL, Esq., Treasurer, Mechanics Bank, Philadelphia. I. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION. "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest." WHY ARE CANDIDATES DECREASING? The Board of Education have frequently alluded to the decrease of candidates in their reports, periodicals, documents, &c. It is a subject which must be kept before the Church. The following article is from the "Presbyterian Herald," of Louisville, Kentucky. cious in the disbursement of its funds, but worthy indigent young men should not be embarrassed and crippled for the want of aid. I have no doubt many have been deterred from this cause. They have not been willing-they have not thought it judicious to incur all the pecuniary embarrassments that they must, of necessity, have endured under existing cir cumstances. 2. IT COSTS MORE NOW TO PREPARE FOR THE MINISIn some of our SeminaTRY THAN IT DID YEARS AGO. ries, I am told, the expenses have increased 25 or 30 per cent. within a few years, and public sentiment is not just what it was in respect to a young man's aiding himself, in one way and another, with his own hands. This has had its influence. 3. THE TENDENCY TO CHANGE HAS GREATLY INCREASED, both on the part of the people and the ministry. This has had something to do in the matter. It is not to be denied that ministers, in many instances, have encouraged this state of things, in their congregations, by yielding to slight causes and suffering dissolutions to occur when there was no just ground for them. In many of these dissolutions Christ's ambassadors have been grossly injured and shamefully betrayed. There are many noble exam. ples, it is true, in which ministers and people have not removed the old "land-mark." O, that there were more! Yet it must be admitted that the dura "We see it stated by many of our ecclesiastical bodies, that candidates for the Gospel ministry are decreasing. Almost every thing else is on the in- tion of the pastoral relation, on an average, has crease and advance. This fact, which actual statis- greatly shortened, compared to what it was years tical figures clearly show, well deserves our atten- ago. And hence the prospect before the candidate tion, for it has a bearing upon the prosperity of the is, that he may be driven to and fro almost by every Church at home, and upon the missionary operations wind that blows. He may not reckon with any dein foreign lands. "Every phenomenon supposes agree of certainty or permanency. The prospect of no cause," and this decrease is only the reaction of cer- home, nor abiding place, is repugnant to our nature. tain things-the effect of a cause. We purpose to Many shrink from encountering it. glance at some of the reasons why it is so. 1. THERE IS NOT THAT PECUNIARY ASSISTANCE AFFORDED TO CANDIDATES THAT THERE WAS YEARS AGO. We well recollect when every suitable person could obtain timely aid through his whole course of study, preparatory, collegiate, and theological. It is not now given to the extent it was.* It is well understood, in some quarters at least, that it is about as well for a young man to depend on himself as on educational societies.† The Church should be judi * We are not aware that aid is not granted now to the same extent that it was formerly. The Board of Education has made no diminution in the amount of aid; nor do we think that there is less disposition to assist in private, than at any previous period.-Cor. Sec'y Bd. of Ed. The theory of our Church on this subject is, that a young man may "both depend upon himself" and upon aid from the Church. The amount of aid, offered by the Church, was never supposed to be sufficient for all expenses in the preparatory course. It was intended to encourage the student to use his own efforts, in connection with aid from his friends, to obtain the balance necessary for his comfortable maintenance. 4. THE MINISTRY HAS NOT BEEN SUPPORTED, pecuniarily, as it deserves, nor as the Church has the ability to do. I think I may safely say, that not one half of the Presbyterian ministers in our country are supported as they should be. I am satisfied,. that if there was not something more to support and encourage Christ's ambassadors than the salaries they receive, not one-fourth of the congregations west of the mountains, in our whole Church, would have the ministry of the word in one year. With many, the scanty promised salary is kept back, and now most of our missionaries in the West, owing to an empty treasury, are suffering, and are put to "their wits' end" to know how to get along. These are not isolated facts, but KNOWN AND FELT BY The reflection will come SCORES AND HUNDREDS. home to them that there are doors to comfort and opulence opened to them in other callings, and that they might have had these as well as others. No thing can support them suffering the want of many more important; hence something is wrong, and things, but that they are toiling for "other worlds something must be done. than this." Noble men, and true, self-sacrificing 2. I believe the Lord intends THAT THE CHURCHES followers of Christ! How much the Presbyterian SHALL FEEL DIFFERENTLY TOWARDS THE MINISTRY. Church and the world owe to such! He may leave them to feel their need so much that But these trials and embarrassments are known to they may be compelled to "pray the Lord of the those whose thoughts are turned towards the minis-harvest that he would send forth labourers into his try, for many of them are ministers' sons. Concern- harvest." S. S. P. ing some of these things we speak what we do know and feel. An inadequate support is certainly one cause of THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS AND PIOUS the decrease. 