ed as having been performed within the niue years.

The probable number of congregations and missionary districts, to which the labors of these missionaries have been extended, with more or less permanency, has been from 1,600 to 2,000.

Under their ministry making proper allow || ance for deficiencies of reports, 25,000 have been added to the churches on profession of their faith.

The number of hopeful conversions on the same fields has probably exceeded 25,000. Many of these have united with other churches not aided by the society, and some have chosen a connection with other denominations.

There have been annually instructed in Sabbath schools, under the care of our missionaries, from 10,000 to 40,000 children and youth, and in Bible classes from 2,000 to 12,000, of all ages.

Colleges and Theological Seminaries.There are now 82 colleges and 30 theological seminaries in the United States. Of these colleges 46 have been erected since the formation of the American Education Society, and most of them with a view to increasing the number of ministers, and to some extent in the way of charitable education.

Number of Beneficiaries.-Appropriations have been made to young men of different evangelical denominations from every state in the Union. The whole number aided since the formation of the society, is 2,258. The number assisted in each succeeding year is as follows, 7, 138, 140, 161, 172, 205, 195, 216, 198, 225, 156, 300, 404, 524, 604, 673, 807, 912, 1,040. Of those who have received aid from the funds of the society, since the last annual meeting, which was held in the city of New York, 200 were connected with 17 theological seminaries, 538 with 37 colleges, 302 with 98 academies and public schools-making in all 1,040 young men, connected with 152 institutions. Of these 478 have been assisted at 84 institutions within the bounds of the Presbyterian and Western Education Societies. The number of new beneficiaries dur

Shawanoes, Delawares, Otoes, and Omahas. -Three stations, two missionaries, three male and five female assistants; also three schools.

Creeks. One station, one missionary, three female assistants, one native preacher, a church of 80 members, and a school of 12 pupils.

Cherokees, (west of the Mississippi.)-One station, one missionary, and a church of 22 members.

Choctaws.-One native preacher.

Hayti.-One missionary about to be sent. France. Two missionaries, and one female assistant.

Liberia.-Two missionaries appointed and about to embark.

Burmah. Five stations, with three others at which there are native preachers or teach

was admitted in any preceding year. The average granted to each is about 53 dollars.

Number entered the Ministry.-The number of ministers raised up through the instrumentality of this society, is probably not far from 700. About 100 of these have entered the field of labor the last year.

Deceased-Patronage withheld.-Of the beneficiaries of this society, three only, a very small proportion in comparison with the number assisted, have, during the year, been cut down by the shafts of death.-With deep regret we are compelled to say that during the year the names of fifteen have, for various reasons, been stricken from the list of beneficiaries.

Receipts. From the treasurer's report, it appears that the receipts, during the year, have been $83,062 70, over $25,000 more than in any preceding year. Of this

Accurate information as to the number of candidates under the care of the auxiliaries cannot be obtained. The number is, without doubt, double that which is reported. Though nearly fifty presbyteries have declared themselves auxiliaries, but few reports have been received. These auxiliaries report fifty candidates who are sustaining themselves.

As to the number devoted to the foreign missionary field, the Board has no minutely accurate information. It is estimated that the class thinking of this service is steadily in creasing. The number licensed to preach since the last report was presented is much larger than the returns of last year. Probably not less than fifty have received license; and the number is rapidly growing. Four have suspended study on account of ill health. Three have declined receiving further aid from the Board, and are sustaining themselves. Three have been dismissed for breaking the rules of the Board; one for immorality; four for incapacity. One has been transferred to the American Education Society; and four have died.

among them, in sufficient numbers to make known the gospel to every individual.

This is the work to be done.

How soon can it be done? In attempting to answer this question, we would not estimate the work too low, nor the ability of Christians too high.

The number of those to whom the gospel is to be made known, we have supposed to be 750,000,000. This is considerably above the average estimate of the geographers. Take also the highest estimate of the proportionate number of families, and of missionaries wanted. Allow only five persons to a family, and a missionary to every twenty thousand souls; making the number of families one hundred and fifty million, and that of missionaries wanted, thirty-seven thousand five hundred.

Suppose the United States to contain one third of the whole number of Christians in the world; and that they are able to do twice as much in this work as Christians in other countries, in proportion to their number. Christians in the United States, then, have half of the whole work to perform-the one third of the whole number of Christians here being supposed able to do as much as the two thirds in other countries. They have seventy-five million families to supply with Bibles, and eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty missionaries to provide and support. As soon as they can do this, Christians in other countries can supply the remaining half of the entire population of the globe, and the gospel be made known to every dweller on the earth.

