PUBLICATION OFFICE OF WILSON'S PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL ALMANAC, Philadelphia, Pa. DEAR SIR: The information to be secured by replies to this Circular of Inquiry will be used in preparing a History of the Presbyterian Churches, to be published in my Presbyterian Historical Almanac. If those to whom this circular may be sent have any histories of Presbyterian Churches, either in book or pamphlet form-any Funeral Discourses on Presbyterian Ministers-any Minutes of Presbyteries or Synods-Catalogues of Presbyterian Seminaries and Colleges, and will send them to me, I will pay for them (the price can be marked on the title-pages), or, if they are scarce, I will be glad to borrow for examination and return them. I will add, that in replying to this circular, where exact dates cannot be given, an approximation had better be given." Address, in full, JOSEPH M. WILSON, Publisher of Wilson's Presbyterian Historical Almanac. CIRCULAR OF INQUIRY. 1. Please give the name of your church. 2. The date of its organization. 3. The name of the Presbytery by which it was organized. 4. The name of the Presbytery to which it belongs at this time. 5. The number of male members at its organization. 6. The number of female members at its organization. 7. The names of the ruling elders at its organization. 8. Was it a colony sent out by some other church. If so, name the church? 9. The number of male members at the present time. 10. The number of female members at the present time. 11. The total number of members from organization to the present time. 12. The names of ruling elders at the present time. 13. The post-office address of the ruling elders. 14. The number of deacons at the present time. 15. The name of your first pastor, or stated supply. 16. The date of his settlement. 17. The name of your second, third and fourth, &c., pastor or stated supply. 18. The name of your pastor or stated supply at this time. 19. Did any of your pastors or stated supplies die whilst in connection with your church, or subsequently? 20. If so, please send me their names and any information concerning them that you possibly can-either records, personal reminiscences, funeral sermons, discourses, historical sketches and newspaper articles. 21. Have you a MANSE for the minister to live in, free of rent? 22. What is its probable value, and is it insured against loss by fire? 23. How long has it been owned by the congregation? 24. Have you a church building? If so, what is its size? 25. What is its probable value, and is it insured against loss by fire? 26. Is it, or is your MANSE to be commended, either for its completeness of arrangement, or style, or economy? If so, please send a sketch of either, so that it may be engraved for the benefit of others who might wish to have a new edifice, or a MANSE. 27. Have you a Sabbath-school? 28. When was it organized? 36. When was it organized? 37. How many teachers and scholars are there in the Mission school? 38. Do you hold a teachers' meeting for study and prayer? 39. Have you a Minister's or Congregational Library? 40. How many volumes does it contain? 41. Have you a Sabbath-school Library? 42. How many volumes does it contain? 43. Have any of the members of your church become ministers? If so, please name them. 44. Have any of the members of your church become foreign missionaries? If so, name them; also name the missions to which they have gone. 45. Have any of the members of your church become the wives of foreign missionaries? If so, please name them; also the names of the missions to which they have gone; also the names of their husbands. 46. Has your church any system of benevolence? If so, please name it. 47. Has your church ever sent out a colony to establish another congregation? If so, please name it. 48. Is there any college, academy, school or other educational institution within the bounds of your congregation? and if under Presbyterian control, please state the fact. 49. If so, please send its name and the name of the person at its head, and a copy of their printed catalogue or circular. 50. Please add any information upon subjects not covered by the preceding inquiries-revivals, their date and extent. It was Resolved, That this Assembly be dissolved, and that another meet in the First United Presbyterian Church, Xenia, Ohio, Thursday, May 23, 1867. Rev. W. W. BARR, Clerk. DAVID R. KERR, D.D., Moderator. In Memoriam. THE LET. TABLE GIVING THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED DURING THE YEAR. "PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS."Psalm cxvi. 15. Peter Campbell CAMPBELL, PETER-The son of Peter and Christiana (McLaren) Campbell, was born in Cromie parish, Perthshire, Scotland, in November, 1784. He was a studious youth, and through his own exertions obtained a good classical and literary education in Glasgow University, Scotland, where he graduated in 1814. He studied theology in the Divinity Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, and was licensed by Glasgow Associate Presbytery Aug. 3, 1819. In 1820 he emigrated to the United States, and in a few months was ordained by Philadelphia Associate Presbytery, at Carlisle, Pa., Sept. 28, 1820. He commenced his labors as a missionary in Virginia and North and South Carolina, under appointment of the Associate Presbyterian Synod. In 1823 he was called to the