5. THE MINISTRY HAS NOT THE RESPECT IT ONCE HAD. The profession is "looked down upon" by many as menial, and not as bearing the embassy of heaven to men. There are several things operating and have operated to bring about this. The ministry is not entirely exempt from blame, while it is lamentably true that the churches do not love, esteem, and venerate them as formerly, "for their work's sake." PARENTS. Providence is an unerring teacher. God expresses truth in the execution of his decrees. Are there any facts to show the connection between the piety of parents and the supply of the ministry? Let the reader ponder upon this extract, taken from a late number of the Presbyterian: "Whatever may be the occasional demonstrations of God's providence and grace, a careful examination of facts would abundantly show that the divine 6. Young Men of SUITABLE TALENTS AND ACQUIRE- blessing, as a general rule, is upon the seed of be MENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ENCOURAGED to prepare for THIS WORK. This cause has been rather the result of other causes. Ministers, to tell the truth, have not felt like encouraging their sons to embark in a calling so illy supported, and little respected and loved by the Church. Laymen have felt much so, There has been an error here, doubtless. The good of the Church of Christ, as well as of the world, depend on the preaching of the word. too. Our Presbyteries have not been vigilant and active enough in this matter. Nor have they manifested sufficient patience and interest in candidates and in their examinations, forgetting, almost, that this is a part of their work. 7. I will mention one more reason-THE WANT OF POWERFUL AND EXTENSIVE REVIVALS OF RELIGION. Revivals of religion are embraced in the divine economy. For some years back, unless we make the last year an exception, there has been a great drought in our land. The gentle showers of heaven have been withheld, and from many churches the gentle ners. dew of divine influence in the conversion of sinThis has doubtless had a great effect in producing the state of things that we deplore, for a large portion of those preaching the gospel have been received in revivals. There are two reflections from this subject we will notice: 1. SOMETHING IS WRONG. While other professions are being crowded with candidates, there should not be wanting students in the "schools of the prophets." The wants of a perishing world were never greater or more pressing; the work of the ministry never lievers. A very large majority of ministers of the gospel are the children of pious parents, whose faithful instructions and earnest prayers have resulted in their conversion and entrance on the ministry. Almost all the most eminent of God's servants, whose biographies have been written, have been nurtured by godly mothers. The piety of the family eircle is the harvest-ground for the Church and the ministry. The following statistics, furnished us by a student of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, will be found interesting, and will verify the principle that God puts special honour on the faithful training of children by his professing people. "It has been ascertained, upon careful inquiry," says our correspondent, "that of the one hundred and twenty students in this Seminary this session, ninety-five had both parents pious, eighteen had pious mothers only, one a pious father only, and five had neither of their parents pious. Of the whole number, twenty-two, or about one-fifth, were sons of ministers, and a large proportion of the remainder sons of ruling elders. The different classes stand as follows: THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT. In the covenant that God made with Abraham, on occasion of the institution of the rite of circumcision, he expressly stipulated that his favour should be extended to the children, also, of those who loved him, and kept his ordinances. "I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and thy seed after thee." In every age, under the Christian, as well as under the Mosaic dispensation, God has proved true to this covenant. Innumerable parents, who have pledged their children to God at his altar, and have thus honoured his ordinance of baptism, have found him a Father to their children. God has loved the children for their parents' sake. Some years since, a hundred and twenty students, connected with the Theological Seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, ascertained, by mutual inquiries, that more than one hundred of their number were the sons of pious mothers. Of one hundred and fourteen students, who, about the same time, were pursuing a course of study for the ministry, in connection with the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, all but ten were the sons of pious mothers, and all but thirty-two of pious fathers also. istry. There have been nine powerful revivals of religion, occurring at intervals of one to four years, during the whole existence of the College, (viz. in 1825, 1827, 1828, 1831, 1835, 1838, 1842, 1846, 1850,) and numbering from twenty-five to thirty converts each. Moreover, scarcely a year has passed without more or less conversions, when there has been no revival. The aggregate of the conversions during the thirty years from the establishment of the College to the issue of the last Triennial, cannot, therefore, be less than two hundred and fifty-probably three hundred is nearer the truth. The list of converts includes thirteen Foreign Missionaries. The entire number of alumni who have entered the ministry, according to the last Triennial Catalogue, is four hundred and thirty-five. The whole number of graduates, by the same catalogue, is nine hundred and sixty-three-and of these, between one-quarter and one-fifth were hopefully converted in College.' Of the ministers graduated at the Institution, one-quarter were hopefully converted in College." II. