profession of faith?" They recommend the following answer: "The vote of a session does not entitle an unbaptized person to the privileges of the Church, for the reason that baptism, as our Confession of Faith declares (chap. xxviii., sect. 1), is declared to be a sacrament for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church.

"The public profession of one's faith may, for sufficient reasons, as our Directory of Worship allows, be omitted; but the exceptional case does not respect baptism which precedes the admission of the party to the Lord's Table. The vote of the session to this effect must be conditioned upon the baptism, and can in no case be a substitute for the sacrament itself." Adopted.

No. II. A memorial, asking for certain action of the General Assembly to prevent the division and destruction of our churches in the State of Iowa by the agency of Congregationalists. The committee recommend that it is inexpedient to take such action as the memorialist desires, in the belief that a strict adherence to the rules already established, both by the American Home Missionary Society and our own Presbyterian Committee of Home Missions, will prevent, so far as their respective agencies can control the matter, collision in the work of Domestic Missions. Adopted.

No. III.-From Athens and Catskill Presbyteries, asking: 1. That in the column marked "Address," in the roll of ministers and churches as at present printed, the address of each church be entered opposite the name of the church, instead of that of the minister. 2. That the blanks for our statistical reports be so amended as to present a fuller view of the objects to which our benevolent contributions are given.

The committee recommend that any alteration of the "Address" in the Minutes, or of the blanks for statistical reports, is inexpedient at present, and that no action be taken by this Assembly requiring it. Adopted.

No. IV.-Asking whether "it is proper for the deacons of our churches to officiate on sacramental occasions when the elders are present?"

The committee recommend that, inasmuch as we have no rule in relation to the subject, the matter be referred to the discretion of the sessions of the churches. Adopted.

No. V.-A paper from the Synod of Albany, containing some suggestions or resolutions in relation to the use of liturgical forms of worship, which they desire to be adopted by this General Assembly.

The committee recommend that, as the usages and forms of the Presbyterian Church have been so uniform and acceptable for years past, from their scriptural simplicity, and as no extensive departure from, or change of, these usages and forms is likely to take place in the Presbyterian denomination, therefore it is the judgment of this committee that no action by this Assembly is at present demanded. Adopted.

No. VI. From Iowa City Presbytery, asking the Assembly: 1. To determine when the rights and privileges of ruling elders and private members cease on receiving their letters of dismission, and whether the same rule obtains as in the dismission of ministers from a Presbytery. 2. Can a Presbyterian church under the care of a Presbytery withdraw regularly, without first asking consent and leave of the Presbytery.

The committee recommend that the established rule of the Presbyterian Church, in relation to the dismission of a minister from his Presbytery is, "that, in all ordinary cases, all the rights and privileges of an individual in a Presbytery cease when, at his request, his dismission is granted."

He may, however, within any reasonable time before he has used his letter of dismission, return it to the Presbytery, and then claim all his former rights and privileges; but, until he has used his letter, he is amenable to the Presbytery which has dismissed him. See Digest, chap. ii., sect. 8.

Your committee have not been able to find any specific rule in our Form of Government, or in the Digest, in relation to the dismission of ruling elders or of private members from any particular church, indicating the precise time when their rights and privileges in that church from which, at their own request, they may be dismissed, cease; but we have no hesitation in declaring our belief that the same guardian care which is extended over dismissed members is, by the very genius and intent of our excellent Form of Government, designed also for the protection of regularly-dismissed elders and private members, as well as for the preservation of the peace and purity of the Church.

We, therefore, respectfully recommend the following resolutions, viz.: 1. The dismission of a ruling elder by letter from a church terminates his official relations with that church. 2. A letter of dismission, whether issued to a ruling elder or private member, terminates the relations of the person dismissed with the church giving the letter, except so far as said church is responsible for its watch and care over him during the period of transition. 3. These rights and privileges can be regained in that church by returning the letters of dismission to the authority which gave them. 4. These rights and privileges can be secured in any other church within the jurisdiction of this General Assembly by virtue of such certificates, provided they are presented to the session thereof within one year from their date; and until they are presented such persons are amenable to the church from which the certificates were received.

To the second general question the committee reply that no Presbyterian church under care of a Presbytery can withdraw regularly, without first asking consent and leave of the Presbytery under whose care and jurisdiction it voluntarily placed itself.

