(4000 acres) if accepted by the society "must be used and occupied by them as a settlement for the Jews, with the allotment of 50 acres to each family, who may become a settler under the direction of the society: this condition of course renders the land of no other value to the society, than that which may arise from the advantages which it presents for the establishment of the colony contemplated by the board of Directors,-if it was ever so valuable in itself, it is by this condition put beyond the power of the board to turn it into money ;if they accept of it, it must be used for the purposes of a colony."

The Committee have taken pains to make proper inquiries respecting the location of this land, and find it is part of a large tract in the north western part of Pennsylvania, in Warren county The agent of Dr. Boudinot, Mr. Heildeksper, who resides in Crawford county, thus writes on the subject: "I am unable to tell what specific portion of these lands (meaning a tract of 43,000 acres belonging to Dr. Boudinot,) has been bequeathed to you, but even if I knew, the information I could give you would still be imperfect and unsatisfactory, for though the lands have been a number of years under my agency, yet as they are situated at a distance from this place (about 60 miles) I have no particular knowledge of the quality of the particular tracts, 1 shall, therefore, give you such information as I possess respecting this body of lands. Though there are some very good lands among them, yet taken as a body, they are by no means equal to the general quality of lands in this part of Pennsylvania, which is extraordinarily fine." He then gives a further general description of the lands in question, and adds, "as to the actual value of the lands, I can say nothing, because wild lands can hardly be said to have any value so long as there is no demand for them." This information, and the consideration that these lands are not sufficient for the purposes of the board, in either quantity or quality, we think are sufficient to show the wisdom of the committee (without further extracts from this part of the report) in recommending to the board to accept the alternative of 1000 dollars, and relinquish their claim to the land-The "committee are inclined to believe that Dr. Boudinot himself, whose judgment would be entitled to great weight, was, from the fact of the option which he has given to the society, undecided in his own mind, as to the suitableness of the land." The board of Directors (a large number being present) unanimously agreed to adopt this recommendation; and instructed the proper officers of the society to carry it into effect

The committee are of the opinion, that the colony should be in this state; and their report supports this opinion with the most clear, forcible, and conclusive statement of facts and arguments. As we cannot quote this part of the report at length, we would glance at some of the advantages which this state offers, and among them, the low price of land, the success of agricultural pursuits, our internal improvements, the advantages of our markets, the easy transportation of settlers by our canals, the more direct superintendence which the board would have over the colony, are of great importance. The committee have not been able to fix upon a tract of land which they deem suitable, and in order to bring before them at once such tracts as are for sale, they have advertised for 15 or 20,000 With respect to the quantity, however, the committee observe—“ they have found great difficulty in coming to a decision. The novelty of the undertaking and the infancy of the society, afford them no rule, by which to guide them in their deliberations."-"They agree that it will be for the inte rest of the board, to purchase as much as their funds will admit of-being satisfied,

acres.

1

Amer. S. for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews.

727

that if the colony is effected with the success and rapidity, which under the bless. ing of God, they fondly cherish the hope of, the value of the lands in its neighbourhood will be greatly enhanced, and the board be compelled, if they should find i necessary to extend the limits of the colony, to pay a much higher price for the land than it can now be procured for, and if on experiment they should find that they are in possession of a greater quantity than they can use, it will be no difficult matter to dispose of the surplus "

As the "committee believe that the probabilities are much in favour of a rapid settlement"-they "recommend the board to go to the utmost limit of their resources." Respecting the resources, there is, however, great uncertainty, “yet the very flattering prospects of the society, the success of Mr. Frey in the collection of donations and the formation of auxiliaries, and the general spirit and zeal which is excited throughout the country in behalf of the Jews, manifested in the approval of the objects of the board, will warrant the committee, they think, in advertising for the quantity "above mentioned, and in this the board have concurred." The importance of making a judicious choice of land, is considerably dwelt upon in the report, and appears to have had a due share of the committee's attention. The selection of a tract already cleared would involve too great au expense, and to place those persons whom the society expect to be the first settlers on wild land, would probably defeat their benevolent intentions-' the committee, therefore, recommend the purchasing of wild land and the clearing of a small part of each farm, which may be done at a very trifling expense; the committee particularly desired the attention of the board to this subject, which they deemed of vital importance to the society.

