little church has been desolating and discouraging. from that time. When the time came, there were Our Sabbath-school has been almost broken up; our so many sick that we thought best to postpone the prayer-meeting is forsaken; and but very few are communion for a short time. After the weather seen in the house of God on the Sabbath. So many changed, and the sickness seemed to abate some, we are sick, and so many needed to attend upon the again announced that the ordinance of the Supper sick, that our ordinary services are very thinly would be administered in two weeks. When the attended indeed. It is the custom here to preach day came, we were in a worse condition than when funeral sermons for all that die. So far as it has the first day came that was announced. Our only been in my power, I have endeavoured to conform elder was down upon a bed of sickness, and unable to this custom, although, as you can easily imagine, to attend with us, and but few others could come it has given me much extra labour. On such occa- to the house of God. I concluded, however, that it sions, we have generally had more to hear the gos- would not be desirable to postpone the communion pel, and sometimes our house has been crowded again, so I preached from the text, "Christ is all and with solemn and attentive audiences. I trust that in all," and I gave the symbols of the broken body at such times some good impressions have been and shed blood of our crucified Redeemer to sixteen made, and that the seed then sown will yet bear of his professed people. We had no elder present fruit. I have been here one year, and in that time to assist; our only one was absent by the dispensaI have preached twenty-four funeral sermons, be- tion of Providence; but I myself am an elder, and sides making a number of addresses on funeral I took his place. I felt our little meeting to be very occasions, when it was not convenient to have a solemn. All, I think, could say, it is good to be regular sermon. I have made it a rule, in preach- here. Our circumstances made us feel our need and ing funeral sermons, to say but little about the dead our dependence upon Christ; and with disease and often nothing. I have preached to the living, or death all around, eternity seemed to be very near. to those dead in trespasses and sins, and have endeavoured to present such truth as I supposed was adapted to make them alive again.

Since the sickly season commenced, I have visited the sick as much as my strength would permit, and as I supposed consistent with other duties. I trust that in this way I have done some good, but I have frequently had occasion to mourn, on leaving the houses of the sick, that so little opportunity has been afforded for imparting religious instruction. Some are opposed to religious conversation with the sick, supposing that it will only alarm them, and make their disease worse. On one occasion, I called to see an aged man, who was lying near his end, as was supposed, and began to address such words to him as I supposed adapted to his case, when I was peremptorily commanded to stop, by a friend of the "We don't want," said he, "to have his mind disturbed by suck talk." The sick man and his friend were both Universalists. I thought of the inquiry once made to our Saviour, "Why art thou

sick man.

come to torment us before the time?"

My year's labours have closed, without seeing s single individual added to the church on examination. Over this state of things I mourn and feel humbled, and at times discouraged. But I am still trying to encourage myself in the Lord. My field is a peculiar one, and it may be some time before I see the fruit of my labour. There was but little good seed in the soil here when I came. It is mine to use the means, but I cannot convert souls. Per haps you are ready to ask, How have you and your family fared amid abounding sickness and death? We have great reason for gratitude that we have been protected as we have, though we have not escaped disease. My family consists of myself and wife, and two children. We have all had the ague-our first introduction to this disease. I have, since I came here, frequently heard persons speak of this disease as though it were a light thing. But we did not find it such. It produces, for a time, extreme sickness, and is followed with great prostration. My chills were so ordered that I have been kept out of the pulpit only one Sabbath-the only one by But while I have thus at times been deprived the sickness during the year. My wife has been the privilege of conversing freely with the sick, I have most afflicted. Her chills have been most numerous, at other times had the way opened up by disease and she has been the most debilitated. It is imp and death to impart spiritual instruction to persons sible in this region this season, to obtain help in the that I could not have approached under other cir- house. In consequence of this, I have had to ge cumstances. I have sat down beside infidel parents into the kitchen, and take a girl's place. I have -those who were avowedly such-while they mourn- cooked our meals, milked, churned, and dressed the ed for departed children, and have talked freely to butter. I have not yet gone to the wash-tub, but I them of Jesus and his salvation-our need of these, do not know but I shall have to do so yet. In these and the hopes and consolations which they impart things I have had a taste of missionary life. I to such as believe; and I have been thanked for my would not murmur; if I can be of any benefit to visit, and invited to call again. I have entered, also, the souls of men, I would cheerfully make the sacr the tavern, where religion had often been the sub-fices that I am now making. I sometimes, howeve ject of ridicule, and which had often been the scene fear that my wife will not have her health in this of mirth, and revelry, and profanity, and drunken- place. ness, and I have there read God's word, made an address from these words, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh," and prayed with the mourning and bereaved family. My experience here has taught me, FROM A MISSIONARY IN NORTH CAROLINA that God can open up an entrance for his word and for his ministers, even in those places from which, at one time, they seemed to be entirely debarred.

