ress, until its arrival at the brink of the sea, into which it plunged with rapid motion, leaving the whole route which it took, a complete and frightful waste, and a helpless, homeless tenantry in a state of wretchedness easier to be imagined than described. The only cause which can be assigned for this singular and awful revolution of the earth is this, that the great drought which we had some time ago, parched up the surface or slimy earth which covered these immense rocks, the mouldering of which caused such

THEOLOGY.

A Sermon on the Foreknowledge of God; preached on Thursday evening, Sept. 6th 1821, in the North Brick Church in NewHaven; and on the following Lord's Day, Sept. 9th, in the First Ecclesiastical Society in East-Haddam. By Nathaniel Emmons, D. D. Pastor of the Church of Christ in Franklin, Massachusetts: Middletown.

Address of the Committee of St. Mary's Church, of Philadelphia,to their brethren of the Roman Catholic Faith, throughout the United States of America, on the subject of a reform of sundry abuses in the administration of Church discipline. NewYork.

A Sermon delivered in Wells, June 27th 1821, before the Maine Missionary Society, at their Fourteenth Anniversary. By

MISCELLANEOUS.

PORTAGE (OHIO) MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Extracts from the Third Annual Report of the Directors, presented September 4, 1821.

It is presumed to be an indisputable fact, that since this region was settled by civilized inhabitants, it was never more destitute of the preaching of the Gospel, in proportion to the number of the people, than it has been the past year. In the four counties included in the bounds of this Society, are ten Presbyterian or Congregational ministers, and perhaps as many of the Baptist and Methodist denominations.

But what are these among more than 26 000 inhabitants scattered over a territory containing more than 28000 square miles. If 20 ministers of the Gospel were conveniently located on this territory, each must have a parish about 15 miles long and 10 broad, and on an average including not less than 1300 inhabitants. But when we reflect that these ministers are not conveniently located to visit all the inhabitants in our bounds; that the labors of some are confined to a small territory and to but few people; that almost all of them extend their labors to other sections of our country, and are frequent

ly in regions beyond the bounds of this Society, one fourth or even one third of the year; and that some of them will every year be prevented from engaging in active service, a longer or shorter period, by bodily infirmity, we see that many of the people within the bounds of this Society must be almost entirely destitute of a preached Gospel.

And when we take a view of this territory as respects our own denomination, the picture assumes a darker aspect. Scattered through this region are many who would prefer a preacher of the Presbyterian denomination, and but few, perhaps not any, who might not receive benefit from his labors. In this view of the case, there are only ten ministers among 26, 000 inhabitants, and were each min ister located over an equal extent of country, he must have a parish 20 miles in length and 15 in breadth; and were the inhabitants equally distributed through the whole extent of territory, each minister must have under his care 2600 souls. Or let each bave a parish of the above named extent, and those two who might fall wholly in Portage county, would each have under his care 4000 souls scattered over 300 square miles.

Six ministers are settled in Portage county, which is better supplied than any other county in the bounds of this Society But were the inhabitants of this county equally divided among these 6 ministers, each would have under his care 1682 souls, scattered over an extent of 125 square miles. But there is one Baptist minister and perhaps the labors of as much as three or four Methodist ministers in the couaty. On the supposition that there are ten regular ministers in the county, each must have the charge of more than 1000 souls, and a parish containing three townships. Medina county contains more than 3000 inhabitants, on an extent of territory 40 miles in length and 20 in breadth, and has but one Presbyterian minister. Huron county has only three Presbyterian ministers among a population of 6675 inhabitants, scattered over more than 30 townships. And Cuyahoga county with a population of 6328, has not a single Presbyterian minister, and it is believed not more than three or four regular ministers of any other denomination.

When we take a view of the Presbyterian or Congregational churches within the bounds of this Society, the prospect is truly alarming. Here are no less than 37 churches to be superintended by ten ministers, who have many calls to visit places where there are no churches, and places without the limits of this Society. And it is a lamentable truth that some of these churches, have for several years been on the decline; have been wounded and torn for the want of a spiritual shepherd to guide, protect and heal.Must these flocks be left to perish? Can nothing be done to furnish them with pastors? Or shall it be said that a supply will be furnished without special exertion? Will it be supposed that ministers are constantly coming into this country from the eastward, and thus our congregations will soon be supplied with able and faithful teachers?

A few facts will shew the fallacious ground on which such a supposition is built. In the year 1810, there were in the limits comprising this Society, 4, 454 inhabitants and three Congregational or Presbyterian ministers; that is, one such minister to every 1485 souls. In 1820, there were in the same bounds 26,180 souls and nine Presbyterian or Congregational ministers; that is, one such minister to 2908 souls, which is almost double the number to each minister that there was in 1810.

In 1810, there were six or seven Presbyterian and Congregational churches within the present limits of the Society, and three ministers; that is, about two churches to each minister, and now there are almost four churches to each minister, and several of the churches three or four times more numerous than any of them were. Add to this, that it is now a year since any minister or candidate has come from the eastward to settle within the bounds of this Presbytery; nor during that period has any one been licensed by this Presbytery to preach the Gospel: nor do we know of any one in our bounds who is expecting to be licensed for several years to come; nor do we know any minister or candidate for the ministry whom we may expect to arrive in this country from the eastward with a view of laboring here as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.