No. VII. In reference to the introduction into the Church of an order of laymen permanently licensed to preach the gospel. The committe recommend that, in view of the many dangers and difficulties, and the doubtful advantages, of an order of permanent lay licentiates not candidates for ordination, it is inexpedient to take such action as is asked for. At the same time, the Assembly would emphatically declare their opinion that it is both the privilege and duty of all Christians to go everywhere preaching the Word as God shall give them ability and opportunity, after the manner of the primitive disciples. And the Assembly hereby urge upon the ministers and church sessions connected with this body a more systematic and effective use of the zeal and ability of our intelligent eldership and lay element in the work of evangelization in town and country. Adopted.

Theological Seminaries

THE Seminaries of this branch of the Church do not make their reports to the Assembly, hence I can only give their titles, locations and the names of their professors:

I. UNION, NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.

THOS. H. SKINNER, D.D., LL.D., Prof. of Sac. Rhe., Past. Theo., & Ch. Gov.
HENRY B. SMITH, D.D., LL.D., Prof. Systematic Theology.
ROSWELL D. HITCHCOCK, D.D., Prof. Church History.
WILLIAM G. T. SHEDD, D.D. Prof. Biblical Literature.
Prof. Hebrew and the Cognate Languages.

II. AUBURN, NEW YORK.

EDWIN HALL, D.D., Prof. of Christian Theology.

JONATHAN B. CONDIT, D.D., Prof. of Sacred Rhetoric and Past. Theology. SAMUEL M. HOPKINS, D.D., Prof. of Ecclesiastical History and Ch. Polity. EZRA A. HUNTINGTON, D.D., Prof of Biblical Criticism.

III. LANE, WALNUT HILLS, near CINCINNATI, OHIO.

D. HOWE ALLEN, D.D., Prof. of Systematic Theology.

HENRY SMITH, D.D., Prof of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology.
REV. ELISHA BALLANTINE, Prof. of Biblical Literature.
REV. LLEWELYN J. EVANS, Prof. of Church History.

Boards of the Church.

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.-The Fifteenth Annual Report is as follows:

During the year twenty-three books, six tracts, and four books in flexible binding. The Church Psalmist has circulated widely, and a new edition of The Apostolic Church, by Albert Barnes, has been called for.

The Presbyterian Monthly records the operations of the Church, and is an important publication. publishing a German religious newspaper, also, works in the German language, was submitted to a committee, and Sabbathschool books and books for MANSES and ministers' libraries occupy the attention of the committee.

The committee granted books and tracts to the amount of $5500.95. The sales were $45,190.73. The donations were $8128.49.

CHURCH ERECTION FUND.-In the Almanac of last year (1867) a full account of this Fund was given, together with its reorganization and the Thirteenth Annual Report is as follows:

The annual meeting of the Trustees of the Church Erection Fund was held, June 13, 1866. The Standing Committees were appointed, and the Board

entered

upon the work of another year.

Measures were taken at once toward the election of a Corresponding

Secretary,

as directed by the General Assembly. Loans and donations con

tinued to be made to the churches under the former Plan till August 1st,

when the new Plan adopted by the General Assembly took effect. The amount of the loans made was $2900, and of the donations $878.26.

In accordance with the direction of the General Assembly, "An Address to the churches, explanatory of the changes introduced into the Plan, and urging the necessity for a liberal contribution to the Fund, to be distributed according to the supplementary article of the Plan," was prepared in the form of a circular and sent to all the pastors of churches.

At a meeting of the Board, held on the ninth day of October, 1866, Rev. Frank F. Ellinwood, D.D., was appointed Corresponding Secretary, who accepted, and immediately entered upon the duties of that office, in which capacity he has acted during the remainder of the year. A circular was immediately issued, and other means were employed to secure a general and liberal response to the request of the General Assembly, that a simultaneous contribution to the supplementary Fund be made on the third Sabbath of December. The whole amount contributed by churches and individuals up to the first of May, 1867, is $18,762.78. There have also been received, as interest accruing from the Permanent Fund, $5535.22, making a total receipt of $24,298.

The whole number of applications in due form which have been received is forty-seven. The amount of aid asked was $46,200. The Board granted forty-four of these applications, to the amount of $20,700, making an average of $490 to each church. Of those granted, seventeen have been paid, amounting to $7600. The others granted and not paid are only waiting the execution of the proper papers. Besides the above, the Board have received informal applications to the amount of at least $4000.

It has been a matter of painful regret to the Board that their grants were often necessarily so much less than the amounts called for by the churches and endorsed by the Synodical committees; but a comparison of the number of applications in hand with the total amount of funds received will suggest a sufficient explanation. But for the very considerable amount of interest accruing from the Permanent Fund, the appropriations of the Board must have been much smaller than they are. The Board have endeavored to pursue the most liberal policy which their resources would permit, and so far as they have gone it is believed that the amounts appropriated will compare favorably with those of other branches of the Church engaged in a similar work.

THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.-The Eleventh Annual Report is as follows:

One hundred and forty-five students, duly examined and recommended by 54 Presbyteries as follows, have been assisted:

Athens, 6; Bloomington, 1; Buffalo, 4; Catskill, 1; Cayuga, 7; Chemung, 1; Chenango, 1; Chicago, 1; Cleveland and Portage, 7; Columbus, 1; Cortland, 1; Crawfordsville, 3; Delaware, 2; Des Moines, 2; Detroit, 3; Dubuque, 1; Galena and Belvidere, 1; Geneva, 1; Greencastle, 1; Grand River, 1; Hamilton, 1; Harrisburg, 1; Hudson, 1; Huron, 2; Indianapolis, 1; Ithaca, 3; Kalamazoo, 1; Knox, 2; Lexington, 1; Logansport, 1; Madison, 2; Marshall, 1; Meadville, 1; Monroe, 1; Newark, 6; New York, 3d, 12; New York, 4th, 5; North River, 1; Ontario, 3; Owego, 1; Pataskala, 2; Philadelphia, 3d, 1; Philadelphia, 4th, 7; Rochester, 1; Rockaway, 2; Schuyler, 1; St. Joseph, 1; Troy, 1; Trumbull, 1; Union, 4; Utica, 21; Washtenaw, 1; Watertown, 4; Wellsborough, 1.

These students have been in attendance on the following institutions: THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES-Auburn, 12; Lane, 15; Union, 27; Andover, 2; Princeton, 1; Chicago, 1.

COLLEGES-Hamilton, 25; Union, 2; Yale, 1; Williams, 1; Amherst, 2; Genesee, 1; Western Reserve, 9; Marietta, 4; Wabash, 5; Olivet, 4; Knox, 3; Beloit, 3; Princeton, 1; Maryville, 3; New York City University, 1; Alfred University, 1; Iowa University, 1; Rochester University, 1; Lincoln University (formerly Ashmun Institute), 5.

ACADEMIES-Hungerford Institute, Adams, N. Y., 1; Cortland Academy, Homer, N. Y., 1; Cortlandville, N. Y., 1; Cooperstown, N. Y., 1; Dryden, N. Y., 1; Owego, N. Y., 1; Canandaigua, N. Y., 1; Ithaca, N. Y., 1; Deposit, N. Y., 1; Chicago, Ill., 1; Weston, Mo., 1; Peoria, Ill., 1. Of these 58 were in their Theological course, 56 in their Collegiate, and 31 in their Academic.

Fifteen students have finished their course of theological study, and are prepared to enter on the service of preaching the Gospel. They have found no serious difficulty in obtaining places; and, had their numbers been doubled or quadrupled, they might easily have found locations. Those who are still in the institutions are well reported of for native ability, industry, piety and promise, and will bear a fair comparison with an equal number of young men taken miscellaneously from our literary institutions. During the past year the appropriations by order of the Assembly were fixed at the highest prescribed limit-namely, $160 for the Theological course, $132 for the Collegiate, and $100 for the Academic. These amounts, though larger than those of previous years, are believed to be still too low for the fair assistance of young men depending upon the Church for aid in seeking an education. The increase of candidates in the past year is to be attributed to an increase of liberality in the churches. A more full supply of means would still augment their numbers.

The amount paid into the treasury from all sources is $22.370.43. Of this sum $906 was a balance from the former year. 367 churches contributed $19,347.67, individuals contributed $1423.22, and four scholarships held by the Committee, invested as the surplus of former years, paid $660.35. The sum disbursed in appropriations is $18,478. The entire expenses for all purposes amounted to $3331. The balance is $561.42. The figures in the Treasurer's account do not represent the whole amount expended by the entire Church in behalf of the education cause. A considerable sum, not ascertainable by us, was disbursed by donors directly to students.

FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE.--The Ninth Annual Report is as follows:

The dearth of candidates for the work abroad has awakened the most serious anxiety. In our last report the number engaged in the foreign field was fifty-two-now there are over forty-eight.

HOME MISSIONS COMMITTEE.-The Sixth Annual Report is as follows:

The whole number employed during the year in whole or in part was 421. God has given our missionaries kind access to the people. Neither national nor political affairs, nor anything in our ecclesiastical relations, have