BENEFICENCE. It would seem almost unnecessary to speak of the Church's growth in "the grace of giving," after the announcement of the noble result of the Memorial effort. It is gratifying to know, that the offering of nearly $8,000,000 has not prevented our Church Boards from being liberally sustained, although in some instances, contributions to them have been affected by the Memorial movement. Signs are not wanting, moreover, of the development of a more scriptural and permanent basis of the Church's beneficence. SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. Every thing which looks toward the transfer of the impulse to give from outward pressure to the habitual prompting of the Christian conscience, every thing which goes to make giving an habitual expression of the Christian life, is to be heartily welcomed. Hence it is most gratifying to observe the references of the Narratives to the practice of systematic giving; and the fact that in every case, where the results of its adoption are stated, they indicate a very large increase in the contributions. One large church in the city of Troy has adopted the plan of weekly offerings, it having been already in successful operation in two others. The Presbytery of New-Castle reports its adoption in twelve churches with an increase of forty per cent in its contributions. The Presbytery of Redstone has urged its adoption in all the churches. The Presbytery of Winona reports in one church, which has commenced systematic giving, contributions ten times greater than in any previous year. SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY. In several instances, reference is made to Christian liberality as specially related to the support of the ministry. Some of these references are gratifying; others quite the contrary. Some report increase in their pastors' salaries; others call loudly for the better support of the ministry. One Presbytery has laid down a rule requiring each church to present, at the spring meeting of the Presbytery, a statement of its account with its pastor, or stated supply, for the preceding year. The result was a revelation of considerable negligence. Prompt settlements were found to be the exception; and the Narrative dwells on the low state of religion growing out of this fact, and declares that it shows much talk and little sacrifice. An important suggestion is contained in an item of the Narrative of the Presbytery of New-Castle, to the effect that the children are being regularly trained to contribute to the Boards of the Church; a practice which, if generally adopted, must conduce to the education of a generation of intelligent as well as liberal givers. TEMPERANCE A number of the Narratives speak of activity and encouragement in the cause of Temperance. PRESBYTERIAN ASSOCIATIONS. A gratifying result of the Reunion has appeared in the association of the churches for Christian work. In two of our large cities, we have information of Presbyterian associations or alliances, embracing all the ministers and churches of the denomination. In one case, steps have been taken toward the erection of a hospital; in the other, a Presbyterian Home for aged women is already in successful operation, under the control of a Board, in which all the Presbyterian churches of the city are represented. FOREIGN PRESBYTERIES. Two Narratives have been received from foreign fields, viz., from the Presbytery of Siam and from the Synod of China. The Presbytery of Siam reports no large additions, but gradual diffusion of 56419B the knowledge of God and of forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ. The liberality of the native members of the church at Bangkok, in supporting the widows and orphans of those who have fallen martyrs to the truth, is commended, and general hope and confidence, even under the shadow of recent persecution, are expressed. The Synod of China reports returns from but three Presbyteries. Within the bounds of these three, 139 members have been added, $644 contributed for benevolent objects; 12 candidates for the ministry are under their care; 157 pupils are enrolled in the 5 mission schools, from which 29 have been added to the churches. The members of one church are reported as having determined to consecrate one tenth of their earnings to the Lord. OBITUARY RECORD. In connection with the Reports from the foreign field, a communication was referred to this Committee by the Assembly, with instructions to embody in the Narrative a minute thereon. The Rev. Joseph Owen, D.D., Commissioner to this Assembly from the Presbytery of Allahabad, died at Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 4th of December, 1870, while on his way to attend the Assembly. He was for nearly thirty years an able, faithful, and successful missionary of the Cross, a Christian scholar of rich and varied acquirements, and a translator of the sacred Scriptures. In his protracted services, often amid perils and even violence and blood, he never left his field until, on his way to represent his Presbytery in this Assembly, he was called to his final reward. The obituary record of the past year is large, and of peculiar and sacred interest. The fathers are fast falling asleep. Out of seventy-six names recorded, four have reached or passed four score years; twenty-two have reached or passed three score and ten; thirteen have reached or passed three score, and fourteen more have reached or passed fifty. Thus, out of seventy-six names, fifty-three have ranged from fifty to eighty-eight years of age, and only one is recorded under the age of thirty. In this catalogue appear the names of four Moderators of the General Assembly: William Wisner, D.D., Albert Barnes, Thomas