JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY. AUGUST, 1838. TWENTY-SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY. THE American Education Society held its Twenty-second Annual Meeting at the Rooms of the Central American Education An abstract of the Report was read by the Secretary. On motion of the Rev. Samuel H. Riddel Society, New York, on Thursday, May 10, of Hartford, Ct., seconded by the Rev. 1838, at 4 o'clock, P. M. The Hon. Samuel Hubbard, President of the Society, not being present, Zachariah Lewis, Esq. of Brooklyn, N. Y., one of the Vice Presidents, took the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer, by the Rev. John P. Cleaveland, President of Marshall College, Michigan. The Rev. Benjamin Labaree, Secretary of the Central American Education Society, was appointed Clerk of the meeting. The minutes of the last Annual Meeting were read by the Secretary. The Treasurer not being present, his Annual Report, certified by the Hon. Pliny Cutler, as Auditor, was read by Charles Starr, Esq., Treasurer of the Central American Education Society, and the same was accepted and adopted. The reading of the Report of the Directors was postponed to the time of the public meeting, to be held in the evening. The officers of the Society for the ensuing year were chosen. The Society adjourned to meet at half past 7 o'clock, P. M., in the Broadway Tabernacle, for public services. The Society met according to adjournment, and the Rev. Jeremiah Day, D. D., President of Yale College, one of the Vice Presidents, presided on the occasion. The services were commenced with prayer, by the Rev. Thomas McAuley, D. D., President of the New York Theological Seminary. VOL. XI. 13 Thomas Snell, D. D., of North Brookfield, Resolved, That this Society regards with gratitude to God the success which has attended its efforts the past year, though distinguished by unparalleled commercial embarrassment; and that the Report of the Directors, an abstract of which has now been read, be accepted and adopted; and be published under the direction of the Executive Committee. On motion of the Rev. Baxter Dickinson, Professor in Lane Seminary, seconded by the Rev. Ichabod S. Spencer of Brooklyn, N. Y., Society has claims upon the confidence and liberal support of the churches, from its unremitting efforts to raise up a ministry of high moral principle, and singleness of aim, as well as intellectual strength. Resolved, That the American Education On motion of the Rev. Mark Hopkins, D. D., President of Williams College, seconded by the Rev. George E. Pierce, President of the Western Reserve College, Resolved, That the peculiar difficulties which Education Societies have to encounter, furnish no reason for diminished effort, but rather for increased activity and vigilance in the cause. On motion of the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., President of the Lane Seminary, seconded by the Rev. Daniel L. Carroll, D. D., President of Hampden Sidney College, Resolved, That the deficiency which still remains, after all the efforts that have been made to supply the world with pastors, calls upon the churches to pray the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers for his harvest, and to educate their sons with special reference to this great object. Highly appropriate and interesting addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Riddel, Dickinson, Hopkins and Beecher. The meeting was then closed with the benediction, by the Rev. Heman Humphrey, D. D., President of Amherst College. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. President. Hon. Samuel Hubbard, LL. D. Vice President. Honorary Vice Presidents. Hon. John Cotton Smith, LL. D. Sharon, Ct. Rev. Ashbel Green, D. D. LL. D. Philadelphia. Zachariah Lewis, Esq. Brooklyn, N. Y. Directors. Rev. Brown Emerson, D. D. John Tappan, Esq. Rev. William Cogswell, D. D. ABSTRACT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. The objects to be accomplished by this Society are three-fold. 1. The multiplication of Christian ministers. One way in which the Society accomplishes this object is by introducing into the ministry, through its aid, many who could not otherwise enter it. There are in the community a large number of pious young men of good talents, who ardently desire to preach the gospel, but who have not the pecuniary means of qualifying themselves for this work. Some, perhaps, might succeed in their efforts to obtain an education by the most strenuous exertions; but the obstacles in the way are so great, that they have not resolution to overcome them. These individuals will never attempt to prepare for the ministry, unless encouraged to do it by the offer of pecuniary assistance. Others, constituted and situated as they are, never could, without such aid, obtain an education suitable for an ambassador of Christ. The Society increases the number of preachers of the gospel, by turning the attention of many pious young men to the sacred ministry, who, if not thus influenced, would never have seriously thought of engaging in such a high calling. This it does by appeals to the public through its Agents, Annual Reports, Quarterly Journal, and other publications. By thus proclaiming through the length and breadth of the land, the destitution of ambassadors of the cross, and the imperative duty devolving on young men of good talents and uninduces multitudes to give up their secular doubted piety, to become such heralds, it employments, and seek an education preparatory to this office. Some of these individuals have pecuniary ability to educate themselves; others are dependent for their education on charitable assistance. Doubtless a great company have, through