The committee appointed to consider whether the Missionary business cannot be carried on with more efficacy, and to greater extent, reported; and their report being amended was adopted, and is as follows: viz.

The committee rejoice in the prospect of a competent supply of the word of God, to the poor and destitute in our country, by means of Bible Societies. The numbers and resources of these institutions are every day encreasing; so that, at no very remote period, it is hoped, that the sun of revelation will shine on every dark corner of our land, and irradiate every dwelling however obscure. The committee, however, instead of regarding this as a reason for relaxing missionary efforts, are persuaded that its proper effect is to infuse new life and vigour into the missionary cause. In proportion as the word of God is known and appreciated, will the preachers of the word in its simplicity and purity be effectual: in proportion as the Bible is diffused, will missionaries be successful in organizing churches.

That there is a wide extent of country, destitute of the ordinary means of grace, is too well known to be mentioned in this place; the present demand for missionary labours, very far exceeds the ability of supply; and the population of the country is encreasing with such rapidity, that, were every place now vacant completely supplied with the regular ministrations of the gospel, after the elapse of a year there would probably be in the nation, four hundred thousand souls requiring the labours of a competent number of religious instructors. When, then, there are such multitudes at this moment, who rarely, if ever, hear the gospel preached, and such mighty additions are made every year to our numbers ; when, too, great multitudes, sensible of their wants, are addressing their importunate cries to us for missionaries, the cry for help of souls ready to perish; it appears to your commitee that God and our brethren require of us much more than we have heretofore rendered. We are longing and praying for the coming of the day of glory; and perhaps many of us hope to see it. But we have no right to calculate on miraculous interpositions; and without a miracle, century after century, must elapse before the

earth can be filled with the knowledge of God. All that the Christian world is now doing with united effort, if continued without intermission for one thousand years, would barely serve to fill the world with Bibles and Missionaries. Yet we are not to despair. God, in his adorable Providence, seems to have changed, in these latter times, the scale on which he had for ages conducted the affairs of his government. Changes which formerly were the work of years, are now produced in a day. Magnificent and astonishing events have passed so often before the eyes of men of the present age, that their minds have acquired a tone and vigour which prompt them to undertake and accomplish great things. ourselves witness every day the wonderful effects of combined counsels and exertions, both in the moral and political world.

We

From the lessons taught us by experience, your Committee have no doubt but that in the Presbyterian Church in the United States, there needs only union of purpose and effort to accomplish all the plans which have been proposed, and even to go far beyond the expectations and hopes of the most sanguine. And this especially, as so powerful an impulse has been given to the Christian community; and the impression is so deep and universal, that it becomes us all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, to exert ourselves for the promotion of his glory and the extention of his kingdom.

For the purpose of enlarging the sphere of our missionary operations then, and infusing new vigour into the cause, your Committee would respectfully recommend a change of the style, and enlargement of the powers of the Standing Committee of Missions. If instead of continuing to this body, the character of a committee bound in all cases to act according to the instructions of the General Assembly, and under the necessity of receiv ing its sanction to give validity to all the measures which it may propose, the Committee of Missions were crected into a Board, with full powers to transact all the business of the Missionary cause, only requiring the Board to report annually to the General Assembly; it would then be able to carry on the Missionary business with all the vigour and unity of design that would be

found in a society originated for that purpose; and, at the same time, would enjoy all the benefit that the counsel and advice of the General Assembly could afford. With these views of the subject, it is respectfully recommended:

1. That the style of the committee be changed for that of "The Board of Missions, acting under the authority of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States."

2. That the Board of Missions be enlarged by the addition of the Rev. John B. Romeyn, D. D. Samuel Miller, D. D. Messrs. Samuel Bayard, Robert Ralston, Robert Lenox, John R. B. Rodgers, John E. Caldwell, Divie Bethune, and Zechariah Lewis.

