The General Assembly appointed a committee to draw up a Summary of Information received in a free Conversation on the State of Religion, who made the following Report, which was adopted by the Assembly. ftill ALTHOUGH every fincere christian must lament that inattention to the ordinances of religion, and the small impreffion which its facred truths make on the hearts of men, which are vifible in many and extenfive portions of our country; yet, the Asfembly have heard, with the highest fatisfaction, of the prevalence, and increasing influence of vital and practical godliness throughout. the greater part of the Prefbyteries which compose our body. Within those wide districts, towards the south and weft, from which the laft Affembly heard, with fo much pleasure, the glad tidings of the great falvation manifested there, the power of religion appears to prevail, with little abatement. And although through the subtilty of the adversary of fouls, and the influence of human frailty, fome errors, extravagancies, and inftances of reproachful behaviour, have taken place, which the Affembly do fincerely regret, and most unequivocally disapprove and condemn; yet are they happy to learn, and it is a facred duty which they owe to the churches, to announce, that, notwithstanding the malignity with which the enemies of religion have studied to mifreprefent, and rejoiced to exaggerate thefe undefirable events, they are chiefly confined to one district of no great extent; and they are certainly very rare, confidering the immenfe region, through which this work has prevailed, and the yast variety of characters who have been its fubjects. The Affembly, moreover, have the unfpeakable fatisfaction to announce, that the extraordinary influences of the Divine Spirit have, fince the last year, been spread over new and very extenfive countries, ftill farther to the fouth and weft. To the north-west and north, from the river Ohio to the Lakes, (a vaft region which, a few years ago, was an uninhabited wilderness,) new churches are forming with astonishing rapidity: and the Spirit of God feems to be remarkably poured out, and to accompany the word, and or, dinances of the gofpel, with the most folemn and affecting impreffions. The fame spirit appears to prevail through a large portion of the Synod of New York and New Jerfey, and the Synod of Albany. Its effects though more filent, feem to be not lefs deep, nor confoling to the friends of true religion. Sinners are convinced, and fincere believers comforted, and established in the faith and hope the of the gofpel. Trophies are continually raised to the grace of the Redeemer; and numbers are almost daily added to the church of fuch, we truft, as fhall be faved. In the churches in which these extraordinary influences of the Divine Spirit are not so conspicuous, power, and the falutary effects of the ordinances of the gospel, feem, notwithstanding, to be vifibly progreffing. That inattention to the things of religion; that neglect of its inftitutions; that tendency to infidelity, or to fcepticism in principle, and to diffoluteness of manners, which, a few years fince, the truly pious had so much reafon to deplore, are, in most places, evidently arrested; and the tide of public fentiment has happily begun to flow in a contrary direction. Places of divine worship are, in general, more frequented; the inftitutions of religion are held in higher honor, and attended with greater folemnity, and apparent devotion. The like agreeable tidings have been received from our associated brethren of the eastern churches, who are dwelling together in peace, and in the unity and faith of the blessed gospel. The Affembly have likewife heard, with uncommon fatisfaction, of the increasing number of focieties for the purposes of prayer, and for the promotion of piety and good morals. It is the ordinary courfe of divine providence, that, when God defigns to pour out his Spirit in a remarkable manner on his churches; and to increase and extend the influence of true religion; he first awakens among his own people a fpirit of prayer, and of fervent fupplication at the throne of grace, for this bleffing. And the Affembly do earnestly recommend it to all who love the appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jefus Chrift, to meet often together; to flir one another up to love and good works, and to wrestle in prayer with God, like the faints of old, for the profperity of Zion, till the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the falvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. It is, moreover, no fmall ground of confolation, to obferve the pious difpofition manifefted, and the increasing efforts which are made, more effectually to extend the knowledge of the way of falvation to the unhappy and enslaved blacks in our country; and to fend the inestimable bleflings of the gofpel, along with the improvements of civilization, to the heathen and favage tribes in our vicinity; to fave these wretched people from utter extermination; and to raise up from the remnants of fo many destructive wars, the feeds of future and great nations, who fhall enlarge the kingdom of the Redeemer. The reports of the Affembly's miffionaries in the Cherokee, and Catawba nations, have rendered the profpects of introducing among them, letters & civilization, the arts of peace, and the precious lights of the gofpel, more promifing than, at any period, they have ever been, Finally, the Affembly, rejoicing themselves in the grace of the Great Head of the Church, have again the happiness to offer to the churches under their care, increafing caufe of thanksgiving, and praise, to the God of all mercy and truth. And, they intreat the co-operation of their prayers, and their charity, for the promotion of the Redeemer's glory, and the falvation of precious and immortal fouls.—And now, to God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy-Spirit, who hath given us this reafon to rejoice, be glory and honor, world without end! Amen! 8. The Presbytery of Hopewell, confifting of four minifters, as follows: N. B. Some of the reports from which the above has been taken, do not distinguish the vacancies able to support pastors, from those which are not. As no report of churches has been received from the Synod of Kentucky, or from the Prefbyteries of Grenville or Hopewell, the amount of vacancies here given, must be confiderably short of the real number. For the like reason, the number of minifters and licentiates, is fuppofed to be incomplete. The number of ministers has been nearly doubled, in 15 years. See extracts 1788. + From the two last mentioned Presbyteries no reports have been received. The imperfect account given of them, has been derived from other fources An Abstract of the Funds. CONTINGENT FUND.* Dollars Balance in the Treasurer's hand, June 1ft, 18c2. 362 12 Total amount of the preceeding collections. 498 52 Monies borrowed by order of the trustees to meet appropriations made by the General Affembly. Amount of one year's intereft on the stock of the permanent fund. 740 00 974 00 Received for feven copies of Confeffion of Faith &c. Received of Rev. James Richards, collected on his miffion.+ Refunded by Rev. James Hall. Amount of the collection made May 23d, 1803, after the delivery of the miffionary fermon by Mr. Kollock. 7 00 Paid to miffionaries 489 15 757 10 656 65 3068 10 for paper, books, printing, and fundry services performed by order of the Gen. Affembly, the corporation and committee of miffions. Repaid money borrowed as above, with interest N. B. Since the ft. of June, 1803. The treasurer has received on account of this fund, From Mr. Kollock by the hands of Mr. Hazard 20 00 *The General Affembly have two principal funds: the one termed the permanent fund is formed of the monies fubfcribed, and certain additional dona tions. The principal of this is kept entire, and the intereft only expended for miffionary and other religious uses. The other is called the Contingent fund: it is fupplied by the annual collections; the profits of the permanent fund, &c. and is generally expended yearly for the support of miffionaries; the purchase of religious books for diftribution, &c. The monies collected by the other miffionaries were accounted for by them in the fettlement of their accounts. |