the year in which such surplus shall arise, then it is my will that the whole of such surplus shall be added to the capital or principal sum and put out at interest with it.” A true Copy, examined by JOHN BROOM, New-York, May 7th, 1792. Sect. 2. Horton's Will. Executors. A clause of the will of the late Mr. Azariah Horton, was laid before the Assembly, by Mr. Foster Horton, one of his executors, requesting to be directed, where he should lodge the stock bequeathed in the said clause, agreeably to the intention of the testator. The clause is in these words following: viz. "Item, I will and direct my said executors, out of the monies of my estate, to purchase the amount of five hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirtythree cents in six per cent. stock of the United States, and that the annual interest thereof be appropriated for ever towards the education of pious youth, according to the discretion of a joint committee of the General Assembly of Presbyterian Ministers, and Trustees of Princeton College in New-Jersey; the said committee to authorize and empower from time to time, a person, to draw and receive said interest for the use and purpose aforesaid." Whereupon resolved, That the above stock be lodged in the hands of the Trustees of New-Jersey College, in order to be applied in the manner and for the purpose contained in the forecited clause. Sect. 3. An Extract from the Records of the Board of Trustees of Princeton College. It appeared that the committee appointed to attend the meeting of the corporation of 1796. Princeton College, relative to certain funds under the controul of this Assembly, were not able to execute the business committed to them; but the following extracts from the records of the corporation was laid before the Assembly: viz. 1. Resolved, that each of the several funds mentioned in the said report be debited with its proportion of the losses sustained by depreciation, bad debts, and abatement of interest during the war, at the rate of sixty-six per cent. agreeably to the statement of the committee of accounts. 2d. Resolved, that the board will appropriate the interest arising on the money deposited with them, by Messrs. Tennent and Davies, in the year 1755, to the education of such poor and pious youth, as shall be nominated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church-which money, after making the deductions stated in the first resolution, is one hundred and fifty-two pounds six shillings and five pence. 3d. Resolved, that the interest arising on the two hundred pounds sterling, heretofore agreed between the Synod and the Board, to be equivalent to three hundred pounds currency, given for the support of an Indian mission, or the support of a youth to be educated, for the purpose of preaching to the Indians, shall be appropriated by the board to the education of a youth to be designated by the General Assembly. This sum to be subject to the same deductions as specified in the last resolution, and which, when thus reduced, is one hundred and two pounds currency. CHAPTER III. OF THE HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN Sect. 1. Measures adopted for collecting materials, in 1791. THE committee appointed to devise measures for the collecting of materials necessary for a history of the Presbyterian church in America reported, "That to procure materials for a complete history of the Presbyterian church for the United States from its beginning, the following information will be necessary: viz. who were the first ministers in America, from whence they camethe internal and relative state of the churches there, where they fixed themselves, and when-The situation of things so far as it affected the formation and establishment of a Presbyterian church-extracts from royal instructions to governors in the colonies relating to ecclesiastical matters-laws of the colonies affecting religious liberty-accounts of prosecutions in consequence of those laws-when each Presbyterian congregation in the United H. h States was first formed-and its particular history from that period to the present time-what congregations have existed which are now extinct-The causes of their extinction-when Presbyteries were first formed in the United States-when Synodswhen the General Assembly. "If the General Assembly should enjoin upon each of their members to furnish as particularly as may be the history of his own church, it is probable, that materials may be collected without much difficulty-the sooner it is done, the better; as time, accident and the death of ancient people will daily destroy some sources of information-The materials might be brought to the next meeting of the Assembly and deposited with their clerk. "Your committee would farther subjoin, that the old records of Presbyteries, and Synods should as far as possible be produced-and that Mr. Hazard be applied to for leave to inspect his collection of state papers." Upon motion, resolved, that it be enjoined upon each Presbytery strictly to order their members to procure all the materials for forming a history of the Presbyterian church in this country, as far as may be in the power of each member and bring in the same to their Presbytery, and that the Presbyteries forward the said collections of materials to the next General Assembly; and that both Presbyteries and members be careful to conform themselves to the directions contained in a minute printed in the extracts from the records of this house on this subject. Sect. 2. Persons appointed to write the history. Whereas the Assembly, for several years past, have been taking measures to obtain mate 1804. rials for a complete history of the Presbyte rian Church in the United States of America; which materials, as far as they have obtained, are in the hands of the Stated Clerk; and it seems expedient that the history contemplated, should be entered upon as soon as possible: therefore, Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, and Mr. Ebenezer Hazard, be, and they hereby are, appointed to write the History of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States of America, under the care of the General Assembly; and to lay a copy thereof, when completed, before the Assembly: that they have the free use of the materials collected; and that the copy right of the History, when finished, shall belong to the said Dr. Green and Mr. Hazard. AND WHEREAS there are certain Presbyteries and congregations, under the care of the Assembly, that have not yet furnished materials for their history, though often solicited, therefore, Resolved, That all the Presbyteries and congregations be, and they hereby are, strictly enjoined, to do all in their power to complete their histories as soon as possible, and to forward them without delay, to the said Dr. Green and Mr. Hazard, resident in the City of Philadelphia, who are hereby authorized, if they find it necessary, to write to the Presbyteries and Congregations that may not forward to them the historical documents required; |