universal regret among the guardians and patrons of this Institution.

But though there be an interest generally in the prosperity of the Education Society and the other benevolent societies of the day, I am fully convinced that there is but little done for the cause of benevolence to what ought to be and may easily be done.

our country in every branch of business for some time past, has been greatly embarrassed by the derangement of our currency. This derangement at first affected our cities more than the country, but recently it has been perhaps reversed. It cannot be doubted that the scarcity of money in our country towns during the past summer has been very great. It has been If Christians generally gave with the often repeated, and I presume with truth, liberality for the support of religious inthat it never was so difficult to raise money stitutions that some are in the habit of in the country towns as during this summer. giving, there would be no want of means The season of the year also is one in which to sustain all our benevolent societies, and money does not generally circulate so freely to keep them in constant and vigorous operaas in either of the other seasons; and es- tion. In a small town which I visited, one pecially among those who are employed in man, reputed to be worth five or six thousagriculture. These circumstances have and dollars, gives annually sixty dollars to made it very difficult to raise funds for support preaching in his own society benevolent purposes where I have labored. another worth fifteen hundered dollars gives But though it be difficult to procure annually twenty-five-another worth one means to contribute for benevolent pur- thousand dollars gives annually twentyposes, yet where there are benevolent and a lady worth only eight hundred dollars hearts, something will be done as an ex- gives annually twenty-four dollars for the pression of the feelings fondly cherished. same object—and yet this people contributed The churches which I have visited, without to the Education Society. I could not peran exception, exhibited a disposition to do ceive that these families which gave so something for charitable objects, and mani- liberally for the support of the gospel, were fested a deep interest in the prosperity of consequently deprived of any of the comthe Education Society. When they listened forts and conveniencies of life. They apto a recital of the wants of this Society, it peared to be truly prosperous and happy. was evident that they were anxious to afford I could not but be reminded while in that it relief. It often has been deeply affecting place of the precious promises contained in to my mind to witness the efforts some have God's word to the liberal and benevolent. made for the benefit of this Society. An "Honor the Lord with thy substance and individual in a place which I visited, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. his circumstances were by no means af- So shall thy barns be filled with plenty and fluent, sent to the distance of ten miles that thy presses shall burst out with new wine." he might procure money for this Society "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth: before I left town. The rich generally and there is that withholdeth more than is have given of their abundance, and some- meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal times according to their abundance. The soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth poor have given of their penury, and often shall be watered also himself." And why so liberally as to evince fully that they is it that all Christians cannot give with the believed it to be more blessed to give than same liberality, and still greater than these to receive. few to whom I have referred? Have we not reason to believe that such liberality, instead of making poor, would make rich? Would not unnecessary expenses consequently be avoided, and those habits confirmed, and feelings cherished, which contribute to our prosperity for time and eternity?

It is very evident to my mind that the Education Society holds an important rank among kindred societies of the day in the estimation of the good and the benevolent. I have often heard such remarks as these, "We cannot do any thing without the Education Society. The other benevolent societies do and must depend upon this for men to carry forward the enterprizes in which they are engaged. This Society brings forward men inured to hardship, disappointinent and toil, which qualify them for the labors of the ministry and the trials of a missionary life."

An acquaintance with the young men aided by the Education Society, generally contributes to its prosperity. I frequently have heard it said, If you will bring into the ministry men equal to one aided by your Society with whom I am acquainted, you shall have my support. If there ever should be occasion to call forth an expression opposed to this, it must be the cause of

I think that it cannot be reasonably doubted that the liberal give more from principle and less from impulse and circumstances, than formerly. It must be highly important for the stability and prosperity of our benevolent societies to advance still farther in this way of giving. How much labor and effort on the part of clergymen and agents would be avoided, if all were governed by principle on the subject of giving to aid benevolent objects. A man who gave liberally for the Education Society, said to me after he had made his contribution, “My course is to decide first what I ought to give to each benevolent society, and when called upon to contribute,

if I have not the money on hand, I borrow it
as I would to pay a debt, and one too which
I must pay without delay." This example
I regard as truly worthy of imitation.
Wells, Me., October, 1838.

Agents Employed during the Year.

The Rev. Francis McFarland, Corresponding Secretary; the Rev. William Chester, General Agent; the Rev. James A. Peabody, Financial Secretary; the Rev. James Wood; the Rev. Thomas A. Ogden; the

Mr. Hall is now laboring in York county, Rev. Robert B. McMullen; the Rev. S. S. Maine.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S BOARD OF

EDUCATION.

Extracts from the Annual Report of the Board of
Education of the General Assembly of the Pres-
byterian Church in the United States of America.
Presented May, 1838.

Davis; the Rev. Daniel Deruelle; and the
Rev. James Stafford. Some of the above
Agents have been employed only a part of
the year.

It is a matter of extremely doubtful experiment whether the work can be carried on with efficiency and success in any section of the church without the services of agents to some extent. Thus far, uniform experience is against it. All the facts forbid us to depend exclusively on voluntary agencies. And this is not the experience of our Board alone, but of all similar institutions, whether civil or ecclesiastical. Where the machinery has been well constructed by a skilful agent, and a strong impulse given, it will continue to move on for some time; but the friction of indolence and avarice will stop its motion. We find it extremely difficult to obtain suitable agents, and equally difficult to retain them in the service of the Board after we have procured them. The service is so laborious, requiring the agent to be so much absent from his family, meet

WE are warranted by the word of God to believe that the church as an organized agency is that by which God will convert the world unto himself. If so it has ample resources both of men and means. The General Assembly has appointed the Board of Education to bring these resources, as far as the Presbyterian church is concerned, into active and extensive operation. And although the Board has doubtless come very far short of what the Head of the church requires, yet he has prospered the efforts that have been made to a degree that demands our devout gratitude, and that of the Assembly whose agents we are. The Board pre-ing frequently with unpleasant repulses sent to the Assembly a summary statement of their labors and their success during the past year.

526

where he thought he had a right to expect a different reception, and finding none of the dear delightful sympathies that cling around the pastor, and that bind him to the flock for whose souls he watches, as soon as he can do it with a good conscience, he retires and takes a pastoral charge.

There is no class of ministers in the church whose labors require more self136 denial, and who need to be cheered in 268 their work by the General Assembly, and 122 all the pastors and churches under their 526 care, more than the agents of your Boards.

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35

32

AGE OF EARLY RISERS

THE following is a catalogue of above 19 twenty early risers. Their age has been mentioned, when it was known. The average age, so far as ascertained, is about 70.

95

Of the whole number of candidates now reported, fourteen have declined further aid; one has been transferred to the American Education Society; four have been placed on permanent scholarships at Princeton, New Jersey; three have ceased to prosecute their studies for the ministry, and thirty-one are absent, teaching. The patronage of the Board has been withdrawn from six for conduct unbecoming candidates for the ministry; from five for refusing to sign the pledge which we require of candidates; from forty-four for not reporting for a year or more; and four have been removed by death.

Franklin was an early riser. He died at at the age of 84 years.

President Chauncey, of Harvard college, made it his constant practice to rise at four o'clock. He died at 81.

Fuseli, the painter, rose with or before He died at 81. the sun. Wesley rose at three or four o'clock, and slept but six hours. Died at 88.

Buffon, the celebrated naturalist, says he was indebted to the habit of early rising for all his knowledge and the composition of all his works. He studied fourteen hours a day. Died at 81.