$92,000. The object of the managers is to conduct the business of the establishment, and

Demand for Ministers.-What then is the work to be done? The number of our fellowmen now ignorant of the gospel cannot be definitely ascertained. The common estimate, which fixes the number of pagans and Monammedans at 600,000.000, is probably not far from correct. The number of Papists, and other nominal Christians, who are almost without exception destitute of the Bible, and of the spirit of Christianity, is about 150,000,000. The whole number is 750,000,000. These must all, without exception, receive the gospel. They must be instructed in all the essential doctrines of Christianity, or furnished with the means of acquiring a knowledge of those doctrines themselves. A Bible must be placed in every family; and men, capable of guiding them to a right understanding of the Scriptures, must be sent forth or raised up

Of the donations $8,127 65 were received from seventeen states, for Sunday-schools in the Valley of the Mississippi; and $12,496 44 were paid by the society for that object. Nine missionaries were employed in this field in establishing and sustaining schools, the time spent by each averaging eight and a half months. The decline and discontinuance of many of the schools established under the resolution of 1830, was early foreseen and predicted. It was fully understood and distinetly stated, in the seventh and eighth reports of your Board, that without an efficient system of visitation and superintendence, no reasonable expectation of their permanency could be entertained. To support such a system would require at least from $50,000 to $60,000 per annum, including the salaries and expenses of missionaries, and the gratuitous distribution of books, which in many cases would be indis

pensable. So far from being sustained in such an effort, we have been compelled to go in advance of our means to do what has been done.

For establishing schools in the Southern States 89,053 74 have been received from fifteen states. Sixteen missionaries have been

employed in this field.

For foreign mission stations $1,532 71 have been received and appropriated, and the demands for greatly increased appropriations in this department, are very urgent from almost every part of the world.

For the general purposes of the society, the donations have been $8,309 75 from 22 states; and there have been paid out on the same account to missionaries and agents $5,634 01. Donations of books, journals, etc., $506 92. To the New York Sunday School Union, (part of the collections in that city, as by agreement,) $861 29. Discounts, expenses of meetings, etc., $47 57.

Schools.-Not one fifth of our auxiliaries have made the required return of the condition of their schools. Of course, any estimate respecting numbers, etc., must be entirely vague and unsatisfactory. The few reports which have been received, show an increase of 705 schools, 4,677 teachers, and 33,847 pupils, and three thousand supposed conversions.

Sunday-school Journal.-In accordance with the suggestion in our last report, the Sunday-school Journal has been reduced in size and price; and whatever regret may have been felt that such a measure was necessary, it is believed that the change has given general satisfaction.

New Publications.-The new publications of the year (between sixty and seventy in number,) are submitted to the society in the full persuasion that, as a whole, they present a greater variety, and a more original, elevated

RELIGION IN CHINA,

and evangelical character than the publications of any former year.

A descriptive catalogue of all our books, making a volume of 120 pages 16mo. has just been issued. Great care and labor have been given to the preparation of it, and its value to all who have occasion to purchase or use them is sufficiently obvious.

Writers, Evidence of Advancement, etc.We are happy to say that some of the purest and most elevated minds in our country are turned to the preparation of books for our purposes. We have paid for copy-rights only, during the last year, more than half as much as we paid ten years ago for all our stereotype work, paper, printing, and binding: and as another interesting evidence of our advance, we may state, that at that time our publications were chiefly reprints from the London press; now, they reprint from ours. We could wish our debt a thousand fold larger, that we might pay it in such a cur

rency.

Character, Price, etc. of our Books-We do know that no books are found in the market at so low a price as those we publish: and we do know that, as a whole, they form the most complete collection of juvenile religious library books that can be found upon the face of the earth. They are fitted to children and youth of all classes and characters: they have nothing in them offensive to denominational, sectional, or political preferences or prejudices. They are prepared upon the principle, that as a perfect christian character can be formed in which no denominational trait can be recognized; so a book, exhibiting the simple, saving truths of the gospel, inay be made acceptable to any and every christian mind. Why then should they not be found in the hands of every child that can read them, from border to border, through the whole length and breadth of our land?

THE following essay on the State religion of China is taken from the Chinese Repository. Religion of the State.-The Chinese have no generic term for religion. The word keavu, which means to teach, or the things taught, doctrine or instruction, is indeed applied by them to the religious sects of Taou and Budha, as well as to the ethical sect of Confucius. And they apply this same word also to Mohammedans and Christians. But they do not apply it to the state religion; for that does not consist of doctrines which are to be taught, learned, and believed; but of rites and ceremonies. It is entirely a 'bodily service,' which, however, tacitly implies the belief of some opinions; though to have correct opinions, according to some prescribed rule or articles of faith, forms no part of the system. The state religion, as practised by the court

VOL. XXXI.

at Peking and by the provincial governments, is contained in the code of laws. called Ta tsing hwuyteen, and in the Ta tsing leuble, under the head le, rules of propriety and decorum or rites and ceremonies, and in the subordinate division tse sze, sacrifices and offerings. From these two works we shall briefly specity; 1st, the persons or things to whom these sacrifices are presented, or the ob jects of goverumental worship; 2d, the ministers or priests, who offer these sacrifices, and the preparation required of them for the performance of this religious service; 3d, the sacrifices and offerings, the times of presenting them and the ceremonies accompanying them: and, 4th, the penalties for informality, or defective performance of the state геligion.