H. Skinner, D.D., LL.D., and D. Howe Allen, D.D. Three of this number were emphatically teachers in Israel, men who are moulding the thought of the Church, and opening to her the Scriptures, none the less, now that they have passed away. The venerable and beloved Doctor Skinner, who, though dead, yet speaks through the lips of scores of gospel ministers on whom he set the mark of his vigorous intellect and consecrated character, fell asleep in Jesus on the first day of February, 1871, in the city of New-York. Dr. D. Howe Allen, who wrought his liberal culture and practical ability and tact into the prosperity of Lane Seminary, broken down with his toils, peacefully closed his lingering illness at Granville, Ohio, on the 9th of November, 1870. And Albert Barnes, who, when the memory of his lofty Christian manliness, his simplicity, his sweetness, his thorough consecration shall have become dim, shall be still living and teaching through the labor and communing of his morning study hours, walked with God until the 24th day of December, 1870, and then he was not, for God took him. The venerable William Wisner, D.D., another of the four Moderators mentioned, was for many years a banner-bearer of Presbyterianism in Central NewYork, as were Dr. Canfield and Dr. Condit. Dr. Wisner died at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the 7th day of January, 1871, at the advanced age of 88. The memory of Dr. Sherman B. Canfield is fresh, as a finished scholar, a genial gentleman, a faithful and zealous pastor. On the Sabbath of the 10th of March, 1871, after faithfully preaching the Gospel to a large congregation in the city of St. Louis, he passed at once from his work to his reward. Dr. Robert W. Condit died at Oswego, N. Y., on the 12th of February, 1871. He was a faithful preacher, a prudent administrator, successful in winning souls, and eminent for the purity and consistency of his Christian character. NAME. AGE. DATE. PLACE. PRESBYTERY. P. Em., F. M., 62 Mar. 6, 1871, Frankville, Io., 62 Aug. 28, 1870, Junction City, Kan., July 10, 1871, Columbus Grove, O., 39 Sept. 23, 1870, Tyrone, Pa., 57 Aug. 31, 1870. Pleasantville, Pa., P.. Barnes, Albert, Bates, John H., W. C., Bradford. Thomas B., W. C., Brice, William K., S. S., Condit, Robert W., D.D., C. P., Cornes, Edward, Crowe, Thomas S., D.D., P., Dunlap. Silas G., S. S., Eaton, William, W. C.. Ferguson, James S., Folsom, Ezekiel, W. C., 72 *Frost, Nathaniel, Ch.. Harris, Hiram, Harvison, William P., P. E., Hickman, Gary, H. M., Hopkins, Timothy M., W. C., Hughes, Levi, S. S., Jones, John Levis, S. S., Kanouse, John G., 8. S., Leavenworth, Chauncy, W. C., Lee, Chauncy G., W. C., Lowrie, Isaac Newton, F. M., Lyon, George A., D.D., McFarlane, James, C. P., McFarren, Samuel, D.D., McLaughlin, James, Mather, Oliver W., Miller, John V., Moore, John, D.D., Morrison, Alexander G., P.. Niel, Peter, Olmstead. James M., D.D., W. C., Owen, Griffith, Ag.. Owen, Joseph, D.D., F. M., Park, Oscar, P., W. C., Pennington, Jas. W. C., D.D. S. S., Skinner, T. H., D.D., LL.D., Smith, Thomas T., Stewart, Charles S., D.D., Stinson, George W. H., Taylor, Horace S., Tidball, John C., Timlow, William, Todd, Martin Luther, Van de Luyster, John S., Van Vliet, Adrianus, Veale, James A., Webber, Henry, Weed. Henry R., D.D., *West, Amasa, Williams, W. Fred'k, D.D., White, H. H., Willson, Samuel, M.D., Wisner, William, D.D., Wood, Josiah, 71 April 20, 1871, Hannibal, Mo., 70 May 30, 1870, Sun Prairie, Wis., 56 Nov. 7, 1870, Windsor, Ct., Dec. 4, 1870, Edinburgh, Scotland, Rochester. New-Brunswick. Knox. 30 Aug. 14, 1870, Wheeling, W. Va., ENCOURAGEMENT. In conclusion, the condition of our beloved Church appears to be such as to encourage at once large hope and vigorous effort. There are evidences that much remains to be done. Wide fields are disclosed, white for the harvest; points on the walls where the Church will do wisely to place viligant watchmen. But there are signs of the clear apprehension of the great principles and methods of Christian work, signs of growing unselfishness and consecration and zeal; strong pulsations of the spirit of aggression, and records of large trophies won for Christ. And standing, therefore, before the record of the past year, the Reunited Church has good cause to lift up its voice and cry, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us-unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end." By order of the General Assembly, | EDWIN F. HATFIELD, Stated Clerk. Z. M. HUMPHREY, Moderator. II. Theological Seminaries. I. PRINCETON SEMINARY. 1. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS. THE Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary at Princeton present, to the General Assembly, the following as their Fifty-ninth Annual Report: Since the date of their last Report, the following sixty students have been matriculated, viz. : Charles T. Anderson, a graduate of the College of New-Jersey. Charles H. Asay, John M. Cross, D. Merchant Davenport, Edward P. Hawes, William J. Henderson, William R. Henderson, Benjamin C. Henry, J. Hall McIlvaine, J. William McIlvaine, Thomas B. McLeod, William Hamilton Miller, Thomas Parry, John Ellsworth Peters, Theodoric B. Pryor, Archibald Alexander Schenck, Asher B. Temple, William D. Thomas, William B. Waller, George K. Ward, Richard B. Webster, Robert G. Williams, Isaac Baird, D. K. Campbell, Kenneth McKay, William Gemmill, George E. Jones, 66 James H. Wright, Robert Christie, Edward S. Scott, Harlan Page Ustick, Clarence W. Backus, Edward McKee, Horace S. Stanton, Norman White Cary, Lewis E. Condict, James G. K. McClure, Samuel M. Jackson, 66 William Henry Roberts, 66 James M. Denton, John Reid, Edward Vincent, 66 David Winters, |