"At every step the committee have advanced, they have become more impressed with a sense of the magnitude of the work in which the board are engaged.""The eyes of friends and enemies are fixed upon them with a peculiar degree of interest and anxiety, and they have a large and increasing number of auxiliaries, through whom to infuse a spirit of life and zeal."—" An efficiency in the adaptation of the means of the board to the great end in view are indispensably important to secure to them the good opinion and co-operation of those who now look upon their plans as premature, and the blessing of God, which we trust will follow our labours for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, will convince the unbelieving, that the time has arrived when the long lost descendants of Abraham are to be gathered into the fold of Christ, the great Shepherd "

The funds of the society will shortly be about $4000 in money, and to secure an increase sufficient to pay for the land and carry on the plans of the Directors, the committee urge the constant formation of new auxiliaries, and that those which do exist be encouraged and animated." They suggest the propriety of establishing as many auxiliaries in the different churches in this city as can be effected," and a committee has been appointed by the board to superintend this object. "The committee recommend that measures be taken by the publishing committee to procure an extensive subscription to the monthly sheet published by the board." This paper entitled, "ISRAEL'S ADVOCATE," is published at one dollar per annum, and may be had at this office.

The committee conclude their report by observing, "that much is to be done by every individual of the board, and that after all, their exertions will be of no avail without the smiles of the Lord upon them, and they trust that for so desirable a blessing, all will unite in approaching the throne of divine Grace, frequently, earnestly, and with faith."

NEW-YORK AUXILIARY BIBLE AND COMMON PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY.

THOMAS N. STANFORD No. 99, Pearl-street, Agent.

THE seventh report of this society, now before us, adverts to the prosperity of the institution at the close of its fifth year, when 18,000 volumes had been distributed, and the society was possessed of a set of stereotype plates of both the Bible and Prayer Book, which cost $3,550 Since that period little else has been done than presenting an annual report, and renewing the calls for aid. 93 Bibles and 242 Prayer Books have been distributed during the year to the Sunday Schools, Orphan Asylum, State Prison, Mariners' Church, and the missionary service, and 50 Prayer-Books to the Bishop of Ohio: the sales have been 1675 Prayer Books. The society has a permanent fund of $425, deposited in the Savings Bank. The Managers have been able to supply but a very small part of the calls made upon them, and unless Episcopalians step forward to supply the board with means, they must "abandon, with reluctance, a field white for the labour of benevolence, and which will repay, with the substantial fruit of a rich harvest, those who are permitted to enter upon it."

The report justly complains of the illiberality of Episcopalians in withholding support from institutions peculiarly their own, and at the same time, charges them with profusely bestowing their contributions "for building churches, for mission families, for Bible societies, &c. and the tract and missionary societies of other denominations," while "their views of charity never extend to reciprocity in the schemes" of Episcopalians.

We shall not undertake the task of drawing a trial balance of the reciprocal contributions of different denominations; still we would take the liberty of saying to those Episcopalians who wholly refuse their aid in circulating among the destitute members of their own Church her excellent liturgy, and who yet contribute to other denominations, if any such there are,-"these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Nor is it our present purpose to enter upon the discussion of the question which the above quotation from the report naturally involves, for we have elsewhere shown that the obligation to support the Bible Society, rests upon Christians of all denominations; but we notice it at present barely for the purpose of expressing the opinion, that the main difficulty complained of in the report would probably be removed if the society would confine its business professedly, as it almost always does in fact, to the circulation of the Book of Common Prayer, or perhaps add the second Book of Homilies, that precious legacy of the Fathers, which is very little known or valued by American Christians.

While facts justify the opinion that a given sum contributed to the exclusive Bible Society will effect more in the circulation of the Scriptures than if the same sum were given to institutions uniting the Bible and Prayer Book, though the whole amount of it should be expended on the former, so long do we expect that wise benevolence will expend her offering for the dissemination of the Bible, through the agency of Bible Societies.-Every one who has imbibed the evangellcal spirit of the Liturgy, and Homilies, must feel an irrepressible desire for their wid. er circulation, and it is for the attainment of this most desirable end that we have offered the above remarks. Having no doubt but such an institution would so gain upon the good will and reciprocal affections of other denominations, as well as Episcopalians, as to command a liberal support, we should hail the formation of a PRAYER BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY as a most interesting era in the history of New York benevolence and enterprise.

Report of the Presbytery of New York.

PRESBYTERY OF NEW-YORK.

729

THE sessions of Presbytery were opened Monday evening, the 14th inst. in the Central Presbyterian Church in Broome-street. The Rev. Robert McCartee, Moderator, preached the sermon from John ii. 18. What sign shewest thou unte us, seeing that thou doest these things."-After the congregation was dismissed, the business of the sessions was opened with prayer.-The Rev. Dr. McAuley was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Drs. Romeyn and Spring, Clerks.-The annual sermon for the Presbyterian society was preached on Thursdsy evening by the Rev. Dr. Romeyn in the Brick Church, from Ex. xxxii. 26. "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is on the Lord's side? lethim come unto me." A collection was taken up for this society, which was formed last year by the Presbytery for building up the waste places within its bounds.