What a gloomy picture is here pre

sented to our view! The population of our territory has become about six times as numerous as it was ten years ago, while the number of ministers is but little more than three times as many; and the proportional increase of churches to that of ministers is about the same. There are now almost twice as many churches to each minister as there were in 1810.

Such is the view we have by looking back. And what is the prospect to look forward? Should the inhabitants in the bounds of this Society increase for ten years to come as they have for ten years past, in the year 1831 there will be about 150,000 souls within their limits: and should the number of ministers increase in the same proportion that they have for the last ten years, there will then be 38 ministers of the Presbyterian or Congregational denomination, which will give only one minister to 4560 inhabitants.

We lay no claim to the power of foretelling future events. But from what has been we may often calculate on what probably will be. From the facts now before us, we think it safe to conclude, that without some great, united and perseveringeffort to increase the number of ministers in this country, there will be a constant and growing decrease: and that in ten years from this time a much larger proportion of the people will be destitute of proper religious instruction, than there is at the present time.

With these appalling things before our eyes, brethren, we dare not be silent. We feel authorized to call on you in earnest, and entreat you to awake to the interests of this Society. We seriously ask, do you love your children? Do you desire their spiritual good? And where will they be ten years hence? Gone perhaps to some destitute town in this region, where they will hear the voice of no faithful minister of the Gospel ; but will probably be soothed and flattered down to hell by the syren song of those who deny the Lord that bought them, and cry peace when there is no peace.— They may fondly believe that all is well, because there is none to tell them better. Within ten short years your beloved children may be in this awful situation, unless some special effort is made to increase the number of faith

ful ministers. Do you inquire what shall be done?

Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest.Pray that he would incline the hearts of many in the older settlements to come hither to preach the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. Pray also that God will pour out his Spirit on our youth and raise up a host of young men from among ourselves, who shall become the heralds of salvation to those who are perishing in sin.

J. SEWARD, Sec'y.
Aurora, Ohio, Sept. 1821.

Extracts from the Sixth Report of the Directors of the American Education Society. Oct. 3rd, 1821.

The Directors congratulate the members and friends of the American Education Society, on the return of another Anniversary; and unite with them in devout acknowledgments of that divine goodness, which has hitherto smiled upon the benevolent design of this Institution. As this design is to give the blessings of the gospel ministry to the destitute, and ultimately to glorify God, by the salvation of ruined men, it commends itself to the reason and the heart of every christian philanthropist. In point of utility this society can scarcely yield to any other charitable institution, whether we regard the influence it proposes to exert on the character of the Clergy, upon the prosperity of the American churches already in existence, or that may hereafter exist, or upon the heathen of our own country, and of Asia and Africa. It is not the rival of any other institution, but lies at the foundation of every scheme for the conversion of the world. For "how shall men believe on Him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?" But where shall we find pastors for the thousands of destitute churches and congregations in our land? How shall the waste places be built up? And where shall missionaries be found, to carry the gospel to the hundreds of millions perishing in pagan darkness, if young men, who love the Redeemer, be not raised up and qualified for this service, by the hand of christian charity?

Though the Directors have cause for much gratitude to God for the prosperity that has attended the discharge of their arduous duties, they have found their way obstructed by disheartening difficulties. While the number of beneficiaries was rapidly increasing, they beheld, with painful apprehensions, a great diminution in the receipts of the Treasury. The prospect that the claims on the Board would continue to increase beyond its resources, suggested the obvious necessity, either of rejecting a part of the young men, or of requiring them all to refund a portion of what they receive, to be applied when refunded to the aid of others equally necessitous and deserving with them

selves.

At the quarterly meeting of the Board in October last, it was accordingly adopted as a general rule, That each beneficiary, in making application for the continued aid of the Society, shall transmit to the Treasurer a promissory note for one half the sum of the appropriation, which he had last received from the funds. This note is to become due within one year after the beneficiary shall have entered on his professional labors; and if not paid by the end of that year, to be thenceforward on interest.

If any

beneficiary, however, choose not to obligate himself, in this manner, he may, notwithstanding, receive one half the usual appropriation.

While this measure will require an increase of economy and personal effort from the beneficiaries, and to the most destitute will be a severe trial of their perseverance, it will not, in any case, it is hoped be an insuperable difficulty. The Directors are persuaded, that pious young men, who shall have been thus furnished with means of pursuing an education and obtaining the great object of their desires, will cheerfully devote the necessary time, after entering on the business of their profession, to restore to the common stock, the above proportion of what they shall have received, for the purpose of helping others, in their pursuit of the same great object.

The beneficiaries have, generally, complied with this requisition.