the agency of this Society, been led to consecrate themselves to the promotion of the glory of God and the salvation of souls in the work of preaching the gospel. Abundant testimony to this effect might be adduced. The Society also multiplies the number of ministers, by its instrumentality in the conversion of individuals who afterwards become preachers of the gospel. By a perusal of its publications, some have been spiritually renewed who have devoted themselves to the work of the ministry. Others have given themselves to the Lord in this sacred calling, while the Agents of the Society have, in the name of Him who commanded his disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, been advocating its cause. The beneficiaries of the Society have been eminently useful in promoting revivals of religion. Many will bear witness to the salutary and sanctifying influence of their menced preaching the gospel. The manner unwearied and faithful labors. Said a presi- of study and license was this: A young dent of one of our colleges, "It is a great man would pass a few weeks or months mistake to suppose that the time which under the instruction of some minister, beneficiaries spend in college is lost to the during which time he would attend to the church. Look to the moral condition of topics of a system of divinity and write a our colleges, especially in the frequent few sermons, and then his tutor would give revivals of religion which are now enjoyed him a licensure to preach, and perhaps inin them. This we did not see before the troduce him on the following Sabbath to American Education Society collected and his own pulpit. Though in some cases the sustained in them the pious indigent youth approbation, (as the testimonial or licensure of our country. These frequent revivals was then termed,) to preach was given by are, in a great degree, to be ascribed to a single individual, yet, generally, it was the blessing of God on the happy influence signed by two, three, or more neighboring of these young men. Instead of being lost, clergymen. But it is now different with I regard the time which they spend in students, and especially those under the college, as important to the interests of the patronage of this Society. Most of these church, to say the least, as any equal por- young men, besides their preparatory studies, tion of their subsequent lives." A professor pursue a regular seven years' collegiate and in one of our colleges writes: "We are theological course of education at some again blessed with a revival of religion. college and theological seminary. Much The influence of the charity students in knowledge, therefore, is required of these producing this state of things, under the students, before they seek permission to divine blessing, has been great. Indeed, preach. Great attention is also paid by what could we do without them? No one them to the perusal of memoirs of eminent can speak on this subject but an officer of Christians and books of experimental relicollege. Every year increases our con- gion, and to the cultivation of personal viction that the church would be amply holiness, that they may thus be distinguished paid-doubly paid, for all it expends in as pious and devoted servants of Jesus supporting charity students, were the effect Christ. confined to the walls of college-were every beneficiary to die the moment he leaves us." Said a president of one of our theological institutions, "I have often said, (and I speak from years of experience,) that such are the happy effects of the example and influence of beneficiaries while in college, that should every one of them die the hour he graduates, still the church could well afford to pay the whole expense of their education, even on that supposition." The presiding officer of another college has written, "The general influence of our pious students on the habits of the college, no one can duly estimate who has not been connected with college when such students were few, and also when they were numerous. In every view I regard their influence as decidedly and materially salu-ly educated ministry than is here spoken of, tary." Another writes, "The influence of pious students is felt by the whole college. We know not what would be the state of things if this influence was suspended." Many individuals who are thus brought into the kingdom, will become heralds of salvation. 2. The second object to be accomplished by the Society, is furnishing, to a great extent, a better ministry for the church than it would otherwise enjoy. Is it said that ministers are no better now than they were formerly? It may be replied that if it be so, the fact arises principally from the times. The present in a great degree, is a day of excitement and action, rather than of intense study, close thinking, and reflection. Formerly the question was, What is truth and duty? Now the question is, What will promote religious revivals and missions? A large portion of the time of the present ministers is occupied in public meetings and extra-religious services. And were it not for the fact, that they have a better classical and theological education, when they commence preaching, than the ministers of other days had, they would be inferior to them. The inquiry has sometimes been made, Would not a less thorough as a general thing, answer the demands of our country? and reference has been made to the ministers raised up through the instrumentality of the Institutions of the Dissenters in Great Britain. Whether these Institutions are, on the whole, the best that could be established for the interests of literature and religion among the Dissenters in that country, we undertake not to determine. Those who reside