To show the effect of the prevailing sickness on our congregation, I may mention, that some time ago I announced that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper would be administered there in two weeks

I am your brother in Christ,

Rev. G. W. MUSGRAVE, D. D.

W. E.

July 18th, 1854.

I herewith send you a report of my field of labour In view of the many difficulties to be encountered, I feel grateful to the Lord of the harvest that success has crowned the labours of your humble missionary

even beyond his expectations. One of our elders recently remarked that "the charge was in a better condition than it has been for twenty years."

My field is extensive and laborious. It is in the midst, not only of a "crooked and perverse" community, but also of strong sectarian prejudice against the doctrines of that "sect everywhere spoken against," and where stormy and periodical excitement is too often taken for the religion of Jesus.

In the village, soon after I came to this charge, not less than sixty were reported as joining the church at one meeting. But alas for the "fruits!" Not ten can now be found who walk with Christ. Our prospect was dark. The current was against us. We had but few members, mostly women and no elder. The only materials for an eldership removed about this time, which added greatly to our discouragement. My faith almost failed. Yet by patience and perseverance the Lord smiled on us; our cause began to brighten, our congregations to increase, our church to be more respected, and the current of public opinion to turn in our favour. Our membership has nearly doubled; we have an elder, and a more complete organization of the church, a good Bible-class, and a religious newspaper in almost every family. We have scattered extensively the books of our Board, and improved the music of our church, that noble yet much neglected part of public worship. I am grateful to the Lord for the deliverance of our church in the village from threatened oblivion, and for the pleasing prospect of future advancement.

amount of work, and fine prospects of future usefulness. In connection with the above mentioned fields, two other places are supplied with the preached word regularly on the Sabbath. In the stead of one, there are five respectable congregations for size, assemble every Sabbath for the worship of God, as the fruit of your first commission ten years ago. This surely is the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our eyes. We feel that not only great things have been done for the region around, but particularly for this people. Our church was organized, May, 1847, with eighteen members. We have enjoyed no copious outpourings of the Holy Spirit, but there has been a gradual increase. Since my connection with this people, at every communion, additions have been made to our numbers. We feel that the Lord is with us, leading us in the right way. Pray for us, that we may enjoy his more immediate presence, and experience his power, in the conviction of many souls. The church feel greatly indebted to the Board for their timely aid, and are disposed to do what they can to relieve its burdens.

FORM OF A DEVISE OR BEQUEST.

To the Trustees of the Board of Missions of the Gene

or I devise a certain

Eight miles north is the church of B-, dilapidated by deaths and removals, and by the inroads of sister denominations, and also for want of a new house of worship, not having had one for fifty years. I am pleased to state to the Board that this church has now a new and commodious house of worship completed and paid for by the people themselves, and the usual results of better congregations, more interest in Zion, and cheering the hearts of Zion's friends have followed, besides silencing those who were ready to say, "What do these feeble Jews?" and who did say, after a few young people were car- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF RECEIPTS. ried off by excitement, "B-church might as well shut her doors." Our membership has increased, our prospects have brightened, our doctrines are

ral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America, and to their successors and assigns, I
give and bequeath the sum of
Trustees, and their successors for ever, to and for the
messuage, and tract of land, &c., to be held by the said
uses, and under the direction of the said Board of Mis-
sions of the said General Assembly, according to the pro-
visions of their charter.

Persons making bequests to the Board of Missions are requested to be careful in adopting the above form.

TREASURY AT PHILADELPHIA.

more respected, and where there was not a copy of Receipts into the Treasury of the Board of Missions during

a religious newspaper, we now have nearly twenty. The blessing of the Lord rest on the Board of Missions in their arduous and multiplied labours, as also upon the great cause of Domestic Missions itself.

Yours truly, in the bonds of the gospel,

the month of September, 1854.
SONOD OF ALBANY.

Phy of Londonderry.-Antrim ch
Pby of Albany.-Carlisle ch, from JAMES BOUGH-
TON, addl to constitute himself an hon mem
SYNOD OF NEW YORK.

T. E. D.

Pby of North River.-Smithfield ch

SYNOD OF NEW JERSEY.

$6 38

25 00

11 50

PROGRESS.

