FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

THE Society held its Fifteenth Annual Meeting in Boston, at the vestry of Park street church, on Monday, the 23d day of May, 1831, at 4 o'clock, P. M.

HON. SAMUEL HUBBARD,

President of the Society, took the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. THEOPHILUS PACKARD, D. D., of Shelburne, Mass.

The minutes of the last annual meeting were read.

The Treasurer presented his Annual Report, certified by Hon. PLINY CUTLER, as Auditor; and the same was read and accepted. The Report of the Directors was read in part, and the further reading thereof referred to the public meeting, to be held in the evening. On recommendation of the Board of Directors,

Voted, unanimously, That the second article of the Constitution be so amended as to read thus,-"A permanent fund, consisting of bequests, legacies, and donations, given for this special purpose, shall be formed by the Directors."

The officers of the Society were elected for the ensuing year.

The following gentlemen were unanimously chosen members of the Society.

Hon. LEWIS STRONG, Northampton, Mass.

Hon. WILLARD HALL, Judge of the U. S. Circuit Court, Wilmington, Del. Hon. THOMAS S. GRIMKE, Charleston, South Carolina.

THOMAS CUMMINGS, Esq. Augusta, Georgia.

Rev. SAMUEL B. How, D. D. President of Dickinson College, Penn.
Rev. DAVID ELLIOTT, President of Washington College, Penn.
Rev. LUTHER HALSEY, Professor of Theology in Western Theol. Sem.
Rev. THOMAS Goulding, D. D. Professor in Southern Theol. Sem.
Rev. JOHN MATTHEWS, D. D. Prof. in Hanover Academy, Indiana.
Rev. JOHN C. YOUNG, President of Centre College, Kentucky.
Rev. EDWARD BEECHER, President of Illinois College.
Rev. CHARLES B. STORRS, President of Western Reserve College.
Rev. WILLIAM COGSWELL, General Agent of Am. Ed. Society.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That it be recommended to the young men under the patronage of the Society, to observe the second Thursday of November next, as a day of fasting and prayer, with reference to the object mentioned in the vote of last year, and that the instructers, guardians and benefactors of the young men, as well as the friends of Education Societies generally, be invited to notice the day, so far as may be convenient.

The Society adjourned to half past 7 o'clock, P. M., to meet in Park street church.

The Society met agreeably to appointment ;-the PRESIDENT in the chair.

The services of the evening were commenced with prayer by the Rev. Warren FAY, D. D. of Charlestown, Mass.

The Report of the Directors was read by the Secretary.

On motion of Rev. JOHN BLATCHFORD, of Bridgeport, Con., seconded by Rev. DAVID OLIPHANT, of Beverly, Mass.

Resolved, That the increasing prosperity of this Society affords just cause of gratitude to God; and that the Report of the Directors, which has now been presented, be accepted and published.

On motion of Rev. ARTEMAS BOIES, of South Hadley, Mass. seconded by Rev. JOHN CODMAN, D. D. of Dorchester, Mass.

Resolved, That the American Education Society commends itself to the affections and confidence of the churches, from the important and salutary influence it exerts on the character of the young men enjoying its patronage.

On motion of Mr. BELA B. EDWARDS, of Boston, seconded by Rev. SYLVESTER HOLMES, of New Bedford, Mass.

Resolved, That since all efforts to educate men for the ministry must be ineffectual without the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the friends of the American Education Society, and of similar institutions, are bound to regard with thankfulness and joy the recent and extensive revivals of religion in our land, especially in our seminaries of learning. On motion of Rev. LYMAN BEECHER, D. D. of Boston, seconded by SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, Esq.

Resolved, That the obscurations which occasionally cross the path of the church of Christ, are no ground of despondence, but, judging from the word and providence of God, may be expected to be followed by a brighter and more glorious manifestation of the Sun of Righteous

ness.

The Society passed a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had favored the meeting with addresses, and requested that the same might be furnished for publication.

The Society adjourned, sine die.

ANNUAL REPORT.