The correctness of the views, which led to the adoption of the measure, in October, was confirmed by the -state of things in January. At the

quarterly meeting of the Board, is January, the Treasurer reported, that the whole amount of money, in his hands, for current use, was only $1. 446. As no relief to the funds, from the payment of the beneficiaries' notes, can be expected under several years, the Directors were brought to the al ternative, either to dismiss from their list a part of the young men, who were looking to them for aid, or to reduce the sums allowed to each, at least twenty five per cent, below what had been usually granted. After serious deliberation, they chose the latter part of the painful alternative.

This equal distribution among the whole number of beneficiaries, they considered decidedly preferable to make the customary appropriations to a part of the number, and leaving the rest entirely without help. A burden might be borne for a time, if laid on all, which would be insupportable, if laid only on a part. It seemed also to be the dictate of impartial justice, that equal aid should be afforded, where the general claims to charity were equal.

Still, after making this reduction, in the ratio of their grants, the Directors found themselves obliged, at that meeting, to make appropriations amounting to $2,408, almost a thousand dollars more than the sum, at their disposal, in the Treasury. This they did, relying on the good proridence of God, and that generous cooperation of the Christian public, which two years before had furnished prompt relief, in a similar emergency.

In the mean time they made efforts of no ordinary kind to increase the funds of the Society. They spread their wants before the public, in the hope and belief, that they would not be compelled, for want of means, to abandon any of the young men, who are training up for the ministry, under their guardian care. To every one of them, the Directors consider themselves as standing in a very sacred and endearing relation. And it has never been without pain, that they have found themselves obliged to leare any one of them to pursue his studies in circumstances of embarrasment or anxiety. But notwithstanding all the exertions that were made, it appeared, at the quarterly meeting of the Board, in April, that the receipts of the preceding quarter, fell far below what was necessary to make even the scan

ty appropriations, that were made in January.

Still hoping and believing, that an enlightened christian community would not suffer an institution of such vital importance to the interests of the church, to languish and die for want of that support, which may be afforded with so little sacrifice and self-denial, the Directors determined to divide the amount of their funds, for present use, among the whole number of beneficiaries. In doing this they indulge the hope, that the relatives and friends of those young men, whose necessities were urgent, but could not be relieved by the funds of the Society, would be excited to make larger contributions and greater exertions for their relief. It was also believed, that many of the beneficiaries might make a saving of expense, by the practice of a still stricter economy.

The disclosure of these embarrassing and discouraging circumstances to the public; the appeals made and repeated to the hearts of the benevolent; and other efforts, which the exigency of the case demanded, had so far the desired effect, that at the quarterly meeting in July, the funds for present use were sufficient to meet the existing demands; not, however, upon the scale that guided the appropriations of former years, but upon a scale somewhat above the point of depression, which had been made the ratio of the recent grants.

Among other means employed to replenish the funds, besides the appointment of several Agents to labor in the service of the Society, the Directors have caused to be prepared and printed, as a Tract, Dr. Porter's Sermon, preached before the Society in Sept. 1820.

Beside this, the New-England Tract Society, has recently printed two important tracts, suited directly to promote the object of the Education Society; one entitled THE MACEDONIAN CRY; the other, an interesting correspondence between a clergyman of New-England, and a beneficiary of this Society.

This latter Tract portrays, in lively colours, the perplexity and distress, with which an indigent young man was forced to struggle in his way to the ministry, and makes a forcible appeal to the heart.

THE MACEDONIAN CRY, gives a dis

closure of facts, that show the naked. ness of the land, and tell tales of woe, which must make the ears that hear them tingle, and wring tears from the eye of apathy itself.

The receipts, at the Treasury, during the year from Sept. 30, 1820, to Sept. 30, 1821, amount to $13,108, 97. Of this sum $500 are a bequest of Mr. John Pierson, late of Rowley, Massachusetts, for the permanent fund; $1660 the payments of Life Members; $684 annual subscription of members; $967, 54 interest of productive funds; the remainder donations.

The whole number of the present members of the Society, as nearly as can be ascertained, is 425. Of this number, 197 are Life Members; of these 40 were added during the last year, and 26 of them by the contributions of females. Of the 197 Life Members, 133 were constituted chiefly by the liberality of females, in attestation of their love to the Saviour, and of affectionate respect to their Pastors.

The whole number of beneficiaries, who have been aided by the funds of the Society, since its first establishment in 1815, is 321. Of these 65 have been received within the last year. The number now depending on the Society for help, is about 250. These are pursuing a regular course of study in different stages of advancement, at approved seminaries. And from information respecting them, regularly communicated, the Directors have "satisfactory evidence, that, in point of genius, diligence, literary progress, morals, and piety, they are proper characters to receive this sacred charity."

In this great enterprize of christian benevolence, a confident reliance is placed upon the spirited and continued efforts of Branch and Auxiliary Societies. While all these have shown a laudable zeal in this good cause, some of them have set a noble example of systematic and most vigorous exertion.

To excite the friends of this Society to a more systematic and vigorous action, the Directors respectfully propose the following ways and means, for increasing its funds.

1. Let the churches become Education Societies. To christian professors, we appeal with confidence. Those who enjoy the regular ministrations of the Gospel, and appreciate their im