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was near suffering seriously from their folly, for she fainted from continued exertion, and the heat of the crowd; but this be said to have ended the conmay test, for they were obliged to give room and air for her to revive, and some little time after she had recovered, the women took formal possession of their new associate. They then began to dye her fingers, her toe-nails, and afterwards her hair, which being tied up, she at last was left to repose. During the whole time I was there, she would not shew her face; and, in general, I have observed, that if one tells a Tatar girl that it is said she is about to be married, she runs immediately out of the room, and will never speak to a stranger on that subject. The share which the priest has in the ceremony is, I believe, very slight: he attends the house of the bride's father, and asks at the window, whether she consents to the marriage. If she answers in the affirmative, he says some short ejaculatory prayer, blesses the couple in the name of the prophet, and retires. For this he receives a present of considerable value; a horse, or a sheep, or money.

The principal ceremony takes place on the day when the bride is brought home to her husband's house; and the chief visitors are then invited. Eating, drinking, and dancing to the music of a drum and bagpipes, form the greatest part of the entertainment, till the cavalcade sets out to meet the bride. She is always met at the frontiers of the estate on which the bridegroom resides, all the guests attending, and conducting the lady to her future dwelling. The party, when on the road, forms a gay and lively concourse, in which he, who in England would be called the happy man, is the only person who has not the appearance of being cheerful. Apparelled in his worst suit of clothes, with unshaven face, and perhaps badly mounted, he rides where he is least conspicuous, while a friend has the charge of leading another horse for him, which is always richly caparisoned. When the party attending the bride is arrived at the place of meeting, the mother, or some duenna who has the superintendance of the business, first makes a pre sent of value to the person who leads

the horse, which if it be a shawl, as is generally the case, is tied round the neck of the animal. Afterwards, many small handkerchiefs coarsely embroidered, and little pieces of linen, or of coarse printed cotton, are distributed, for which the guests contend in horse

races.

This occupies much time, and during the whole of it, the carriage which contains the bride waits at the distance of nearly half a mile. It never is brought nearer to the party, but the lady's fa ther, or one of her brothers, attends it, in order to see the charge safely executed of delivering her unseen into the house of her husband. The better to effect this, the carriage is hung round with curtains inside, and if the party arrive somewhat early at the village, the vehicle is detained at the entrance of it till near the close of day, and till it is supposed that all are occupied in eating. When she reaches the door of her new prison, sherbet is brought her to drink, and some kind of sweetmeat is given with it. She is next presented with a lamb, which is actually put into the carriage with her, and afterwards transferred to one of her attendants. At length, after much bustle and preparation, the court being previously cleared of all spectators, large coarse blanketing is fixed up, so as to prevent all possibility of her being seen, and then, wrapped in a sheet, she is carried by her brother into the house. Here fresh forms and ceremonies await her. Being received into one of the most private rooms, a curtain is fixed up so as entirely to cover one corner of it. Behind this the poor girl is placed, who, after the annoyance and fatigue she has undergone, is glad to rest as much as she is able in this nook of her cage. Decorated now in all her gayest attire, and glittering with gold and brocade, she is still not permitted to be seen, except by her mother and female friends, who busy themselves in arranging her clothes in proper order, and in adorning the room with a profusion of gay dresses, embroi dered handkerchiefs and towels, rich coverlids, and cushions of cotton or Turkish silk. All these are distributed around the room; even the shifts, being new for the occasion, are hung up with the rest, along the walls of the apart

ment, forming an extraordinary sort of tapestry.

While this arrangement is taking place, the bridegroom, having parted with most of his guests, begins to prepare for a visit to his bride. Being now washed, shaven, and gaily drest, he is allowed about midnight to see his wife for an hour, at the expiration of which he is summoned to retire. Throughout the whole of the next day she is destined to be fixed in a corner of the room, and to remain standing during the visits of as many strangers as curiosity may bring to see her. The men employ themselves in horse-racing; and three or four articles of some value are given for the winners. The bridegroom makes a point of paying an early visit to those whom he considers his friends, taking with him some little present of his wife's embroidery.