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION In every case where the father was a member of the "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he church, it was also true of the mother. is old he will not depart from it." CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTION. SYNOD OF DORDRECHT. For a period of ten years, the Third Presbytery of New York have been pursuing a course of inquiry of the same nature. Every candidate for the ministry whom they have received under their care during this time, has been asked to state whether he was the son of pious parents or not. The whole number of candidates received, since the rule was adopted, has been one hundred and twenty; all but twelve of whom have been licensed to preach the gospel. Of the whole number, one hundred and three have been the sons of pious parents. In eighty-five cases both parents were pious; in sixteen, the mother only; and in two, the father only. One hundred and THE RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL SYNOD OF DOR one had pious mothers. Several of those who had not the privilege of a pious parent's supplications, were foreigners, whose parents had complied with the customs of their particular churches, and had presented their children at the sacred font. It will be observed, that in these three cases, the proportion of pious parents is very nearly the same. In the latter case the students were nearly all from the Theological Seminary at New York. A remarkable accordance is thus found to have existed, as regards this particular, in our three principal Theological Institutions. Whatever this accordance may indicate in other respects, it certainly does indicate, that God is mindful of his covenant; that he does not forget the children of those who believe in him; and that he chooses his ministers, at the present day, for the most part, from pious households. Thus he confirms the word of his servant Paul, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."-New York Evangelist. MINISTERS AND COLLEGES. Religious instruction in schools, in the catechetical form, has always been in repute. The following paper on the general subject, adopted by the famous Synod of Dort, will be read with interest. It is copied from the "Christian Intelligencer," the able weekly organ of the Reformed Dutch Church. DRECHT ON THE SUBJECT OF A CLOSER SYSTEM OF VEMBER 30, 1618, AT THE SEVENTEENTH SESSION. The office of the parents is in the most diligent manner to instruct at home their children and the entire household intrusted to them, according to each one's capacity, in the first principles of the Christian religion; to exhort them earnestly and with diligence to the fear of God and genuine piety; to accustom them to the exercise of family prayer; to take them with them to the hearing of the divine word; to rehearse diligently with them the sermons which have been heard-in particular, the catechetical sermons; to read or cause to be read to "Out of two hundred persons hopefully converted them several chapters of Holy Writ; to cause them in the College, one hundred have entered the min- to learn by heart, to impress on their minds the A letter recently published, from Professor Tyler, of Amherst, contains the following very interesting statements: most important passages of Scripture, and in a general way and a method suitable to the tenderness of youth, to expound the same, and in this way to prepare them for catechizing in the schools; and, after they have advanced thus far, to strengthen, excite, and help them forward with all their might. To this bounden duty shall all parents to whom this admonition can at all find access, be diligently and earnestly admonished by the ministers, elders and visitors of the sick, both openly in preaching, and, in particular, as well in the ordinary visitations before the communion as on other suitable occasions. Inasmuch as some parents who profess the Christian Reformed religion are found to be remiss in this sacred work, such shall be brought to their bounden duty by pointed admonitions from the minister, and, if need be, by the censures of the Consistory. Popish Catechisms, and other books containing error and impurity. Also, the schoolmasters shall be careful that the scholars not only commit to memory these formulas, but also understand in a good degree the teaching contained in them. To which end, they shall explain them clearly, diligently, and frequently put the questions and repeat the matter, and find out whether they have rightly conceived the meaning. The schoolmasters, every man of them, shall bring the school-youth committed to them to the hearing of the Holy Word, but chiefly to the catechetical sermons, and diligently demand from them an account of the same. And, that both the diligence of the schoolmasters and the proficiency