Article 8. The Constitution may be altered by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at an annual meeting, with the consent of the highest judicatories of the three denominations."

Resolved, That the General Assembly approve the foregoing plan of a Society for Foreign Missions, and recommend to all their ministers and people to give the measure their active and zealous support.

The Rev. Dr. John B. Romeyn and Mr. Zechariah Lewis were appointed to meet, in the city of New York, as soon as may be convenient, with committees from the General Synods of the Reformed Dutch, and Associate Reformed Churches, to carry the aforesaid plan into operation.

Sect. 3. Amendments to the Constitution, in 1818.

The first annual report of the United Foreign Missionary Society was laid on the table, together with their address to the three denominations united in their society; and the following amendments to the constitution of said society were approved by the Assembly: viz.

1. That the third article be so altered, as to make the whole number of managers eighteen, instead of twelve, exclusive of the officers. 2. That to the fifth article be added the following clause: viz. And any person presenting to the Society a donation of not less than one hundred dollars, shall be a Director for life, and entitled to a seat

and vote in the Board of Managers.* 3. That an article be added, after the fifth of the original instrument, to read thus: The President, Treasurer, and Secretary of any Society auxiliary to this, shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Managers. 4. That the Board of Managers be authorized to fill any vacancies that may occur in the Board.

Resolved, That the General Assembly do ap prove the important objects contemplated by the United Foreign Missionary Society, and recommend the said Society to the attention of the several Presbyteries.

* This amendment was not concurred in by the judicatories of the other churches, and consequently it forms no part of the Consti tution.

PART VIII.

OF

THE EDUCATION

OF PIOUS YOUTH.

Sect. 1. The Assembly recommended this subject to the attention of the Presbyteries, in 1806. THE last Assembly, having required the Presby

teries under their care, to instruct their Commissioners to this Assembly, on the subject of an overture, respecting the education of pions youth for the gospel ministry, &c. the Assembly called on their members to report the measures taken by the Presbyteries which they represented, on this subject,

The Assembly, finding that there was a general coincidence of sentiment on this subject.

Resolved, That the Moderator, Dr. Green, Dr. Nott, Mr. Arthur, and Mr. Carrick, be a committee, to take this subject into consideration, to

draught and lay before the house, a minute proper to be adopted and published by the Assembly, and calculated to carry the design into complete effect.

The minute reported by this committee, after amendment, was adopted by the Assembly, and is as follows:

The commissioners from all the Presbyteries represented in this Assembly, having been called to state the opinion entertained by their respective Presbyteries, on this subject, it appeared, that the overture had been seriously considered and highly approved, by the most of them; that some Presbyteries had long been in the habit of using the measures contemplated in the overture, for bringing forward youth of piety and talents, as candidates for the gospel ministry; and that others had adopted and organized such measures within the last year, and in consequence of the overture under consideration.

After maturely deliberating, the Assembly determined, that the part of the overture which relates to the selection and education of young men of piety and talents for the gospel ministry, presents a plan, which they consider as well deserving their countenance and support. It is indeed, an obvious and melancholy fact, that the candidates for the gospel ministry, within the bounds of the Presbyterian church, at present, is greatly disproportionate to the demand which is made for their services; and that the rapid increase of vacant congregations, taken in connexion with the youth who are studying for the ministry, presents a most gloomy prospect of what is likely to be the state of our church in a few years, if prompt and effectual measures be not

taken to furnish a supply of ministers, much greater than the existing state of things is like to produce. The Assembly were indeed, deeply affected by the view which they had taken of this subject, and were extremely solicitous to adopt the most efficient measures which circumstances permit, to remedy the evil which exists, and to prevent its augmentation. But, as the Presbyteries of which the Assembly have the oversight, are scattered over a wide extent of country, and their circumstances are known to be extremely various, it occurred, that an absolute injunction on all the Presbyteries immediately to enter on the execution of the plan proposed, might bear hard on some, if not be entirely incapable of execution. On the other hand, merely to recommend an attention to the plan, without attaching any responsibility to the neglect of the recommendation, appeared to the Assembly incompatible with the high importance of the subject, and with their own duty as the guardians of the church, bound especially to provide for their people a supply of the word of life. It was therefore determined to take a middle course between these extremes, so as, if possible, to avoid the inconvenience of both. With this in view, it was resolved to recommend, and the Assembly do hereby most earnestly recommend, to every Presbytery under their care, to use their utmost endeavours to increase, by all suitable means in their power, the number of promising candidates for the holy ministry-to press it upon the parents of pious youth, to educate them for the church, and on the youth themselves, to devote their talents and their lives to this sacred calling-to make vigorous exertions to raise funds to assist all the youth who may need