4. That the Revd. James Tomkins, employ two months in mishonary labours, in Hardy and Pendleton counties, Virginia.

5. That the Revd. James Mitchell, of the prefbytery of Hanover be appointed a miffionary for two months, to be fpent in Montgomery and the adjacent counties, in the State of Virginia. 6. That the Revd. Gideon Blackburn, be a miffionary to the Cherokee Indians, for two months.

7. That Mr. Samuel Wilfon, a licentiate of the prefbytery of Lexington, be appointed a miffionary for two months, to be employed in Fredericksburgh, Virginia, and parts adjacent.

8. That Mr. Thomas Williamfon, a licentiate of the second prefbytery of South Carolina, fpend three months in miffionary fervice, in the lower parts of the State of Ohio, and in the Indiana Territory, as low as Kafkafkias.

9. That Mr. James Hoge, a licentiate of the prefbytery of Lexington, ferve as a miffionary for fix months, in the State of Ohio, and the Natchez District.

10. That Mr. John Chavis, be a miffionary for fix months, to purfue nearly the fame rout as last year, and employ himself chiefly among the blacks and people of colour.

11. That the Revd. John P. Campbell, of the prefbytery of Cumberland, or any other perfon to be defignated by that prefbytery, fpend two months in miffionary labour, within the bounds, and under the direction of the prefbytery of Cumberland.

12. That the prefbytery of New York, be authorised to employ a miffionary for three months, to minister in deftitute places within their bounds.

13. That the like privilege be extended to the prefbytery of New Brunswick: the miffionaries to be employed by these prefbyteries, fhall be commiffioned by the committee of miffions; report to them; and be paid out of the funds of the Affembly.

Refolved, That the miffionaries exercise their difcretion, as to the season of the year, in which they fhall perform the services affigned them.

The Affembly proceeded to devife means for fupplying the pulpits of the miffionaries aforefaid, who have paftoral charges. Whereupon it was,

Refolved, that the prefbytery of New Caftle, be directed to appoint fupplies for Dr. Read's pulpit, during the period of his expected abfence.-That the Revd. Meffrs. Henderfon and Ramfey, be a committee to appoint fupplies for Mr. Blackburn's pulpit

that the Revd. Mefirs. Samuel Finley and Samuel Robinson, be a committee to appoint fupplies for the pulpit of Mr. Campbell, or any other pastor, who may ferve in his stead.

The last Affembly, having required the prefbyteries to make feparate annual reports to the General Affembly, of the churches which make contributions for the contingent fund of the Affembly, with the specific fum paid by each, for the year next preceding the report: the Affembly called on the presbyteries to make their reports on this fubject. Reports were received from the presbyteries of Columbia, Albany, Hudfon, New York, New Brunfwick, Philadelphia, New Caftle, Lewes, Carlisle, and from the fecond presbyterian church of Baltimore.

Refolved, That the committee for printing, add to the extracts a detailed account of the fums received, as above, for the contingent fund; together with all fums received for the permanent fund, which have not been published.

The following overture was brought in by the committee of bills and overtures, viz.

It is a melancholy fact, which requires no confirmation with thofe who are acquainted with the ftate of our church, that not only her welfare in particular, but the general and substantial interefts of vital godlinefs, and of the Redeemer's kingdom, are suffering for the want of a greater number of able and faithful minifters of the gospel, of our denomination. "Give us ministers," is the cry of the miffionary regions: "Give us minifters,” is the importunate entreaty of our numerous and encreafing vacancies:

Give us minifters," is the demand of many large and important congregations, in our most populous cities and towns. It has been fuggested by fome, and perhaps not without reason, that if the number of our clergy were doubled, it would not exceed the demand which exifts for their labours, provided they should be well furnished for their work. But to be well furnished is abfolutely effential to their affording any material relief to the exigencies which are felt and the complaints which are uttered. Numbers of weak or illiterate ministers, however pious, would bring little aid to a church, now found in circumstances in which the poffeffion of vigorous and improved intellect is, in most cafes, indispenfable to the acceptance, the influence, and the fuccefs, of her public teachers. On the other hand, numbers of powerful and learned minifters without a correfpondent portion of genuine and fervent piety, would only ferve to banish true godlinefs from our church, and render her very existence an of

fence both to God and his people. Talents and piety must be united in the pastoral office, at least in a confiderable number of individuals, or the multiplication of thofe who hold that office, will be rather an incumbrance than an aid: will rather hinder than help the progrefs of true religion.

