Old-school were at the time of the division, fifteen ministers is 740. This indicates a more rapid terri

New Presbyteries organized,

66

Licensures,

Synods

Ordinations,

Churches organized,

Additions to members,

New-school.

Old-school.

2

3

66

2

3

33

78

36

74

From the above it appears that we have eight more Presbyteries and fourteen more churches than there were before the division; whilst the number of ministers lacks but one of being the same, and the number of communicants falls short but 1294. Another year, at the same rate of progress, will place us, in every particular as to numbers, ahead These results certainly show the Old-school to be of where we stood before the secession of the New-in a far more prosperous state than the New-school. school. Probably no denomination of Christians After all, however, we shall accomplish but little has ever recovered from so large a loss of numbers unless we realize that our strength is not in numin so short a period as fifteen years. As to thorough-bers, but in the presence and power of the Spirit of ness of organization and efficiency, the Old-school God.-The Presbyterian. Presbyterian Church is far in advance of the state of things in 1837. Considering her intelligence, wealth, numbers, sound doctrine, and thorough scriptural polity, she ought to have accomplished more than she has done; but there is reason for encouragement in the constant gradual increase which appears from year to year. Let there be more united prayer to God, and more faithful labours, and the years coming will show still more cheering re-enough to overreach, nor authority imposing enough sults.

to silence. They all tremble in its presence. It is truth-the really most potent element of social or individual life. Though tossed upon the billows of popular commotion, or cast into the seven-fold furnace of persecution, or trampled into the dust by the iron heel of power, truth is the one indestructible thing in this world that loses in no conflict, suffers from no misusage and abuse, and maintains its vitality and completeness after every assault. All kinds of conspiracies have been undertaken to destroy and drive it from the earth; all sources of power have been exhausted to crush it, and all kinds of seduction employed to vitiate and poison it; but none has succeeded, and none ever will. We can be confident of nothing else in this world, but the safety and imperishability of truth-for it is a

From the above it appears that the Old-school ex-part of the divine nature, and invested with the ceeds the New-school in numbers, 5 Synods, 35 Pres-eternity and omnipotence of its Author and source. byteries, 569 ministers, 1253 churches, 78,811 com- It may often seem to be in danger; it is as much set municants, 102 licentiates, 164 candidates. The upon and assaulted now, after eighteen hundred excess of communicants in the Old-school over the New, is almost equal to the entire number of communicants in the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country. The number of New-school ministers very nearly equals the number of churches, there being but 56 more churches than ministers-whereas in the Old-school the excess of churches over the

years of successful resistance, as ever; but history and experience ought to re-assure our faith. It has never yet failed, and it never will. It has always accomplished its end, and always will. We may rest serenely upon it, and feel no alarm; we may anticipate its success, and enjoy its triumphs in advance.-N._Y. Evang.

BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS.

Business Officers of the Board. Corresponding Secretary-Rev. C. C. JONES. Assistant Secretary-Rev. R. HAPPERSett. Treasurer-SAMUEL D. POWEL.

Address, Mission Rooms, 265 Chestnut st. Philadelphia. LETTERS relating to Missionary appointments, and other operations of the Board, including CHURCH EXTENSION, should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary. DONATIONS and SUBSCRIPTIONS should be sent to the Treasurer; or, if more convenient, to the following per

sons:

J. D. WILLIAMS, Pittsburgh, Pa.
ANDREW DAVIDSON, Louisville, Ky.

DR. MACMASTER'S LETTER.

"Rev. C. C. Jones.

"NEW ALBANY, Ind., July 26, 1853.

"Rev. and Dear Sir:-I have just read your last report with great interest, as I had previously read its two predecessors. Although I have not the pleasure of your personal acquaintance, and have no connection with your Board, except what is common to all our ministers, I take the liberty of asking whether measures cannot be taken to give to it a wider circulation among the church members than these Reports usually obtain. Its views appear to me so comprehensive, its spirit so manly and Christian, its principles so sound, its measures so wise, its motives so cogent, and its appeals so stirring, that I know not how this great interest could be

WILLIAM RANKIN, JR. Mission House, 23 Centre street, better, or so well served, as by causing it to be

New York.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS FOR 1853-ITS CIRCULATION URGED.

everywhere read and pondered. Cannot a wide pub-
lication be got for it through the newspapers in place
of much unimportant matter which fills so many
pages of most of these papers? Excuse my freedom
in making to you these suggestions, and accept as-
surances of my best wishes for abundant success in
all your labours for the furtherance of the gospel.
I am, very respectfully,
E. D. MACMaster.