Abstract of the Proceedings of the Thirty-fifth Convention of the Diocess of New-York, held in Trinity Church, New-York, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of October, 1821.

[Continued from page 43.] THERE was then read the following report of the Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Theological Education Society in the State of New-York. The Board of Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Theological Education Society in the State of New-York, in conformity with the 9th article of the Constitution, respectfully submit the following, as their annual report, to the Convention.

The Trustees, at a meeting of their board, held on the 27th of October,1820, adopted the following bye-laws:

I. The board of managers shall consist of sixty members, exclusive of the president and secretary. They may appoint standing committees for the transaction of their ordinary business, the president being ex officio chairman of each committee. They shall be appointed annually on the day following that of the election of trustees; but if no appointment of managers be then made, those of the last year shall continue to act until others be appointed in their place. The board of managers may ap

point stated meetings, but they may be convened specially upon the call of the president.

II. In case the president shall be absent from the city at the time of any meeting of the board of managers, or be unable to attend the same, he may, by writing under his hand, appoint from the board of managers a president pro tempore, who shall preside at such meeting.

III. The board of managers shall have power to take all necessary measures for the collection of contributions in aid of the objects of the society; and for this purpose to appoint agents, and organize auxiliary societies throughout the diocess. They shall also have power to direct the mode in which the funds of the society shall be kept and disposed of.

IV. The board of managers may, at their discretion, make provision for theological education, as well in the city of New-York, as in some interior part of the diocess. They shall have power to establish professorships, and to make rules and regulations for the government of any seminary which may be organized under the authority of this society.

V. The board of managers, with the concurrence of the president, shall have power to appoint professors, teachers, librarians, and other officers, provided they shall have been nominated at a previous meeting of the board.

VI. The board of managers shall have power to remove professors and other officers; but the concurrence of the president and two thirds of the managers present shall be necessary to the removal of a professor: and no professor shall be removed from office except at a special meeting of the board called to consider the same; nor unless notice of an intended motion for such removal, and of the grounds thereof, shall have been given at a previous meeting of the board.

VII. Any congregation or society, or any individual or association of individuals, contributing twenty thousand dollars towards the founding of a pro fessorship in the city of New-York, or ten thousand dollars towards founding a professorship in the interior of the diocess, shall be considered as the founder or founders of such professorship,

and shall have the right of nomination thereto, subject to the approbation of the president and board of managers. Professorships so founded shall bear the name of the founders, or such name as they may designate. In case of a vacancy in the professorship, the board of managers, with the concurrence of the president, shall be authorized to fill the same, if the founder shall neglect to nominate within three months after the vacancy shall be notified to him; or neglect within the like period to make another nomination in case the former one shall not have been confirmed.

VIII. Any congregation or society, or individual or association of individuals, contributing two thousand dollars for the founding of a scholarship, shall have the right to nominate, from time to time, the individual who is to have the benefit thereof; and such individual producing the like evidence of his qualifications as is required by the canons of the church in the case of candidates for holy orders, shall be entitled to gratuitous instruction in any seminary which the society may establish; and also to receive annually the interest of the said sum, at the rate of five per centum per annum. But such individual shall be subject to all the rules and regulations of the institution.

IX. Any congregation or society, or any individual or association of individuals, contributing five thousand dollars for the founding of a fellowship, shall have the right, from time to time, to nominate from the students who shall have completed the prescribed course of studies, the individual who is to have the benefit of the same as a fellow of the institution. The fellows, whilst unmarried and pursuing in the institution the course of theological studies prescribed by its regulations, shall have access to the library, and admission to all the lectures, and be entitled to receive annually, for a term not exceeding four years, the interest of the said sum of five thousand dollars, at the rate above mentioned. It shall be the duty of the fellows to perform such literary and theological exercises as shall be assigned to them; and if any fellow shall pursue any profession or employment otherwise than in the service or by per

mission of the institution, or shall fail at any time to comply with the rules and regulations thereof, he shall forfeit his right to the benefit of the fellowship.