THE Directors of the American Education Society, in presenting their Fifteenth Annual Report, would advert with devout gratitude to the extensive effusions of the Holy Spirit by which the present period is distinguished. It is not six months since it became apparent that such a season of special divine influence had commenced. Yet it appears from various religious journals, that four hundred and thirty-four towns, in seventeen States, have been blessed with revivals of religion ;-one hundred and eighty-one in New England, one hundred and eighty-seven in New York, and sixty-six in other States of the Union. When it is considered that this enumeration is necessarily incomplete, that districts are frequently named instead of the towns which compose them, and that many places which enjoy but partial revivals, would not be likely to be mentioned at all, it will not be thought to exceed the bounds of sober judgment to conclude, that one thousand towns and congregations have been visited within six months, to a greater or less extent, with revivals of religion.

It would be premature, at this time, to attempt to make an accurate estimate of the fruits of this work of grace. But from the fact that more than eighteen thousand instances of credible conversion to God are mentioned, as having occurred in one hundred and eighty-five towns, it is not extravagant to suppose, that the whole number of such conversions, in all the places visited, is not less than fifty thousand. Among those who have been brought into the kingdom of Christ are men of high influence in society, and men, who, a short time ago, were in the ranks of open opposition to the gospel. Seldom, if ever, since the primitive age, have the power and grace of God triumphed more gloriously.

It is worthy of special notice, also, that those places have partaken most largely of the blessing, which exert the greatest influence upon society. Cities and colleges have been the scenes of the deepest interest, as if the divine Spirit would correct the streams of moral influence, by purifying the fountains. The annual concert of prayer for the colleges was held on the last Thursday in February. It was a day of unusual solemnity, and of united and earnest prayer by many friends of Zion; and, while they were yet speaking, the heavenly influence descended in a shower of blessings. The colleges which have been most favored are Yale, Amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Williams, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kenyon, Union, Hampden Sydney, New Jersey, Western Reserve, Brown University, and the University of Ohio. The whole number of students who appear to have become subjects of piety in these institutions, during the present revival, is three hundred and twenty. The effects of this change will not be limited to these young men. Hundreds and thousands will, doubtless, experience in consequence of it, a similar change in their character and destiny for eternity, and a multitude which no man can number will rejoice in the result forever.

While this most seasonable and gracious interposition of the Spirit of God affords encouragement to all who are laboring to promote the cause of Christ, it is specially animating to those who are striving to increase the number of pious and efficient ministers of the gospel. It is to revivals of religion that Education Societies and all other institutions must look for a supply of candidates for the sacred office. No human attainments can be substituted for that devotedness to the Lord Jesus Christ, which is produced by the Holy Ghost. When, therefore, God revives his work in Sabbath schools, and schools of education generally; especially, when he sheds the influence of his Spirit upon colleges, and converts those who are soon to enter upon the duties of public life, the church has great reason to rejoice. It is not possible to predict how many pastors and missionaries will enter her service in consequence of the present revivals, but the number will unquestionably be increased beyond all antecedent means of supply within her reach. Who that has come to this anniversary will not, in this view, unite with the Directors and hail with joy the Lord of the harvest, who has come and taken the work of raising up labor

ers for the harvest into his own hands. He hath given the word, and great will be the company of those that shall publish it.*

In reviewing the progress of the Society for another year, the Directors find much to excite gratitude and to inspire hope, in addition to those signal manifestations of divine favor to which allusion has now been made. It has been a year of severe pressure upon the Society, but a year of unexampled success. Its wants were never greater, and never have they been sustained by the community with more decided liberality.

Since the last annual meeting there have been assisted from the

Total, 604 young men in 90 institutions of learning.

:

Of these, there have been aided in New England, 411 students at 47 places of education in other parts of the United States, 193 students at 43 places of education. The residences of those under patronage, so far as reported, are as follows:

One hundred and seventy-four have been received during the year who have not before been assisted by the Society, and of whom more than half are in academies, preparing to enter college.

Number who enter the Ministry the present year.

Fifty young men, under the patronage of the Society, the members of six theological seminaries, will this year complete their course of study and enter upon the active duties of the ministry. Most of them are already licensed to preach the gospel, and in a few months they will be scattered, in pagan lands, in the destitute regions of America, and among the older and more favored por