If, then, it be asked-What can be done more than we are now doing? It is anfwered, that there are two points to which it is believed that fufficient attention has not hitherto been given-The firft is, to endeavour to remove thofe difcouragements of a temporal kind, which exift in our church, and which are one caufe why the ministerial office is not oftener fought by some of thofe who would be the best qualified to fill it. In common with other denominations in this country, our people have too often manifefted a degree of backwardnefs to provide an adequate fupport for the minifters of religion. This has lately been greatly increafed in various parts of our country, by certain perfons appearing as preachers of the gofpel, and declaiming vehemently against a learned miniftry and the fupport of the clergy:-declamations evidently proceeding from a defire in their authors, to render all the minifters of religion as ignorant and poor as themselves, that thus they may be delivered from their prefent painful sense of inferiority. Yet these clamours have had great effect in various portions of our country, especially in fome places to the west and fouth; fo that those who there look forward to the pastoral office, have need of an uncommon measure of self denial, as they have nothing to expect but extreme and perpetual poverty, unless they provide for themselves-It is refpectfully fuggefted, that perhaps these mifrepresentations and errors might be counteracted and removed, by the General Affembly addreffing a paftoral letter to their people, drawn up in that prudent and guarded manner which the delicacy of the fubject demands-Reprefenting, that the Affembly have no defire to fee the clergy become a wealthy body that they would deprecate fuch an event, as much as the people themselvesthat it is, however, a gospel ordinance and the appointment of GOD that they who preach the gofpel fhould live of the gofpel" that many of our clergy cannot poffibly live on what is now allowed them that it is not lefs the interest of the people than of the ministers themselves, that they should be able to devote themfelves wholly to their work-that it is highly difagreeable to the Affembly, fo much as to touch this subject, in which it may be fuppofed, fufpected, and infinuated by fome, that the members have a perfonal concern-that the Affembly, however, are con ftrained to this addrefs by an overruling fenfe of duty; because their people are now fuffering, and muft fhortly fuffer in a much

greater degree, under the operation of this evil, if its progrefs be not arrested-that when God has work for his minifters to do, among those who, by their utter ignorance of the gofpel, may fubject his ambaffadors to peculiar hardfhips, and even to martyrdom itself, he will not fail, in all fuch cafes, to raise up men to whom he will grant the neceffary qualifications &c. but that he does not bestow extraordinary endowments for ordinary occafions, and therefore where a people are acquainted with the gospel, and know it to be their duty to fupport it's minifters, he is likely to leave them to want the gofpel, if they do not use their endeayours to maintain the miniftry in circumstances of comfort and respect.

The fecond point to which it is fuppofed that the Affembly might with advantage turn their attention is, to recommend it earnestly to the prefbyteries-perhaps to enjoin it on them, to look out among themselves, pious youth of promifing talents, and endeavour to educate and bring them forward into the ministry. The idea here is, that what is recommended or enjoined should be made a presbyterial bufinefs; fo that each prefbytery fhall felect the youth, which, by its own separate exertions, it fhall patronize and educate. Such exertions, it is believed, are likely to be made with far greater ease, cheerfulness and fpirit, by each prefbytery within its own bounds, and in behalf of youth selected by its own acts, than if the propofition were that each prefbytery fhould contribute fomething to a general fund, and for the general purpose of educating men for the gospel miniftry. The youths felected, living commonly within the bounds of each prefbytery concerned, will be well known to a number of the members: will have their characters favorably reprefented even to many of the individuals of the feveral congregations; and will ufually have fome particular friends, who will afford them fpecial aid in defraying the expence which will be incurred in the prosecution of their ftudies. In a word, it is probable they will be regarded with much intereft,' both by the prefbytery and by many other pious and public fpirited members of our church,

It is alfo believed that the plan here propofed, is calculated to have a very happy influence, both on the prefbyteries and the youth who may be concerned in it. The prefbyteries may be expected to be careful in the choice of thofe whom they determine to patronize; because their own prudence and reputation will, in fome measure, be ftaked on the good conduct and character of those who fhall appear as ministers of the gofpel, by their voluntary election and defignation, from the very commencement of their preparatory ftudies. This, perhaps, will afford the best fecurity that the nature of the cafe admits, that none but youth

of capacity, as well as piety, fhall be brought forward. And on the youth themselves, the influence of the circumstances in which they will be placed by this plan. promifes to be extremely beneficial. These youth will conftantly realize, that the eye of the prefbytery is on them: that the public expectation is to be gratified or disappointed by them: and they can fcarcely fail to exert all their powers to arrive at diftinction in every laudable attainment. Some prefbyteries may be able to keep two or three fuch youths conftantly in training. Other prefbyteries may not be able to fupport more than one. Some of the youth may partly, and almoft wholly, maintain themselves on their own funds, and by the aid of their particular friends and relations, while they are profecuting their ftudies; and may only need to be applied to and urged to come forward, under the countenance of the prefbytery. In other cafes, the prefbyteries will have to bear the greater part, or the whole of the expence: This they may do by the contributions of the members; by the liberality of wealthy and charitably difpofed individuals within their bounds and elsewhere; and by contributions occafionally obtained from their congregations; which will be made with the greater freedom when the purpose to which they are to be applied is distinctly known; and the parties to be benefited by them are among themselves, and a part of themselves. It is understood that the youth contemplated, are to be conducted by the presbyteries through the whole of their academical courfe and theological ftudies, and at fuch fchools, and under fuch teachers, as each prefbytery may choose to employ or recommend.

There are, at prefent, nearly forty prefbyteries under the care of the General Affembly. If the plan here offered could be carried into complete effect, it would, in a few years, bring into the fervice of the church, annually, about as many well qualified ministers as there are now prefbyteries; and thefe, added to the number that could be introduced in the ordinary way, would probably afford a full fupply.-It is, therefore, very respectfully fubmitted to the committee of overtures, whether it would not. be adviseable to propofe to the Affembly to write fuch a paftoral letter, and to iffue fuch a recommendation or injunction to the prefbyteries, as has here been fuggested.

Philadelphia, May 22d. 1805.

ASHBEL GREEN.