Although a greater number of Reports have been printed than usual, yet, after sending them off to our ministers, elders, and members, and to various points, our supply is much reduced and may not be sufficient to meet the calls for them during the year. A WORD TOUCHING THE PRESENT STATE The general circulation of the Report is desired by the Assembly, and is urged by very many ministers, and we feel grateful to those brethren who have in-oning back since October 1850, that the Board of terested themselves in the matter.

OF THE BOARD.

It has been within a few short months only, reck

Missions has begun to breathe a little freely, and to feel able to undertake important enterprises with some little confidence: and to extend a truly helping hand to our brethren in the field everywhere, who need it. It is the desire of the Board to carry on the work of expansion with some vigour during the year upon which we have now entered. The calls for missionaries are many, and the want of suitable men begins to be seriously felt. Since the 1st of April, the commencement of the year, seven missionaries have been commissioned to our more distant fields, five west of the Mississippi and two on the Pacific coast: and we are in correspondence with another who may go to the shores of Lake Superior. To succeed in our desires, the Board will need a large supply of funds, and suitable missionaries, and the spirited co-operation of the Presbyteries: we believe that we shall have both.

In the absence of a sufficient number of Reports to supply the demand from the churches, we would respectfully recommend the plan adopted by many pastors, and with the happy effect of not only communicating information, but of awakening in their people new zeal in the work of Domestic Missions; which is, for the pastor to make himself master of all the facts, statements, reasoning and suggestions of the Report, and deliver them to his people in full congregation on the Sabbath, or at the monthly concert, which some prefer. But a Domestic Mission meeting on some part of an appointed Sabbath would be the better way, as at such a time access would be had to the whole church and congregation. Part III. of the Report, from p. 28 to 49 inclusive, we would earnestly commend to the attention of our pastors and members, and also to our missionaries and missionary Presbyteries. The Board is carrying The principles upon which the Domestic Missionout the principles and views laid down for its gov-ary work of the Assembly is carried on should be ernment by the General Assembly, and it has the remembered and borne out in practice, otherwise we co-operation of the churches in conviction and feeling, but we need greater co-operation in action.

shall fall back again. The churches, the people, influenced to rely upon themselves as perfectly as posAlthough the following letter was not written with sible for the support of the gospel. Assistance affordany view whatever for publication, yet we venture ed as long as it may be necessary. Independence as to lay it before our readers as an additional argu- early as practicable. Contributions in aid of the ment for the circulation of the Report of the Board gospel, as a general rule, from the beginning, howof Missions. It is a letter from one whose name is ever small. Our Church in her organized capacity familiar in every part of our Church, and whose to support her Domestic Missions, fully, liberally, opinions carry weight and influence wherever they by regular and universal collections. Union and are known. confidence in feeling and operation between the

Board and all the churches and Presbyteries, and a penury and obscurity. The people are many years prayerful reliance upon our Divine Redeemer to crown | behind the true spirit of Presbyterianism, and hence our efforts for his glory with success.

That the spirit of missions-for the establishment of our branch of the visible Church-for the regeneration and salvation and exaltation of our whole country-above all, for the glory of Christ's reign and kingdom on the earth-most extensively pervades the breasts of our ministers and members, no man may deny. Let that heaven-born spirit appear. Action, Action is required. Spared through divine mercy to enter upon a new year of missionary labour, let us do what our hands find to do with our might.

their destitution of it." We repeat, that this is stronger language than usual, and the case may be an extreme one if you please, yet there is truth at the bottom, and the extract deserves serious reflection.

