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sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, they have had their conversation with the world.

In the present state of the Kentucky Synod the following facts, when connected with a former state, are peculiarly encouraging.

There have been no controversies among the members of Synod about doctrines, nor have there been any cases of ecclesiastical censure among them for at least nine or ten years. The churches under their care are not only at peace among themselves, but generally speaking, in a state of peace and of occasional friendly intercourse with their sister churches. And God has also within that period touched the hearts of a very considerable number of the youth of the state, so that they have been disposed cheerfully to devote themselves and their all to the service of the gospel of God's Son.

No. 20.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES OF NEW-YORK AND PRINCETON.

In the fall of 1801. Rev. Dr. John M. Mason, of NewYork, in obedience to the instruction of the Associate Reformed Synod of North America, visited Great Britian. This visit was only a part of a great plan, having for its object the furnishing these United States

for generations yet to come, with an able and an evan gelical gospel ministry. We propose, therefore, in this article to give a pretty full account of this mission, and then point to its bearing upon the state of Kentucky.

In the report which he made at his return to said Synod, at their meeting held in the city of New-York, October, 1802, we find these statements:

"Rev. Sir,

"In obedience to the instruction of the Synod, at their last meeting, I took the earliest favourable opportunity of embarking from Great Britain, and sailed from the port of New-York on the 29th of July, 1801. Under the blessing of a benignant providence, I landed at Greenock on Wednesday, the 2d of September, after a passage of thirty-five days.

"It was a source of regret that I could not attend the meeting of the Associate Synod, which was then sitting, and adjourned the next day. On coming to Edinburgh, I found that the Synod, apprized of my arrival, and of some general purposes of my mission, had directed a committee of their body, as will appear from an extract of their minutes, No. 1, to converse with me on any business relationg to the Synod, and transact with me as they should see cause. With this committee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. James Hall, James Peddie, Andrew Lothian, of Edinburgh, Rev. Thomas Aitchison, of Leith, and the Rev. Thomas Brown, of Dalkeith, I had the pleasure of a conference on the 17th of September. Being accredited by them as the representative of the Associate Reformed Church, and having stated the par

ticular objects embraced by my commission, they recommended an immediate visit to the Divinity Hall of the Associate Synod, that I might have an opportunity of conversing with the students before the expiration of the session. I accordingly repaired to Selkirk, and on the 24th of September laid before the professor, the Rev. George Lawson, the memorial No. 3. This memorial the professor communicated to the students, and, entering heartily into the views which it developes, supported them with his own influence, and afterwards wrote a paper, enforcing, in the most earnest manner, the request of the Associate Reformed Church. The intercourse which, during several days, I had with the students, and the specimens of correct principle, literary acquirement, and pulpit talent, which they exhibited in the exercises delivered during my stay at Selkirk, made me more anxious than before to engage a number of them for the service of our churches. But as an immediate decision on so important a proposition was not to be expected, I submitted it to their deliberation, and returned to Edinburgh."

In the memorial addressed to Dr. Lawson, referred to in this extract, we find these declarations.

"As it is to be hoped that none of your students think of the Christian ministry from any other principle than experience of the grace of our Lord Jesus in its living efficacy upon their own hearts, and an honest intention of glorifying him, not seeking their own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved; so I beg leave, dear Sir, to assure them, in the most explicit manner, that no others are desired by any of our churches.

Such as are willing to spend and be spent in the service of the blessed Jesus, resolved to follow him through good and through bad report, contending earnestly for the faith once deliuered to the saints, such as are reconciled to his cross, and will not refuse to venture their persons and their hopes upon his finished work, his gracious promise, and his unutterable love,—such as are decisively attached to the Presbyterial system of church-government as his ordinance,-will be received with open arms, and cherished, I trust, with christian affection.

"The inducement which I have to offer them is not the ease or opulence of this world. It is the prospect of usefulness in the church of God, usefulness more extensive, perhaps, than can be expected in any other situation. It is the sacred heroism of denying themselves, and braving difficulty, reproach, and peril, for the name of Jesus. It is that recompense of reward which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will bestow on them who, from love to his salvation, from obedience to his will, from tender compassion to the souls of men, can forego every other consideration, and, with something of the spirit of an apostle, set themselves for the defence of the gospel. Whoever wish to preach Christ in America, must cast themselves upon his word and providence for their worldly weal. Yet, while I make these frank declarations, that no man may be deceived by false expectations, I feel safe in expressing a persuasion that the exchange, even in respect of temporal comfort, will, in many instances, be found advantageous, and that there is little danger of its turning out for the worse in any."

In a communication, made to the committee of the Associate Synod, dated Edinburgh, Nov. 10th, 1801, we find the wants and interests of the western states thus stated:

"Many of the congregations which are now waiting for pastors, and the greater number of vacancies not yet matured, are in those parts of the United States which have been recently settled. An inviting climate, and a fertile soil, must, in the ordinary course of things, attract thither multitudes of new inhabitants. This. circumstance, added to the facility of procuring subsist ence, which is one of the most powerful causes of increase in the human species, will shortly produce a population incredible to those who are not acquainted 'with existing facts. In this view, the Western countries, especially, of America, present a subject of most interesting speculation to the philosopher and the christian. The importance of instilling into the early societies which are erected there, sound religious principles, and of training them up in correct moral habits, is too evident to require proof. And although no denomination of christians may be able to do as much as could be wished for the attainment of this end, yet the effects resulting ultimately from the exertions of any one of them may far exceed the most sanguine expectation. Every congregation under the care of an evangelical pastor, becomes a centre from which the influence of the Gospel is more or less diffused. New societies, collecting by degrees, naturally assume the form, and imbibe the principles, of those in whose vicinity they are erected. Under such circumstances, Truth has, at

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