X. Any individual contributing by will, to the amount and for the purposes specified in either of the three preceding articles, shall have the right to designate the name of the professorship, scholarship, or fellowship, and also the person who shall possess the right of nomination according to the provisions contained in those articles respectively.

XI. The names of those who shall establish professorships, scholarships, or fellowships, agreeable to the foregoing articles, and the names of the contributors to the society, with the amount of their respective donations and contributions, shall be enrolled in its honorary register, as its founders and patrons.

XII. The board of managers shall have plenary power to carry into effect the objects of the society, in pursuance of its constitution and laws, and the constitution and canons of the church; and for this purpose they may make general rules and regulations, and, from time to time, adopt such special measures and arrangements as they shall deem conducive to the attainment of those objects.

XIII. The members of the society shall be entitled to vote by proxy at the annual election of trustees, their proxies being in writing, and attested by one or more subscribing witnesses.

Immediately on entering upon their duties, the board of managers appointed three committees, to whom were respectively intrusted the departments of finance, of arranging the plan of education, and of the procuring a library. These committees have given their attention to the duties assigned them.

In the course of the last winter, several communications were received from the vestry of the church and the academy at Fairfield, and from the rector, vestry, and the academy at Genevaalso from the corporation of Trinity Church, New-York, expressing their willingness to transfer a certain annual grant from the institution in Fairfield to one in Geneva, should the board deem

it expedient to fix their interior school at the latter place. On mature consideration this change was determined upon, and the western branch of the seminary was permanently located at that village, and is styled The Interior School of Geneva.

The education committee has submitted a plan of study, which has been adopted by this board. The various branches of sacred erudition are divided into seven classes:

1. Biblical learning; comprising whatever relates to the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, and the knowledge which is necessary to the critical study and interpretation of them, including Jewish and oriental literature, profane history in its connexion with sacred, and biblical chronology and geography.

2. The evidences of revealed religion; establishing the genuineness, authenticity, and credibility of the Scriptures, with the interpretation of them so far as may be necessary to the full exhibition of the evidence of their Divine authority and inspiration, and a view of the character and effects of Christianity, and of moral science in its relations to theology.

3. The interpretation of the Scriptures; exhibiting the principles of scriptural interpretation, and the meaning and practical application of every part of the sacred writings.

4. Systematic divinity; presenting a methodical arrangement and explanation of the truths contained in the Scriptures, with the authorities sustaining these truths; a statement and refutation of the erroneous doctrines attempted to be deduced from the sacred writings; and a particular view and defence of the system of faith professed by the Protestant Episcopal Church; thus affording a minute exhibition of controversial and practical theology.

5. Ecclesiastical history; displaying the history of the church in all ages, and particularly of the church in England, and of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country.

6. The nature, ministry, and polity of the Church; comprising a view of the nature of the Christian church, and the duty of preserving its unity; of the VOL. VI.

authority and orders of the ministry; with a statement and elucidation of the principles of ecclesiastical polity, and an explanation and defence of that of the Protestant Episcopal Church; and also an exhibition of the authority and advantages of liturgical service, with a history, explanation, and defence of the liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and of its rites and ceremonies. 7. Pastoral theology; explaining and enforcing the qualifications and duties of the clerical office, and including the performance of the service of the church, and the composition and delivery of

sermons.

The professorships for instruction in these branches are arranged as follows, for the seminary in the city:

A professorship of biblical learning; the department of the interpretation of Scripture being added.

A professorship of revealed religion, and of moral science in its relations to theology.

A professorship of systematic divinity, and pastoral theology.

A professorship of the nature, ministry, and polity of the church; the department of ecclesiastical history being added.