Objects of governmental worship.-First, we are to speak concerning the objects of worship, or things to which sacrifices are of fered. These are chiefly things, although

40

The writer then proceeds to enumerate thirty classes of objects which are worshipped, and to which sacrifices are offered by the Chinese government; among which are, heaven, earth, ancestors, sun, moon, stars, the manes of former kings, statesmen, scholars, philanthropists, etc., clouds, rain, wind, thunder, the five great mountains of China, the ocean, rivers, military flags and banners, gods of roads, cannon, and gates, and the north pole.

From this specimen it is apparent that in the Chinese state religion, the material universe, as a whole, and in detail, is worshipped; and that subordinate thereto, they have gods celestial, and terrestrial, and ghosts infernal; that they worship the work of their own hands, not only as images of persons or things divine, but human workmanship for earthly purposes, as in flags and banners, and destructive cannon. That the material universe is the object of worship appears not only from the names of those several parts which have been given above; but also from other circumstances. Thus the imperial high priest, when be worships heaven, wears robes of azure color, in allusion to the sky. When he worships the earth, his robes are yellow to represent the clay of this earthly clod. When the sun is the object, his dress is red, and for the moon, he wears a pale white. The kings, nobles, and centenary of official hierophants wear their court dresses. The altar on which to sacrifice to heaven is round, to represent heaven; this is expressly said. The altar on which the sacrifices to the earth are laid, is square; whether for the same wise reason or not, is not affirmed. The "prayer-boards," chuhpan, are of various colors for the same reason as the emperor's robes. In the worship of the heavens, an azure ground with vermilion letters is used; in the worship of earth, a yellow ground is used with black characters; for the worship of ancestors, a white ground is required with black characters; for the sun, a carnation, with vermilion characters; and for the moon, a white ground with black characters.

Ministers or priests.-We proceed now to the second part of our subject, and notice the sacred persons who perform the rites of sacrifice. The priests of the Chinese state religion are the emperor himself, who is the high priest, the 'pontifex maximus;' and subordinate to him, the kings, nobles, statesmen, and pih kwan, (as they phrase it,) the centenary or crowd of civil and military officers. The joo keaou, or sect of philosophers, monopolize both the civil and sacred functions. At the grand state worship of nature, neither priests nor women are admitted; and it is only when the sacrifice to the patroness of silk manufactures takes place by itself, that the empress

It is required of the Chinese hierophants, that they be free from any recent legal crime, and not in mourning for the dead. For the first order of sacrifices they are required to prepare themselves by ablutions, a change of garments, a vow, and a fast of three days, During this space of time they must occupy a clean chamber, and abstain; 1st, from judging criminals; 2d, from being present at a feast; 3d, from listening to music; 4th, from cohabis quiries about the sick; 6th, from mourning for tation with wives or concubines; 5th, from inthe dead; 7th, from wine; and 8th, from eating onions, leeks, or garlic. "For," says the annotator, "sickness and death defile, while banqueting and feasting dissipate the mind, and unfit it for holding communion with the gods."

Offerings and Ceremonies.-The victims sacrificed and the things offered, form our third topic. The animal or bloody sacrifices for heaven and earth are divided into the four following classes: 1st, a heifer or new tsze, 'a cow's child;' 2d, a bullock or new foo, ‘a cow's father;' 3d, oxen generally; 4th, sheep or pigs, The Chinese require that the victims should be whole and sound, and they prefer an azureblack color. For the grand sacrifices the victims are to be purified nine decades or cleansed ninety days; for the medium classes, three decades; and for the herd or flock of sacrifices, one decade, or ten days. We do not perceive any ceremonies connected with killing the victims. There are no wreaths or garlands as there were among the Greeks, nor as among the Jews any sprinkling of blood, particularly mentioned. The victims seem to be simply butchered the day before they are to be offered and dressed, we rather think, ready to be distributed (after being laid on the altar,) among the hungry participators of the tse fuh jow, 'the sacrificial blessed flesh,' which the civil and military priesthood will no doubt relish after a three days' fast. The times of sacrifice are specified as follows, Those to heaven are offered on the day of the winter solstice; those on earth, on the day of the summer solstice; and the others at regularly appointed times, which it is not impor tant to detail in this sketch.

The ceremonies of this grand worship of nature, this 'natural religion,' consist in bow, ing, kneeling, and knocking the head against the ground, or in Chinese, pae, kwei, kow, In those sacrifices in which the emperor officiates, in propria persona, he never knocks his head against the ground. What he requires of the greatest monarch on earth, he will not give to the greatest, 'supremest' thing that he worships. The three kneelings and nine knockings of the head against the ground he turns into three kneelings and nine bows. The kow or the pae, i. e. the knocking or the bowing seems to make a material or rather a feeling difference in the estimation of his majesty.

Penalty of informality.—The last topic upon which we proposed to remark, is the penalty