October 9th, 1854. Dear Sir-As another quarter's labour has closed, I hasten to inform you what the Lord is doing for us, through the instrumentality of your Board. Probably you are aware that all the churches in this vicinity are young. The first organization connected with your body was the church of 1:44. About that time, Rev. Mr. missioned to labour as a missionary in that field and the adjacent destitute places. As the fruit of that commission, two other churches have been organized, the other at Valley. In the stead of one, there are three labourers, with full

one at

Pby of Passaic.-Morristown 1st ch 323 60; Mor-
ristown 2d ch 80

Pby of New Brunswick.-Squan Village ch
Pby of Susquehanna.-Wyalusing ch8; Friends-
ville ch 2 14; Silver Lake ch 1 28; Towanda
ch 2 58; Wyalusing 2d ch 3

SYNOD OF PHILADELPHIA.

Pby of Philadelphia.-North ch, Phila, (of which in 30 in part to constitute S D POWEL an hon mem) 159; Penn ch Phila, from Miss Ellen Rose 20; A member of the Sixth ch Phila 100

was com

Pby of Donegal -Slateville ch 12 50; Chesnut

Leve! ch 49 30; Little Britain ch 13 60; Chance-
ford ch in part 16

Pby of Huntingdon.-Huntingdon ch 100; Belle

fonte ch 81

403 60 5 25

17 00

279 00

91 40 181 00

S. D. POWEL, Treasurer.

Receipts into the Treasury at Philadelphia, during the Pby of Ebenezer.-Washington ch 27; Sharon month of September, 1854.

10 00 Walnut ch Ind 275; Genoa and Coon Creek chs 5 25 00 $146 08

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION ROOMS,
No.265 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Business Officers of the Board.

C. VAN RENSSELAER, D. D., Corresponding Secretary.
WM. CHESTER, D. D., Asso. Sec'y, and General Agent.
JAMES WOOD, D. D., Associate Corresponding Secretary.
WILLIAM MAIN, Esq., Treasurer.

pleases to the office of the gospel ministry. But there is also an important sense in which his people are responsible for the preparation of those materials out of which preachers are ordinarily called; and also for the proper direction of their minds to the question of personal duty with regard to this office. The materials for future ministers are generally found in the bosom of our churches; either as communicants, or in a state of ecclesiastical pupilage. Hence the churches may be properly ap

Letters and Communications for the BOARD OF EDU-pealed to on this subject; and if delinquent, they CATION on the subject of Ministerial Education, or of Schools, Academies and Colleges, may be addressed to either of the Secretaries, No. 265 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Remittances of money may be made to WILLIAM MAIN, Esq., Treasurer, 265 Chestnut street, Philadelphia.

I. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.

should be exhorted to employ scriptural means to bring young men into the sacred office. To the use or neglect of these means, may be ascribed, as we believe, in a great measure, the large difference between the number of candidates in different churches.

We could name one church which has been organized twenty-five years, and has furnished from her members twenty-five candidates; and a second,

"Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He would send older and stronger than the other, which has fur

forth labourers into His harvest."

THE FIELD OF THE WORLD. The open field for the living ministry was never so great as at the present time. Our own country, harvest-white with twenty-five millions of immortal souls, is inviting labourers everywhere. Not one of our 140 Presbyteries but needs several ministers at once to occupy accessible positions of promise, in

addition to the 600 vacancies in our bounds. Our chief cities form, by themselves, immense missionary fields, whilst towns and villages, and country districts innumerable, cry out for help. The old States as well as the new States unite in the demand for ministers; New York pleading side by side with Oregon, and Virginia with California. Large numbers of almost unevangelized emigrants are crowding our shores, and the poor of different races we have always with us, to whom the Gospel is to be preached.

nished only two or three. The latter church too has enjoyed, as well as the former, some precious revivals of religion, and the additions to her communion have consisted of a good proportion of young men. But their attention seems not to have been called particularly to the subject of personal consecration to the ministry. As laymen, they are useful

men; but many of them might have become acceptable and some of them able preachers. Can that Church give a satisfactory answer to the question why they are not preachers? We consider it a great privilege for a church to have constantly among her be made one of the objects for which she daily and members one or more candidates; and if this should weekly offered up her prayers, and should have its appropriate place in the instructions of the pulpit, we doubt whether she would remain long without enjoying this privilege.

ISTRY.

The foreign field stands in sight, like a problem RESISTING A CALL TO THE GOSPEL MINwhich defies calculation. The Gentiles are ready to come to the brightness of Zion's rising. Asia, Africa, the Isles, the world at large, is inviting evangelistic movements on a scale hitherto unattempted, if not unthought of.

It is certain that the Church is most urgently and solemnly called upon, in divine providence, to augment her ministry at the present period, so importunate with opportunity.