there can better decide. Sure we are, that such It does this by its efforts to raise up institutions are not adapted to promote the thoroughly educated and eminently devoted highest interests of literature and religion ministers. In this country, even not more in the United States, especially among Conthan half a century ago, candidates for the gregationalists and Presbyterians. These ministry, after graduating at some college, denominations are to the people of this (and the requirements in academical studies country in many respects, what the Episwere then much less than they now are,) copalians are to England, and the Presread theology a short time, and then com-byterians are to Scotland. They are the two principal denominations of the land, which have a thoroughly educated ministry, and which contend earnestly for the expediency of such a ministry.* Take from these denominations a regular and well educated ministry, and give them, in the technical sense, a half-educated one, and their literary and religious power would be greatly abridged, and their peculiar glory would depart. Much of the influence of these two denominations is derived from the extensive knowledge of their ministers, consecrated as it is to literary and religious purposes. Their high character, and their great moral power, now felt in the four quarters of the globe, and destined to be increasingly felt till the Millennial day shall be ushered in, cannot be perpetuated with-it, pray for it, and use his influence to out a learned ministry. [uals who are trained for the ministry, are more deeply interested in them than others are. In this way, the church becomes more identified with the cause of Christianity, and more consecrated to her appropriate work and highest interests. Every thing, therefore, which has a tendency to diminish the literary and the ological qualifications of ministers, should be deprecated as a great evil. Every friend of his country, and every friend of religion, should endeavor not to lower, but to elevate, the standard of ministerial qualifications. Thus the Education Society is exercising a great and salutary instrumentality, in furnishing the church with a better ministry than it otherwise would enjoy. 3. The third object which the Society aims to accomplish, is the enlargement and sanctification of the church. It does this by a reflex influence in three ways, by calling on the church to pray for this object, to give of her sons to be pastors and missionaries, and to contribute of her substance for the education of pious indigent young men for the Christian ministry. The very act of the church in praying the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest, is a means of her sanctification. Prayer abstracts the mind from the world, leads it to a contemplation of the great things of religion, and brings it into communion with God and the celestial world, and thus tends to assimilate the soul to him and to the pure spirits of heaven. The exercise of the mind and heart in such service, is adapted, not only to conform the affections to what is holy, but also to expand the intellectual faculties. The church by giving of her sons to be pastors and missionaries, thinks more highly of the ministerial work-its nature, value and necessity. If she devote a son to the missionary service among the heathen, she will think, pray, and contribute more for the heathen; or if she raise up a young man for the pastoral office at home, she will become more interested in the ministry, and do more for its support. This is natural. It is on the principle, that the parents, brothers, sisters and acquaintances of those individ To their honor it should be stated, that the Episcopalians of this country have ever been the advocates of a learned ministry. The imparting of our substance to the purposes of philanthropy and religion is a happy way of enlisting the affections on the side of Christian benevolence. It leads us to use this world as not abusing it, and to view it as contributing to higher purposes than mere animal gratification-as subsidiary to the advancement of those interests for which Christ died. He who contributes to the cause of benevolence understandingly and conscientiously, will sympathize with promote it. His heart will be expanded, and his religious exercises will be more frequent and intense. He will become assimilated to Christianity, to Christ its Author, and to God his Father. Besides its reflex influence, the Society, through its instrumentality will bring a great company of faithful laborers into the field of harvest. These servants of Christ will be the means of the conversion and salvation of multitudes of souls, as well as the greater sanctification of those who are subjects of the kingdom of the Redeemer. By their labors, the churches at home will be enlarged and sanctified, and the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them. Number Assisted.-The whole number of those who have been aided by the Society is 2,993. It has already introduced into the ministry about 1,200 individuals. Of the 1,141 that have received the patronage of the Society the past year, 283 were in 18 theological seminaries, 588 in 40 colleges, and 270 in 82 academies or under private instruction. Of these there have been at various institutions in the New England States, 617; at institutions in the Middle States, 325; and at institutions in the Southern and Western States, 199. The number of beneficiaries who have during the year, been admitted to the patronage of the Society, is 203, of whom 99 were received from the States South and West of New England. Means of Sanctification.