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ANNUAL REPORT.

THE history of every Christian enterprise is, in a greater or less degree, a history of afflictions. The servants of Christ are called to experience a sort of probationary discipline, no less when associated for a benevolent purpose than as individuals. In his providence, God has seemingly counteracted what he has commanded in his precepts and assured of success in his promises. The certainty and the near approach of the conversion of the world, the difficulty of the work, and the fact that it is to be accomplished by human agency, do not, in many respects, alter the arrangements of Providence, nor render the continued existence of any individual necessary. God setteth up one and putteth down another. In the moment of apparently the utmost need, some highly-gifted laborer has been cut down, while survivors have gathered around his burial-place in mute astonishment, and with a sorrow too deep for tears.

No event which has occurred in the history of benevolence for the last forty years was more unexpected, and scarcely any event could have been apparently more disastrous, than was the death of the late Secretary of this Society. In one capacity—that of a public agent, or an executive officer of a benevolent association, Mr. CORNELIUS has not, perhaps, left his equal in the Christian world. The qualities which fit a man for that station, he possessed in a very eminent degree. He had uncommon muscular energy, a form of body at once commanding and attractive, excitability and depth of emotion, a voice of great compass and power, comprehensiveness of mind and liberality of feeling, admirable pecuniary and business habits, extensive knowledge of the condition of the whole country, and a deep sense of dependence

on Christ for success. He united, what is very rarely found in the same individual, ardent feeling and sound judgment. For a number of years, he conducted the affairs of a great and complicated institution, with a wisdom and zeal which secured to him. the universal confidence of the community. But he rests from his labors, and his works do follow him. He devoted himself directly and most efficiently to that species of labor—the preparing of men to preach the gospel-which is intimately connected with God's appointed means for the renovation of the world. Of course, he laid the foundation for conferring permanent benefits upon the world, after his death. His usefulness, great while he lived, was, in an uncommon degree, prospectivefor other and coming ages.

Formation of the Society.

The American Education Society was formed in December, 1815. In March, 1816, four individuals were received upon its funds. The first of these was Samuel Moseley, afterwards a missionary at Mayhew, in the Choctaw nation, where he died. In December, 1816, the Society was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts.

Progress of the Society from 1816 to 1826: ten years. Previously to 1820, assistance had been rendered to young men without requiring any obligation to refund, or in other words, as an exclusive charity. In October, 1820, the general rule was adopted, that "each person, 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 was not, however, to become due till the end of one year from the time the student entered on his profession. If not paid by the end of that year, it was to be thenceforward on interest. If any young man did not choose to obligate himself in this manner, he was allowed, notwithstanding, to receive one half the usual appropriation. The requisition was generally complied with. The whole number of young men who had been assisted by the Society, in May, 1826, was 541. The number received, during the first year after

the organization of the Society, was 7; in the tenth year, 50. The greatest number received in any one year was 65; in one quarter, 22. The total of receipts of all kinds, during this period, was $121,769 75. The greatest sum received in one year, was $19,330 65; the smallest sum in one year, $5,714 42. For want of a permanent executive officer, the operations of the Society were several times exceedingly embarrassed, and almost suspended. It is obvious that, at the close of this period, the direct and visible effects of the Society's efforts must have been inconsiderable. The time necessary for acquiring a public education, is about the whole period of the Society's existence at that time. Of those assisted, only 13 were, in 1826, ordained ministers. There were besides, 10 missionaries or agents for charitable societies, and 11 licensed candidates for the ministry.

History of the Society from May, 1826, to May, 1831 : five years.

In the summer of 1826, the Rev. Elias Cornelius, pastor of the Tabernacle Church in Salem, Mass. was elected Secretary. He had previously performed a very successful agency for the Society, in which he obtained about $40,000. Soon after Mr. Cornelius entered upon the duties of his office, in the autumn of 1826, another change in the mode of rendering assistance was effected. An obligation to refund was required for the whole amount appropriated. This alteration was made with great unanimity. Efficient measures were also adopted in relation to the pastoral supervision. of those assisted by the Society. The Secretary was directed to use all proper measures to promote in them an elevated and ardent piety. The system of auxiliary and branch Societies was also greatly extended. In 1827, the Presbyterian Education Society, which had its seat of operations in New York City, and which was assisting at that time 100 men, and receiving an annual income of about $5,000, was connected with the American Education Society. Two important agencies were established in the western portion of the United States; one at Cincinnati, Ohio, and the other at Hudson, Ohio. Previously to 1828, assistance was extended to individuals only in their academic and collegiate course. In that year, all restrictions were removed, and properly qualified candidates were received in every stage of education.

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At the close of the period under review, May 1831, twelve hundred and four young men had received assistance, and 660 during the period under review. In the same time about 350 men were licensed to preach the gospel, making 400 since the organization of the Society. The amount of receipts was $166,279 10—a sum greater by about $40,000 than was received during the first ten years of the Society's existence.

The

Review of the past year.

past year has been one of uniform and increasing prosperity. A deeper and broader foundation has been laid for accomplishing the great results which the Society have in view.

Number assisted during the year.

Since the last annual meeting, there have been assisted from the

funds,

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Total, 673 young men, in 113 institutions of learning.

Of these, there have been aided in New England, 428 men in 61 places of education; in other portions of the United States, 245 men at 52 institutions. More than one third of the whole number, as it appears from the preceding statement, are in the first stage of education.

New applicants.

The whole number of individuals, who have been received upon the funds, as new applicants during the year, is 222; of whom 127 are members of various academies; 44 of colleges; and 50 of theological seminaries. This number is greater by 48, than were received during the last year, and greater by 20 than have ever been admitted in any preceding year. It is also a fact worthy of notice, that 127 men, or 32 more than one half of the whole number, are in the first stage of study—a proportion which has never existed before.

Number who enter the Ministry this year.

The Directors have no means of ascertaining with entire accuracy, the number who will be licensed to preach the gospel, during the present year. They have ample reason, however, for believing, that between fifty and sixty individuals will, in the course of five or six months, enter upon the active duties of the Christian ministry. An unusual proportion of them are expecting to engage in the service of Christ among the pagan nations.

Patronage withdrawn.

It is proper to mention, that the patronage of the Society has been withdrawn from five individuals. It is gratifying to state, that in no instance was this measure adopted on account of moral delinquency. The cause was either want of talent and scholarship, or an unwillingness in individuals to pursue the regular course of education prescribed by the Society.

Promotion of personal piety.

The connection between eminent holiness and eminent usefulness is not, by any means, so well understood as it ought to be. The highest religious attainments are perfectly consistent with the most indefatigable pursuit of science and literature. The powers

of the human mind will never be developed as they can be, till the ennobling and purifying influence of the Christian religion shall control and pervade the entire moral and intellectual nature of man. It is upon the deep and firm religious principle of the ministers of Christ, more than upon their number, that the salvation of the world is depending. Entertaining these views, the Directors have ever been anxious to promote, in all possible ways, a decided piety in all the young men whom they assist. Measures have been recently taken to secure a more efficient and faithful pastoral supervision than has hitherto been practicable. The last deed of kindness, which the late Secretary was permitted to perform for the Society, was to make a donation of a copy of the Memoir of Henry Martyn, to each person who had been assisted during his connection with the Society.

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