The Board has felt burdened in view of the great and growing wants of these distant fields, and effort has been made to economise, to increase the contributions to the missionary funds of the General Assembly, and, in conjunction with our Presbyteries, to induce aid-receiving churches that can sustain their own ministers, to do so, and relieve the General

CONDITION AND WANTS OF OUR FRONTIER Assembly from their support, and let us have the

STATES.

Communicated for the Home and Foreign Record.

money to help the churches and brethren in the wilder ness places. Right glad are we that the true misPrivations of Home Missionaries. For the past two years, the absorption of funds sionary spirit does exist in the breasts of multitudes of our ministers and members. Aid-receiving has been so great within the older settled States, and the contributions of the churches increasing so churches have come up to the measure of their slowly, that the Board of Missions has been enabled duty and ability, and the saving from this action to do but little for the extension and adequate supof theirs, the past year, according to the report of port of the Gospel in our frontier States and Terri- the Board to the Assembly, has been some $6000. tories. Consequently, the esteemed brethren who This we turn over to support our missionaries, and have gone into these new and important fields, have to project and sustain new and important enterprises. laboured under difficulties and privations of no ordi- The General Assembly at all times has cared for the nary kind, and which, if made public, might be sheep in the wilderness, and for the poor of Christ's received by our ministers and members in more fa-flock, and the missionary funds must go for their voured circumstances with a smile of incredulity. support, wherever they are; but all who can support We have not thought it advisable, on many accounts, the Gospel for themselves must do so, and not only do to publish much on the subject, but to do all in our so, but contribute in aid of those who cannot. power to remedy the evil. A minister who has been a number of years in the South-west, and is now preaching the Gospel without charge to the people, HOW SOME MINISTERS ARE KEPT POOR. because he deems it better to do so than to depend Messrs. Editors:-We plain, practical people, hear upon an inadequate and precarious support, writes and read considerable about our ministers and misa co-presbyter in stronger language than we have sionaries being poor, and not getting enough to live been accustomed to see, yet we deem it advisable to on and educate their families. Some give one reagive an extract for the edification of our readers, son and say "the ministers are not enterprising and hoping it may make some good impressions upon laborious, and do not study and preach well; and so them. "The present race of Presbyterian ministers the people will not give them much." Some give must suffer on if they stay here; or else support them- another reason and say, the people are stingy and selves and those dependent upon them in the fairest not accustomed to give and wont give." Others and best way they can. I am confident the body of again say, "the minister has some land and raises the Presbyterian Church in the United States knows a good crop every year, and has some stock, and is nothing about the matter, and worse than all, they a pretty thrifty man, and does so well by himself, cannot know it. The Home Missionary ranks so low in the people think they may do less." But, sirs, there comparison with the Foreign Missionary, that justice is one reason I am inclined to think, has not been cannot and will not be done in this age. There is a brought to light; and may be, there are some perradical error just here. The foreign missionary has sons to be blamed for keeping ministers poor who no hardship to endure comparatively. He is com- have themselves not the least idea of it. Pardon paratively well sustained, and well supported, and me if I am wrong; but give me some credit if I am well cared for. The home missionary is without right. Let me give you a case. sympathy, support, and friends; and while the people among whom he labours without reward or thanks, are growing rich, he raises his family in

Here is a minister, studious, laborious, a fair preacher and ordinarily successful-had in reputation by the Church and the world around him. He

cause the members have not enough to live on and a good support for their families, but, over and above this, they are not able to take upon themselves the support of an additional family. But when a minister is poor, he is individually poor; and has not a sufficient support for himself and family. Hence churches may afford to be poor, but ministers cannot. I speak as to temporal things. I should think my reason for ministers being kept poor a good one; and it ought, in my humble opinion, to be seriously considered; you will, I know, Messrs. Editors, understand me. The case I have given you is too plain to be misunderstood; I have no reference whatever to fields of labour that embrace a population of really poor people, and a people destitute of gospel privileges, to whom a missionary must be sent or they will perish-no man caring for their souls, and thus having no opportunity of hearing the gospel.