Narrative of the State of Religion within the Bounds of the Presbytery of New York, April, 1823.

The free conversation on the state of religion in the Presbytery of New-York at their present sessions, has occasioned little or no diminution of that "abundant thankfulness" which, on the last similar opportunity, they so peculiarly felt and expressed in their report to the General Assembly. They have indeed augmented evidence of the stupidity of sinners, of the imperfection of saints, and of the wide-spread prevalence of sin; still the Great Head of the Church, " of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, appears to be, as we know he is, ever mindful of his own cause,' ," "working salvation in the midst of the earth," and manifesting his everlasting faithfulness and grace in their appropriate fruits; his people recognise his agency, are edified in the faith, and "rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

The happy spirit of union and mutual confidence between the miDisters and members of the churches under their jurisdiction, has, they think, been more and more consolidated. Their common sentiment is, "let brotherly love continue;" their experience is, that it is both "good and pleasant" as the holy and consecrating oil of the Christian priesthood, and it is their "earnest expectation, and their hope in God, that this, their dwelling together in unity" may be the presage of "greater things than these," even "as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

The public worship of Almighty God has been generally well attended, both as it respects the numbers and the solemnity of our assemblies. The most signal exception to this statement is one in which the sympathetic recollections of the Assembly will anticipate this narrative-the malignant fever with which the God of all, who directs the agencies and wields the elements of nature, in sovereign righteousness visited our guilty city, from the latter part of last summer through the first two months of the subsequent autumn. The pressure of this judgment was locally severe. Some hundreds of our fellow-citizens became its speedy victims. The southern sections of the city were depopulated, and the sanctuaries of God in the infected district were consequently closed, while the consternation was constant and almost universal. The moral effects of this calamity VOL. IX.

92

on the spirits of survivors, both the church and world, were obvious and peculiar at the time. Many migrated to the country and of those who remained, while Christians were praying and confessing their sins before the acknowledged "Lord of heaven and earth," the irreligious were in many instances clamorous and bold in their ungodliness. The Presbytery greatly lament also, that the permanent consequences of this visitation upon the churches generally, and upon those more especially, which have their location in the immediate circle of its desolations, were not so beneficial as they fondly and ardently anticipated.

The ordinary institutions and objects of Christian benevolence have been maintained and multiplied. Several new churches have been built, and several others are now contemplated or actually erecting in the city of New-York. One other church has been organized and furnished with the regular ordinances of the Gospel, and we now number fourteen churches in the city. Sabbath schools, Bible classes, catechetical instruction, prayer meetings, among which we may particularize the Monthly Concert of Prayer, have been continued and increased in most of our congregations. A spirit of Christian activity and effort in the cause of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, seems to be extending. Missionary operations become increasingly the object of common interest, patronage, and prayer; and the more conspicuous enterprises of good, such as Bible Societies, Missionary, Tract, and Education Societies, societies for the instruction of seamen in the truth and grace of the Gospel, the American Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews, societies auxiliary to these, and other combinations of Christian effort and resources, appear to be advancing, under the benediction of God, in the thoughts and feelings of our general community.

The United Foreign Missionary Society deserves a distinct recognition in this narrative. Its peculiar details will doubtless be known to the Assembly from its own report: it is proper, however, to observe that this mighty engine of beneficence, though complicated in its operations and embarrassed in its resources, continues to "go forward," and will, they devoutly pray, receive the all-sufficient subsidies and succours, which He can so easily command, in whose own cause it is singly and efficiently occupied.

The Presbytery would also announce the formation of the United Domestic Missionary Society, as an institution of the most auspicious consequence, in the sphere of its operations, in the reaction of its influence upon the spirits of its members, and in its prospective achievements in the glorious cause.

They are also induced to state to the Assembly, that they have formed themselves into a Presbyterial Missionary Society, whose object-to supply the waste places of our bounds with the means of grace-has been successfully prosecuted during the past year. This society is growing in its promise and consideration; and we expect, from the blessing of our Great Head upon the counsel and exertions of its Executive Committee, to whom the management of its concerns is intrusted, a continual augmentation of the number and the strength of Presbyterian churches in this city and its vicinity.

On that special subject of interest, revivals of religion, their commu