A well known minister, now deceased, informed the writer that he had received a letter from a friend to the following effect:-that he pursued a course of literary and classical studies with a view to the gospel ministry; but that under the influence of aspiring and ambitious feelings, fostered by worldlyminded and irreligious kindred, he was diverted from his purpose, and devoted himself to the study of law. He made gratifying proficiency in preparMATERIALS FOR PREACHERS. ing for the legal profession, and had before him In an important sense, it does not belong to the every reasonable prospect of success. But from the church, but to God, to decide the question, who and mement he determined to abandon the gospel minishow many shall become preachers of the gospel. He try and study law, God appeared to forsake him; is the author of their regeneration; and when he lost his former spirit of prayer, and religious converted, it is his prerogative to call such as he comfort departed from his breast. At length, under

the pressure of strong conviction of duty, urged upon his conscience by an agent of the Board of Education, whom he heard preach, he was led to retrace his steps, and consecrate himself anew to the service of the Church, and to that sacred office to which, as he believed, he had once been called. The letter above referred to was written to inform his old friend of his decision, and to tell him, moreover, that its influence upon his piety and Christian enjoyment was almost instantaneous; that his communion with God was no longer intercepted (as before) by insurmountable barriers; his graces seemed to have a more vigorous growth, and his "peace was like a river."

Perhaps there are many young men in the Presbyterian Church, who, against the call of God, and their own convictions of duty, are turning away their minds from this high and holy vocation, to engage in some secular pursuit. If so, can they expect to be prospered? Especially, can they hope for "peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost?" The path of duty is the only one in which a man can secure the Divine favour.

PRAY.

The calamity of few labourers in the midst of a plenteous harvest is specially noted in the Scriptures,

and has A DIVINE PROVISION FOR ITS RELIEF. The

necessity of prayer "to the Lord of the harvest," has been repeatedly, if not annually, held up to the view of the Church in the reports of the Board of Education. Indulgence is again asked for a few statements on this subject.

1. The first thing to be realized by faith is the solemn injunction of the Lord Jesus Christ in reference to this duty. "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." The blessed Redeemer knew the means best suited to obtain the supply, and his eye turned upward to "his Father and our Father, to his God and our God." The Lord of the harvest, interested in its glorious ingathering, can alone command the resources to secure the work. It is "his harvest," not ours; and the labourers, in order to be of the right kind, must be of his sending alone. The duty of prayer in reference to so important a work might be readily inferred from the nature of the case, and the general obligations of the Church; but revelation adds its solemn and authoritative sanctions. Prayer for gospel labourers is made the special object of a divine command. The Church, in "going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature," is not left in uncertainty from whence, and by what agency, the workmen are to be obtained. Prayer is the revealed mode, prayer from compassionate hearts. "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved

with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Then said he unto his disciples; The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." There is a divine logie in the language of Christ. The connection between the means and the end may be undiscerned, or be as foolishness" in the judgment of the wise. But "the labourers are few:" "therefore pray" is the key that unlocks the desired treasures; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

2. Another fact is, that our Lord himself practised prayer in the calling and commissioning of his apostles. In Mark iii. 13, it is said, “and he goeth up into a mountain and calleth unto him whom he would; and they came unto him, and he ordained twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." There can be no doubt that prayer was importunately offered at this time, for Luke records the transaction as follows: "And it came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve." Luke vi. 12, 13. The choice of the apostles on this occasion seems to have been preliminary to a more complete commission, which occurred a short time after, when they were sent out upon their work. The interest of this last commissioning is greatly increased by the fact that it occurred in immediate connection with the injunction to pray for more labourers, as is apparent on a comparison of the

following passages; viz. Matt. ix. 38; x. 1; Mark vi. 7; Luke ix. 1. The command to pray was followed by the act of sending forth; and the glorious juxtaposition was as though he had said, “See my willingness as well as my power to answer your prayers."

If the last prayers of our Lord, as recorded in the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th chapters of John, be attentively read, it will be seen that no inconsiderable part is employed in invoking blessings upon his apostles. Thus showing that the whole subject, both of calling and of qualifying ministers for their work, should be sanctified by earnest prayer.

3. Why, it may be asked, is prayer so necessary in providing ministers for the sanctuary? Among other reasons, because prayer brings the Church directly to God. The ministry, without a divine call, has always been and must be a curse. Those who enter upon this profession unsent are "blind leaders of the blind." Religion cannot flourish where young men are trained for the ministry as for a mere profession of secular emolument or distinction. It is essential to its spiritual character that God be recog