From the parochial reports it appears, that in the ecclesiastical year of the Church in New Jersey preceding the convention, 140 persons have been baptized; and that the present number of communicants is 709.

The following is Bishop Croes's opinion of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.

"On Tuesday the 27th July, and the three following days, I attended the annual meeting of the trustees of the General Thelogical Seminary of our Church, in New York, and the examination of the students of that institution.

"I state it, with confidence, when I say, that no unprejudiced person, in any tolerable degree qualified to judge, attended the examination of the students of that institution, without being powerfully impressed with the truth, that the seminary is one of high desert, that its professors are gentlemen well qualified for their stations, both as it respects their learning, aptness to teach, suavity of manners and devotion to the work, and to the interests of the seminary and that the students exhibited undeniable evidence, not only of the care, the skill, and the accuracy, with which they had been taught; but also of the industry they had exercised, and the high attainments they had made, in every branch of theological knowledge.

"Can such an institution be neglected by any member, or portion of members of our Church? Can it be suffered to want sufficient funds for its support; and therefore be checked in its progress, or permitted to decline? It must not be. Churchmen cannot be so indifferent to the well being and progress of their religion: they cannot subject themselves to such severe reproach."

MASSACHUSETTS.-CHURCH AT CAMBRIDGE.

The following Circular Letter has been distributed by the Committee on the state of this church, appointed by the last Convention.

SIR,--At the annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Massachusetts, held in Trinity church, in the city of Boston, on Wednesday the 16th of June, 1824, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted; the committee therein named having been appointed by the bishop as president of the con

vention.

"Whereas the church at Cambridge is in so ruinous a condition that divine service has been suspended therein for eighteen months last past, whereby the inhabitants of that town in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and those students in the university who have been educated in the Church, have been, and still are, deprived of the privilege of worshipping God according to the ritual of this Church; and the said inhabitants, from the fewness of their number, are unable to meet the expense of making the necessary repairs of the church:

"And whereas certain individual efforts have been made without effect for the purpose of putting said church in decent repair, for the restoration of divine worship therein:

"And whereas it is, in the opinion of this convention, a matter of general concern to the Episcopalians in this commonwealth and elsewhere in the United States, that their sons should enjoy equal advantages at the university, with the sons of those of other denominations of professing Christians :

"It is therefore resolved, as the sense of this convention, That a general and united effort ought to be made by the members of our Church within this commonwealth, to place the church at Cambridge in a suitable state of repair, for the celebration of divine worship therein.

"Resolved, That the Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis, D. D., the Rev. Asa Eaton, Thomas Perkins, Esq., the Hon. Dudley Atkyns Tyng, Samuel Dunn Parker, Esq., Mr. Francis Wilby, and James C. Merrill, Esq., be a committee to carry this resolution into effect; and that all sums contributed for this object, be remitted to the said committee, who will take the necessary measures for the judicious expenditure of all sums received by them in repairing said church."

The first meeting of this committee was held on the 16th of July, when it was resolved to make application in the first place to the government of Harvard university; the committee being desirous to take all measures for the accomplishment of their object, not only with the concurrence, but also with the express approbation and support of that corporation. In pursuance of this resolution, the following letter, signed by all the members of the committee, was sent a few days after.

To the President and Fellows of Harvard University.

GENTLEMEN, The undersigned, a committee of the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Massachusetts, respectfully beg leave to place before you a copy of certain votes passed by the convention relative to the Episcopal church in Cambridge, and to solicit the aid of the institution over which you preside, in conjunction with the friends and proprietors of the church, in effecting the repairs of that edifice.

From a careful estimate, it is ascertained that the sum of three thousand dollars will be necessary for the purpose. So large a sum cannot probably be obtained without extending our appeal beyond the Episcopalians of this state; and we know not where we can with more propriety commence our application than by addressing the governours of that institution, a considerable portion of the members of which will be benefited by the result.

The sons of Episcopalians who have resided at the university for several years past have not been less than one seventh of the whole number of students. To the parents of so numerous a body it will doubtless be gratifying, that their sons should enjoy the privilege of worshipping God according to the ritual of their own Church; and the fact that Harvard university should have aided in securing to Episcopalians that privilege, could not but operate as an inducement to

many, to select for the education of their sons, a seminary pre-eminent in other advantages.

In making this application, it is encouraging to us to have been assured by the respected president of Harvard university that the corporation are sincerely disposed to join in measures for such an object, and do what they can for its attainment." We are, &c.

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To this letter the committee have had the satisfaction to receive the following answer, addressed by the president of the university to their chairman.

Harvard College, Nov. 9, 1824.

DEAR SIR,-At a late meeting of the corporation of Harvard College the board took into consideration your note and statements in regard to the design of repairing the Episcopal church. The corporation are much gratified at the prospect of this church being re-established. They are disposed to concur in the measure, and give aid as far as in their power. They have accordingly authorized the treasurer, in behalf of the corporation, to subscribe three hundred dollars to wards the object. With great esteem and regard, I am, &c. JOHN T. KIRKLAND.

Rev. Dr. JARVIS.

Encouraged by this expression of good will, the committee no longer hesitate to bring the subject before the publick, and to urge the reasons which, in their estimation, and they trust in the estimation of their fellow Christians, will be sufficient to induce them to contribute their aid to re-establish the church at Cambridge.

To the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church a concise history of the church will show its claims on their benevolence.

