selecting and patronizing indigent young men of suitable character, to be educated for the ministry. To aid them in the performance of this duty, Examining Committees, composed of men of known character and standing are appointed in different parts of the country to examine and recommend candidates for patronage.

"Reposing great confidence in your judgment and fidelity, the Board of Directors of the Society, have thought proper to appoint, and they do hereby appoint you, Sir, a member of the Examining Committee of The duties to be performed may be learned from the publications which either now, or hereafter, may be forwarded for your information. The other members of the committee associated with you are

"Considering the connection which the object of this appointment has with the highest and best interests of mankind, it is hoped that you will allow it to claim and to receive a portion of your valuable services.

"By order of the Board of Directors."

The nature and method of examination may be learned from the following extract from the Rules:

"When a candidate for patronage applies for examination, it shall be the duty of the Examining Committee to whom the application is made, to institute a faithful and personal inquiry respecting his testimonials, his studies, his religious character, his motives in seeking an education for the Christian ministry, and his willingness to conform to the Rules of the American Education Society."

Such is the precaution taken by the Directors to prevent imposition, and a misapplication of the funds of the Society. This carefulness will be deemed requisite, when it is considered, that a large number of the beneficiaries are minors, whose character is not matured, and that young men of sanguine and aspiring habits, may choose the ministerial office from improper motives. A gentleman, once a beneficiary of this Society, has been so deeply impressed with the importance of this subject, that he has placed in the hands of the Secretary, one hundred dollars to be given as a premium to the writer of the best essay on "What constitutes a call to the Christian Ministry, and what are the proper qualifications for that work?" The design of the essay is to furnish those who may be looking forward to the ministry with the proper criteria in respect to corporeal, mental, and moral qualifications, by which they may judge of their fitness for the work, and of the

kind, and amount of talents, necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of the ministry, and also serve as a manual for clergymen and others, who may be called to give advice to young men in relation to this subject.

Number licensed to preach.

It is supposed, that about sixty beneficiaries have the last year obtained licensure to preach, and commenced the work in which they have so long desired to engage. Some of them have already settled in the ministry with our long established churches; others have gone to the Valley of the Mississippi, in the service of the Home Missionary Society; others are engaged as Secretaries and Agents in enterprises of Christian benevolence; and others have for their field of labor the lands of Pagan darkness. Many souls, no doubt, have already been made to rejoice in the Lord through their instrumentality.

Deaths.

"All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field." "The wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." Three of those who have been pursuing their studies for the ministry, under the patronage of the Society, with fair prospects of future usefulness, have been unexpectedly seized during the past year by the arrests of death, and remanded to the world of spirits. They have been called from their anticipated services of Christ on earth to his higher services in heaven. "Clouds and darkness are round about Jehovah; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne."

Patronage withheld.

In withholding patronage from young men who have received it, the Directors are actuated by a sacred regard to the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, the American Education Society, the benefit of the young men under their care, and those especially who are the subjects of this censure. Discipline of this nature tends to produce a salutary effect. Patronage is withheld when there are such improprieties of conduct as discredit Christian profession, or as bring reproach upon religion or the Society, or where there is a destitution of suitable natural or acquired qualifications.

Sometimes upon trial it is found that the mind does not develope as was anticipated, and that the young man by reason of deficiency of talent, had better abandon the idea of preparing for the ministry. That cases of this kind sometimes occur, is not owing to a defect in the Rules of the Society, but to liabilities incident to human judgment. The Directors, from a sense of duty and special regard to the benefit of the young men under their care, would state that in almost every instance of moral delinquency, the person, who has been cut off from patronage, has exhibited marks of gradual declension, as the destitution of seriousness and humility in deportment; pride and extravagance in dress; unhallowed ambition and frowardness of temper; ingratitude to benefactors, and an unteachable disposition; fickleness or instability of mind and conduct; and negligence in studies or laborious pursuits. Every instance of declension of this nature, therefore, should be considered by beneficiaries as an indication of fatal apostacy. Appropriations have also been discontinued in cases where young men, while receiving assistance, have entered into the marriage relation. After much reflection on this subject, the Board adopted the following rule: "If any young man under the patronage of this Society shall enter into the marriage state during the course of his study, his appropriations shall cease." The reason for this regulation is most obvious. If a young man cannot sustain himself while obtaining an education; surely he cannot sustain himself and a family. Besides, he will not only be burdened with additional pecuniary expenses, but he will be continually perplexed with additional cares and anxieties. From ten beneficiaries, patronage has the last year been withheld.