-The principal means adopted by the Society for the increase of piety in the beneficiaries, is pastoral supervision, including visitation and correspondence. The design of pastoral visitation, is the cultivation of a personal acquaintance between the Secretary and the beneficiaries, furnishing him with an opportunity to communicate the instructions and counsels, which the Directors would impart to them, thus promoting their personal holiness and future usefulness. It is to be regretted, that the Secretary has not been able to pay more attention to this | ciency have generally characterized them duty than he has, and it is to be hoped, that in this respect. They have earned during the general cares of the Institution, will not the year past $37,844 88. Of this sum in future prevent his devoting a larger portion those out of New England have earned of his time to this important service. There $11,454 84. is a letter of correspondence written quarterly, both on the part of the Secretary and the beneficiaries, and the letter of the Secretary is read to the beneficiaries, at the time of their subseqent monthly meeting for prayer. The nature and utility of this correspondence may in part be learned from some of these letters of the Secretary, which, from time to time have been published, and from extracts of letters from beneficiaries, which are inserted in this Report for more general information. Number who have ceased to receive patronage. The number of those who have been removed by death, or who, for various reasons, have been honorably dismissed, or who, on account of deficiency in talents or scholarship, or on account of delinquency in moral character, have been stricken from the list of beneficiaries the year past, is 31. A few others have ceased to apply for assistance, being able for the present to support themselves by their own efforts. Receipts and expenditures.-The receipts of the Society, as appears by the Treasurer's report, amount during the year, to $55,660 71. Of this sum $20,543 were raised within the bounds of the Central American and Western Education Societies, and the Western Reserve, Illinois and Michigan Branches. There have been received into the treasury of the Central American Education Society more than $3,000, which has not been paid over to the Treasurer of the Parent Society. Had it been, the receipts would have amounted to more than $59,000. The expenditures during the same time have been $68,861 86. This sum exceeds the receipts by $13,201 15; which, added to the debt of the last year, makes the present debt of the Society $17,848 73. Amount of earnings.-One important design of the Institution has ever been to enable and induce young men to assist themselves. It has encouraged habits of industry and economy, believing that these would favorably affect the ministerial character. Could the young men aided by the Society, be educated and enter upon their sacred calling, without any expense, or labor, or sacrifice on their part, they would probably be much less devoted and efficient ministers. Consequently, the rules of the Institution do not permit any beneficiary to receive his whole support from its funds; but require that all rely as much as practicable on their own efforts to sustain themselves. Commendable zeal and effi Obligations cancelled. - The Directors have ever been disposed to consult alike the welfare of Zion, the character and prosperity of the Society, and the personal and professional benefit of the individuals assisted. The plan of the Institution was constructed with this aim in view, and all its operations have been so conducted as to subserve this end. In accordance with this design, the loaning system was adopted after the experience of five years, and has operated well. Its terms are so liberal, that the assistance rendered is very much a gratuity. In order to carry this plan into full execution, the Board of Directors have the right, and it is considered their duty, to relinquish in part, or to cancel, the debt of any beneficiary, if in their judgment, the condition of the individual, in consequence of any calamity, or of the service of the church to which he may be providentially called, or of the peculiar situation in which he may be placed, should require it. This right the Directors have felt it to be their duty to exercise in the case of 16 individuals, who have applied to have their notes cancelled. Some of these are Foreign Missionaries, some Home Missionaries, and others are settled over feeble churches and societies. The number who have upon application had their notes cancelled during the year is 16. Loans refunded.-The amount of money refunded from time to time is as follows, viz. During the eleven years preceding April 30, 1826, $339 60—1827, $90 00— 1828, $864 22-1829, $830 91-1830, $1,007 84-1831, $2,647 63-1832, $1,312 77 1833, $2,113 27—1834. $1,947 78-1835, $2,957 14-1836, $4,332 53-1837, $7,644 10-1838, $4,467 95-making $30,555 74. From this statement, it appears, that the receipts from this source have been gradually increasing. This is an encouraging prospect, and shows that in time to come, from one-tenth to one-eighth part of the receipts of the Society may be expected in this way. It is also believed, that the beneficiaries who have refunded, now are, and will continue to be, in a better pecuniary condition than they otherwise would have been, and that they are also in a better state as it regards health, habits and spirituality. And probably none have been deterred from soliciting the patronage of the Society, who would have been worthy recipients of its bounties, by the consideration, that its assistance is in the form of a paternal loan. adopted is the most liberal which will avail to the accomplishment of the good in view. The system |