About the year 1759, several gentlemen of the town of Cambridge, members of the Church of England, petitioned the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to grant them a missionary "who might officiate not only for them, and other members of the Church of England in the adjacent towns, but also to such students of Harvard College as were of the Episcopal Church, and who were then obliged, at a great inconveniency, to go to Boston for an opportunity of publick worship, according to the liturgy of the Church of England." This petition was granted by the society, and the Rev. Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Apthorp, appointed to the mission. The church was opened the first time for divine service in October, 1761. Dr. Apthorp was succeed. ed by Mr. Serjeant, who continued at Cambridge till the revolution. Since that period there has been no settled clergyman, and during the war the church was deserted and almost ruined. Its fine organ was plundered of its pipes, and the building itself, so beautiful for its architectural symmetry, was defaced and left to decay. On the return of peace, a few gentlemen of the congregation who still remained, encouraged by Dr. Parker, then rector of Trinity church, Boston, and after. wards bishop of the state, who with characteristick zeal offered occasionally to visit them, took measures to fit the church for service. The

repairs, however, were slight and temporary; but slight as they were, they were productive of much good. The service and sermons were read every Sunday by resident graduates of the university, who were thus supported, while they prepared themselves for holy orders. Of this number was the late lamented Bishop Dehon, who was afterwards an instrument under Divine Providence of such extensive usefulness, and whose writings are a treasure which the whole Church combine to acknowledge and appreciate.

But while the church at Cambridge was thus useful, as an initiatory school to candidates for holy orders, the want of a pastor prevented the flock from increasing, with the increase of population, while its numbers were constantly diminished by deaths and removals. There are still, however, a few remaining, who are ardently attached to our worship, and who mourn for the privations they are obliged to suffer. For the church is now in so ruinous a condition, that during nearly two years there has been a total suspension in it of all religious services. But much as the few Episcopalians at Cambridge deserve our sympathy, it is not on their account that the committee make their most forcible appeal. The resuscitation of this church is an object which now derives its chief importance from the number of Episcopal students at Harvard university. They have amounted for a series of years to one seventh of the whole number, and at the time in which the church was closed, there were at the least, forty-five, a large proportion of which were from the southern and middle states. The church at Cambridge is therefore to be considered as a chapel for Episcopal students, and as such a subject of general interest. If the influence of early impressions and habits be properly considered, the state of this church will produce a feeling of anxious solicitude in the bosom of every parent in our communion who wishes to have his children enjoy the advantages which that distinguished and richly endowed university offers.

To their brethren of other denominations, who may be disposed to contribute towards this benevolent object, the committee beg leave to present the following considerations. By repairing this church, and providing for regular worship in it, no injury can be inflicted on any other society or religious body. It is well known that in the Episcopal Church there is not a proselyting spirit. Ardently attached as we are to her institutions; believing as we do, that they are of divine origin; and desirous as we are to see all men unite in what we believe to be so excellent; there is no disposition to molest others because they differ from us in sentiment. We only ask to be placed upon the same level as to religious advantages with others. We ask that our sons may enjoy the benefits which the celebrated university at Cambridge offers, without our being subjected to the loss of those Christian privileges which all others possess. The students are not allowed to come to Boston to attend divine service; and the Episcopalians, their own church being closed, are required to attend constantly at the college chapel. We ask those who differ from us in doctrine or in forms of worship, to make the case their own, by supposing their sons

to be subject to similar restrictions. We think we cannot make a more effectual appeal than this to any who seriously and reflectingly profess and call themselves Christians.

To the friends of Harvard university, in particular, the committee think they may appeal with peculiar propriety, confident that, when facts are fully known, they shall not appeal in vain.

It has been already stated, that for a series of years the number of Episcopal students at the university was about one seventh of the whole number; and that at the time when the church was closed, there were at the least forty-five, most of whom were from the southern and middle states. The next year, while the whole number of students was smaller, the proportion of Episcopalian students had increased. From inquiry among them it was found that from fifty-two to fifty-five were to be so denominated. All these had come to Cambridge under the impression that there was an Episcopal church which they might attend, as stated on the circulars containing the terms of admission to the university. Instead of this, they found the church in ruins, and their parents have of course been informed that they were obliged to attend the college chapel. The present year the number of students from the southern and middle states has greatly decreased; and it has come within the knowledge of the committee, that several distinguished persons have declined sending their sons to the university from religious motives. The power of these motives will be fully understood, when it is known that as a literary institution Harvard university is most highly valued in the southern states. The committee hesitate not to say that there is an affectionate feeling towards it; a feeling not far remote from that veneration which is cherished here, and which every inhabitant of Massachusetts who wishes well to the interests of learning, must desire to see extended. But to accomplish this desirable object the impediments must be removed; and one great impediment will be removed if the Episcopal church at Cambridge is placed on a solid and permanent basis. Setting aside ali other considerations, therefore, the very interests of the university require the immediate resuscitation of the church; and it would not have been money ill laid out, if the whole expense of repairing it had come from the college treasury.

By an estimate made under the direction of the wardens of the church, it appears that three thousand dollars is the least sum which will be required to put the building in good repair. But, large as that sum is, the committee are sanguine enough to hope that the benevolence of the publick will not be limited by that sum. It is important for the interests of the college as well as of the Church, that a clergyman should be permanently established there, of such respectable character as to secure the esteem of the faculty, the affections of the students, and the entire confidence of the parents. He should be respectable for his attainments in science and learning, and courteous and winning in his manners, as well as exemplary for his piety and prudence. But the services of such a clergyman cannot be obtained, unless he shall be placed in respect to salary on a level with the offi