Dismissions.

One rule of the Society is, "If any young man shall at any time, while under patronage, wish to close his connection with the Society, he shall make known his wishes to the Secretary of the Parent Society, and provided he has maintained the character required, and conformed to the Rules, he shall receive an honorable dismission." In conformity to this regulation, fourteen beneficiaries, not needing further assistance, have requested and obtained an honorable dismission. In all these instances a due sense of gratitude has been expressed, and an intention to refund whenever it shall be in their power.

Efforts for the promotion of personal holiness.

The object of this Society is to raise up a succession of holy and devoted ministers of Jesus Christ. As one means of accomplishing this, the Board of Directors instituted the plan of Pastoral Supervision. The Rule adopted on this subject is, "The Secretary shall be required to exercise so far as he shall be able, pastoral supervision over all who are under the patronage of the Society, by visiting the places where they reside, and conversing and praying with them individually or collectively, by correspondence with them and with their instructors; and by any other means calculated to excite them to effort and to encourage them to seek an elevated spirit of piety."* In compliance with this direction, the Secretary of the Parent Society has, during the year, visited between four and five hundred beneficiaries, and the remainder have been visited by other permanent Secretaries and Officers. By the Trustees of Phillips Academy, five hundred copies of the Memoir of the Rev. Elias Cornelius have been given to the Society for distribution. And they all have been, or soon will be, distributed. It is a book well calculated to promote the spiritual interests of the young men, as it contains just views of what a Christian and Christian minister ought to be; just views of the American Education Society and other benevolent institutions; just views of entire consecration to Christ and the church. The Memoir is by the Directors presented to the beneficiaries, as a token of affectionate regard, with the hope, that the devotedness of Mr. Cornelius to the cause of Christ, may be impressed upon their minds, and imitated by them. A communication on some important topic of moral and religious duty, designed to produce in them the fruits of righteousness unto salvation, is sent to them quarterly.† All intercourse with them, in person or by correspondence, is both paternal and pastoral, and is designed to prevent an unfaithful, time-serving, and graceless ministry, and to bring forward a holy, consistent and consecrated host of ambassadors of the cross. Eternity alone will fully disclose its results.

Receipts.

From the Treasurer's Report it appears, that the receipts of the Society the past year have been $57,818 20; more than $11,000 greater than in any preceding year. Of this sum, $6,680, a bequest + Appendix H.

*

Appendix G.

of Oliver D. Cooke, Esq. of Hartford, Conn. have been received on account of permanent scholarships, and $51,138 20 for current uses of the Society. There have been paid into the Treasury by beneficiaries, who have refunded in whole or in part what they received from the Society, $1,947 78, which sum is included in the above receipts. It is hoped, that a greater amount will yearly be added to the funds in consequence of the loaning system; for the experience of years has proved that the disposition and ability to refund, are closely allied to habits of industry and economy; and these are evidently increasing. Of the $57,818 20, there have been raised within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church $19,277.

Expenditures.

The expenditures of the Society, during the year, have been $56,363 91. Add to this sum the debt of the Society the last year, $193 35, and the amount will be $56,557 26. From this sum subtract the amount of receipts for current use, and the Society will be found $5,225 71 in debt. A large portion of the funds of the Parent Society have been paid over to Branches, and Societies connected with it. While a part have sustained their own beneficiaries, others have drawn largely upon the treasury of the Society to meet their necessities. Though the Society is in debt, yet it is not because funds as large as usual have not been received; but because the number of beneficiaries has been rapidly multiplied. The amount of appropriations now, is double to what it was four years ago.

Amount of earnings.

While pursuing their studies, the beneficiaries of the Society have earned during the year by manual labor, school teaching and other services, the sum of $26,268 23.* This is truly creditable to them, and evinces what industrious application can accomplish.

Obligations cancelled.

In respect to cancelling notes held by the Society against beneficiaries, the following Rule exists: "In case the future condition of those who are patronized by the Society, in consequence of any calamity, or of the service of the church, to which they may be providentially called, or the peculiar situation in which they may