The office of librarian is also instituted, whose duty it is to take charge of the books, and assist the students in their references to them. It is his duty to attend at least one hour a day for three days in the week. Also, in conjunction with the library committee, of which he is ex officio a member, he is to take measures for increasing the library.

With the fundamental regulation, that the expenditures of the society shall in no case encroach upon its capital, or exceed its income, it has been resolved, that as soon as the funds of the society admit, the salaries of the above professorships shall be at least $1200 per annum, and that of the librarian $300 per annum; and that in the mean time such arrangements be made by the board, with respect to the salaries of the professors, as circumstances may render expedient and proper; it being understood, that until adequate funds are provided, the services of the professors and librarian shall be gratuitous; and that, when

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such of them as may have parochial cures are to receive salaries from this society, arrangements shall be made with their parishes for a proportionable relinquishment of the parochial duties and emoluments.

The professorships for the interior school of Geneva are as follows:

A professorship of the interpretation of Scripture, of ecclesiastical history, and of the nature, ministry, and polity of the church.

A professorship of biblical learning. A professorship of systematic divinity and pastoral theology.

As soon as the funds of the society admit, the salaries of the professors will be at least $800 per annum; and, in the mean time, and while they are engaged in other duties, and receiving other emoluments, their salaries are to be fixed by the board of managers as circumstances may render expedient.

The office of librarian for the interior school is also instituted, with the same duties as are assigned to the librarian of the school in the city of New-York.

Until statutes shall be prescribed for the regulation of the two schools respectively, they are to be governed by such rules as the professors in each, with the approbation of the Bishop, shall adopt. The following professors have been appointed for the seminary in this city, viz. The Right Rev. John Henry Hobart, professor of systematic divinity and pastoral theology; Mr. Clement C. Moore, professor of biblical learning, the department of the interpretation of Scripture being added; Mr. Gulian C. Verplanck, professor of the evidences of revealed religion, and of moral science in its relations to theology; and the Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, professor of the nature, ministry, and polity of the church, the department of ecclesiastical history being annexed; and the Rev. Henry J. Feltus is the librarian. For the interior school of Geneva, the following are the appointments made by this board, viz. The Rev.Daniel M'Donald, professor of the interpretation of Scripture, ecclesiastical history, and the nature, ministry, and polity of the church, and librarian; the Rev. John Reed, professor of biblical learning; and the Rev. Orin Clark, professor of

systematic divinity and pastoral theology.

From a report of the professors in New-York, it appears that they "commenced instruction in their respective branches" in May last, to a class of four students, who (with the exception of one intermitting the course from ill health) have now passed to the studies of the second year; and that a class of five students has lately entered the course of the first year, to which an addition of four or five more may be expected. The whole number of students under their care is eight. By the regulations of the seminary the full course of instruction is to occupy three years. The entire report of these professors is here added. (To be continued.)

For the Christian Journal.
Concio ad Clerum.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed. St. Luke v. 16.

OUR Divine Redeemer made it a frequent custom to withdraw from the multitudes for a time, and pray; teaching hereby the ministers of the Gospel that they are to receive fresh supplies of light and power from God by prayer; that they may be more successful in their work; and that they ought to seek frequent opportunities of being in private with God and their books. A man can give nothing, unless he receive it: and no man can be successful in the ministry, who does not constantly depend upon God; for the excellence of the power is all from him. Why is there so much preaching, and so little good done? Is it not because the preachers mix too much with the world, keep too long in the crowd, and are so seldom in private with God? Reader, art thou a herald of the Lord of Hosts? make full proof of thy ministry: let it never be said of thee, "He forsook all to follow Christ, and to preach his Gospel; but there was little or no fruit of his labour; for he ceased to be a man of prayer, and got into the spirit of the world." Alas! alas! is this luminous star, that was once held in the right hand of Jesus, fallen from the firmament of heaven down to the EARTH!

[Dr. Adam Clarke.

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