of the scholars may be known, it shall be the duty of the minister, with an elder, and, if necessary, several magistrates, frequently to visit all the schools, both public and private, and stimulate the Schools, in which the advancing youth are as far industry of the teachers-give them an example of as possible to be instructed in piety and in the rudi- the manner of catechizing and instructing the youth, ments of Christian doctrine, shall be established, speak in a friendly manner to them, ask them subnot only in towns, but also in all villages, if it be so questions, or bye-questions, (underfragen,) and, with that in any places none have been established here- serious exhortations, praise, and little commendatofore. The Christian Governments shall be re-tions, excite them to all diligence and godliness. quested to provide the school-masters everywhere with honourable remuneration, in order that such persons as are competent to this service may be used and be the more diligent in their enjoyment, but in particular, that the children of the poor may be instructed gratis, and not debarred from the benefit of the schools. In this service of the schools, no person shall be made use of who is not a member of the Reformed Church, and furnished with testimonials of a genuine faith and a godly life, and well versed in the doctrine of the Catechism. He shall, moreover, be one who acknowledges the Confession and the Netherlands' Catechism by subscribing them with his own hand, and who sacredly pledges himself that he will earnestly catechize the youth intrusted to him in the rudiments of the Christian religion, according to these standards. The duty of these school-masters shall be to exercise all their scholars, in proportion to their years and understanding, at least two days in the week, not only in committing to memory, but also in the understanding of the principal points of the Catechism; and to this end, there shall be used a threefold method and form of the Catechism, as the Catechism itself adapts itself to three different periods of youth. The first shall be for the children, containing the Articles of Faith, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the institution of the Sacraments, besides the Church Discipline, with several short prayers and simple questions, based on three parts of the Catechism, to which may be added some of the most important sayings of Holy Writ promotive of godliness. The second shall be a short compendium of the Palatinate Catechism used in our churches. In this, those shall be progressively instructed who have made some proficiency in the former. The third shall be the Palatinate Catechism adopted by our churches, in which those shall be instructed who have made still further progress in years and knowledge. The Welch Netherlands' churches, which till now have used the Genffer Catechism, can retain the same in their churches and schools; but other formulas of catechizing the schoolmaster shal not have the right to use in the schools, and Govern ment shall be requested to cast out of all schools all The schoolmasters, inasmuch as some have been found to be remiss and refractory, shall be earnestly admonished of their duty by the ministers, and, when necessary, by the Consistory. In case they shall not behave in pursuance of this admonition, the magistrate shall be requested to bring them to their proper duty, or to appoint others more competent in their places. Finally, it shall be requested of the magistracy that no schools be tolerated which either do not admit or evade these sacred catechetical exercises. The office of the ministers shall be to establish at their discretion public catechetical preaching, having due regard to brevity, and being careful to adapt it not only to older persons, but also to the comprehension of the young. It shall be to the praise of the diligence of the ministers, if they devote a portion of their time to repeating these sermons in the schools, particularly those in the country, and if they bestow particular attention on this work. And in order that such persons also as are of age, or have never been instructed in the schools, or whose proficiency in them was insufficient, may be better instructed in the principles of the Christian religion, (for experience teaches that the usual instructions in the church, as well the catechetical as others, are with many persons not sufficient to implant the knowledge of the Christian religion, which, nevertheless, ought to be in vogue among the people of God; and custom proves that the living voice has very great efficacy when the elements of religion are impressed on the heart by general stated questions and answers adapted to each one's capacity, which is the best method of catechizing;) accordingly, the duty of the preacher shall be to look out all such as are of a teachable disposition, whether already church-members or other grown persons, and in company with an elder, assemble them together every week at some suitable place, and there discuss with them in a general way the main points of the Christian religion, and catechize them according to their understanding, improvement, and capacity. Let him repeat with them the catechism sermons, and apply every effort to bring them to a clear and binding knowledge of the Catechism. Those who after this desire to unite with the Church, shall, during three or four weeks previously, be diligently and repeatedly instructed at some particular place in the |