3. That, in addition to the powers already granted to the Committee of Missions, the Board of Missions be authorized to appoint missionaries whenever they may deem it proper; to make such advances to missionaries as may be judged necessary; and to pay balances due to missionaries who have fulfilled their missions, whenever, in their judgment, the particular circumstances of the missionaries may require it.

4. That the Board be authorized and directed to take measures for establishing throughout our churches, Auxiliary Missionary Societies; and that the General Assembly recommend to their people, the establishment of such societies, to aid the funds, and extend the operations of the Board.

5. That the members of the Board of Missions, be annually chosen by the Assembly; and that they continue in office until the rising of the next General Assembly, when they are to be succeeded by the persons chosen for the current year.

The Committee further report, that while deliberating on the subject referred to them, they at first thought it would be expedient for this Assembly to present to the consideration of their churches the importance of Foreign Missions, and to direct the Board to take measures for commencing and carrying on such missions; but, on mature reflection, they are inclined to believe, that the union of Foreign with Domestic missions would produce

too great complexity in the affairs of the Board, and render the pressure of business too severe and burdensome. And this consideration is strengthened by the belief which they indulge, that a New Society for conducting foreign missions might be formed, composed not only of members belonging to our churches, but also of members belonging to the reformed Dutch Church, to the Associate Reformed Church, and other churches. which have adopted the same creed. Such a society is highly desirable; and were it organized on an extensive plan, so as to call forth the combined energies and charity of all these sister churches, it would be productive of beneficial consequences, both at home and abroad, to ourselves as well as to the heathen.

Resolved, That the Rev. John B. Romeyn, D. D. Archibald Alexander, D. D. Edward Griffin, D. D. William Neill, D. D. and James Richards, D. D. and Messrs. Divie Bethune and Zechariah Lewis, be a committee to correspond with the Dutch and Associate Reformed Churches, and other churches holding the same creed; and endeavour to ascertain whether the members of those churches will unite with those of the Prebyterian Church in the United States, in the formation of a Society for Foreign Missions; and if possible report to the next General Assembly a plan of a society to be established for this purpose.

The Board of Missions, chosen and appointed by this Assembly for the ensuing year, are : viz.

Of Philadelphia and its vicinity, Rev. Drs. Green, Alexander, Wilson, Janeway and Miller; Rev. Messrs. Potts and Skinner, and Messrs. Boudinot, Hazard, Connelly, Haslet, Smith, Ralston, and Bayard.

Of New York, Rev. Dr. Romeyn, Messrs. Lenox, Rogers, Bethune, Caldwell and Lewis.

Of the Synod of Geneva, Rev. David Higgins.

of Albany, Rev. Jonas Coe.

of N. Y. & N. J. Rev. Jas. Richards. D. D.

of Philadelphia, Rev. Robert Cathcart.
of Pittsburgh, Rev. Elisha Macurdy.
of Virginia, Rev. John H. Rice.

of The Synod of Kentucky, Rev. James
Blythe, D. D.

of Ohio, Rev. Robert G. Wilson.

of N. Carolina, Rev. James Hall, D. D. of S. Carolina, & Georgia, Rev. Andrew Flinn, D. D.

Drs. Miller and Janeway and Mr. Finley, were appointed a committee to prepare and have published subscription papers for the re-printing of the printed extracts of the Minutes of the General Assembly.

The above committee brought into the Assembly a number of said papers, and submitted them to the consideration of the Assembly. Whereupon it was resolved, that the several Presbyteries under the care of the Assembly, take order for the circulation of the aforesaid subscription papers; and that after subscribers have been procured, they be forwarded to Mr. Benjamin B. Hopkins.

The committee appointed to enquire, whether some plan cannot be devised for the wider circulation of the Confession of Faith and of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, reported; and their report, being read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows: viz.

1st. That it be strictly enjoined on all the Presbyteries, under the care of the General Assembly, to endeavour by such means as upon careful examination, shall to them appear best, to promote the diffusion and wider circulation of the Confession of Faith and book of discipline of the Presbyterian Church.

2nd. That it be recommended to the congregations in our connection to take measures to supply their own