is induced to settle, at the solicitation of one, two, isterial labour is the most precious commodity on or three members of Presbytery-perhaps by the whole earth. Ministers ought not to keep their brethren body, over a small congregation—a feeble church-poor. If [churches are poor ordinarily, it is not beif you like that phraseology better. The people, all told, are but a handful; and such is the state of the country around, and so fixed are the other denominations on the soil, that any growth of consequence is about for ever an impossibility. But it is a most important field; it must be occupied! The people cannot contribute sufficient for their minister's support. How is the necessary sum to be obtained? Of course in the usual way in such cases, from the Board of Missions. Now, be it known that the salary is hardly a support. Alas! the minister is married, and his expenses are increasing with every blessing of Providence upon him. See Psalm cxxvii. verses 3, 4, and 5. But, THE salary don't increase in proportion! He or his good wife has a little private property. It is drawn on. Friends help some. A box of clothing comes now and then. The people let him have a little patch of ground. Farmer Goodwill lets his cow pasture in his lot. The pew is free. The schooling is nearly so. But year after year, to use a sailor's phrase, the minister is "hard up" for money. Poor he is, and in this important missionary field, poor he must ever be.

He thinks of leaving, to do better by his faithful and devoted companion, who has toiled and borne with a martyr's spirit; and to do better by his growing family. Leave? He cannot. The brethren of the Presbytery cannot bear to think of it, Why, they love this good self-denying and devoted brother. He would be a great loss to their Presbytery! The body would be weakened! A feeble church, an important church and field of labour within their bounds would be left destitute. The cause of Presbyterianism in their midst would decline. Leave? Why we could never get another man for that field, to live in it as he has done. He knows how to get along in it; we must use our influence to keep him if possible." They use their influence, and the good, self-denying and devoted brother is influenced to remain. Remain he does-and remains poor for ever -perhaps dies poor and leaves a poor family. I ask now, with all deference, who made this minister poor and kept him poor? You can answer that question as well as I can.

Pray what would you do in such a case? Do?-I think (although one ought not to pretend to great wisdom,) that little field, that "feeble church," should be made a preaching station to some neighbouring minister; and then send the brother somewhere else, to some other, better, more promising field, where he could labour in hope and be partaker of his hope; where he could obtain a competent support, and a support that would keep pace with his wants. Min

Our Church preaches the gospel to the poor, and while the Lord smiles upon us and continues his grace to us, ever will. I am sincerely your friend and a FRIEND TO MINISTERS.

August 1, 1853.

MOVEMENTS.

Since the meeting of the Assembly, we observe by letters received in the office, that brethren have returned home with increased zeal in Domestic Missions; and we very much misinterpret the signs of the times, if the present year does not surpass its predecessors in direct and efficient efforts to build up our Church, and extend the Redeemer's kingdom in our beloved country. A Presbytery occupying an important field in the West, has already taken up the question of greater effort to meet the increasing wants of the people. We must not only hold our own, but go forward, and not be left behind by our sister denominations. The whole South, South-west, and West, are open to us. There is field enough and to spare. We bid all evangelical denominations God-speed. We would beg leave to take our part in the great work. We subjoin the following letter from the South-west, full of spirit and zeal.

July 16, 1853.

"My heart sinks within me, when I look over the wide-spread desolation in our bounds, and the dark prospect in the future. Your Board is doing a noble work, and all the churches at present enable it to do; but what I complain of is, that the churches do not afford you the means to do four-fold. You ought to have received $200,000 this year, and increasing yearly. Cannot the churches be brought to see and feel as they ought.

The taste for the truth has to be created. The mass of the people are satisfied with what they have, and still it is another gospel. We have here every

Sabbath I spend among some twenty families in the south-western part of the county, preaching and If the West is not speedily cared for, the East will catechizing, and visiting on Monday. On the Sabfeel the influence in a way they probably but little baths when I preach in the village, after eating a suspect. Some Goths, with a bold leader at their hasty dinner, I ride to some out-post, and preach. head, may sack their cities, and despoil them of their I have in all six of these, varying in distance from wealth. Or it may be the form of national legis-seven to fourteen miles. Yours, lation-God only knows. Bring us within three days of your city, (as we will be in two or three years,) and then what an influence the millions of the West will exert.