Associate Presbyterian church, Florida, N. Y., when he was installed by Cambridge Associate Presbytery. This relation existed until 1844, and was dissolved at his own request, and for twelve years he labored as a stated supply for vacant churches in the neighborhood, in Vermont and in Canada. The gradual approach of the infirmities of age caused him to desist with few exceptions from public efforts in his Master's service, but in the private walks of life his Christian character, rounded by experience and mellowed by Divine grace, made him a blessing to his friends. He died at Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., Oct. 19, 1866. He mar ried in December, 1822, Miss Margaret Law, a daughter of John Law, Esq., of Salem, N. Y. They had six children, five of whom survive. Rev. WILLIAM B. SHORTT, of Cambridge, N. Y., preached his funeral sermon, whence the following is taken: "As the infirmities of life pressed upon him he rested from his public labor and endeavored to serve his Divine Master in private life until his death. His last ministerial service was the baptism of a child of mine, and his last appearance in the house of God on the Sabbath before his death was at the communion table. 66 As a preacher Mr. Campbell's discourses were marked by strong sense and good sentiment, adorned with scriptural illustrations and in strict accordance with the truth as it is in Jesus, being characterized by great earnestness and simplicity. His own mind imbued with the spirit of the everlasting gospel, his own hopes resting on the Rock of Ages, his constant aim and his undeviating object in his discourses were to bring sinners to Christ. He spoke because he believed. Every sentiment he uttered met, we are persuaded, the deep conviction of his own mind, and was intended to promote the eternal interests of his hearers. He had too great a regard for the house of God, too great love to the hearts of perishing sinners, too deep an impression of the sacredness and awful responsibility of his sacred trust, to handle the word of God deceitfully or to advance anything not fitted to promote God's glory and the good of souls. Because he believed, he proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation; because he believed, he warned transgressors to flee from coming wrath. As a pastor he went in and out among the people of his charge as a man of God, as one who feared the Lord, living in the spirit of the gospel which he preached, and exemplifying himself the graces and self-denial which he inculcated upon others. It was his peculiar delight to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. But the zeal which he manifested was not confined to the pulpit; private opportunities of advancing the best interests of his people were earnestly sought after. Instructing the children and youth from house to house, in pastoral visitation, occupied a large share of his time. He was characterized also by great fidelity in visiting the afflicted and bereaved, never far off when trouble came, but ever near to direct to the contemplation of those attributes of God's character and those dispensations of Providence which were calculated to reconcile to every event by assuring of its merciful purpose and its final issue, and staying the mind of the bereaved, the sick and dying upon God as in Christ, the Father's mercies, the Fountain of consolation, the Rock of their deliverance and safety. He went in and out among the people of his charge as the man of God, as one who feared the Lord, living in the spirit of the gospel which he preached. In his devotional exercises there was a depth of thought, a sublimity of sentiment, a richness of expression, a sacredness of feeling, a pathos, a fervor of soul that is seldom equaled, never surpassed. He prayed under much feeling, and others were made to feel that God was present, that it is with God we have to do. But he now rests from his labors. "Let us then, my friends, not be slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promise. Especially let us remember those who have spoken to us the word of God, whose faith let us follow, considering the end of their conversation-Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and for ever. And let us obey the call which cometh to us from so many quarters, as though it were the midnight cry. Let us up and be doing. Let us press on, fighting the battles of the Lord as they did who have now gotten the victory. Let us, in a word, follow the Lord, follow the Redeemer, follow his homeward-bound servant, and let nothing stay or satisfy us, until, like him, we also see Jesus face to face; until, like him, we learn the song ever new, and with him in the kingdom of his God and ours, in the house of his Father and ours, join our hallelujahs to his, ascribing glory and dominion to Him that saved us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and the Father. Amen." LAING, JAMES-The son of John and Elizabeth (Henderson) Laing, was born in Berry Holes of Blain, parish of Logie, county of Perth, Scotland, in 1785. He was liberally educated, graduating at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, with distinction in 1816. He became a teacher, in which calling he was eminently successful, and his later years were cheered by the willing testimony of many of his pupils to the wisdom of his counsels and the thoroughness of his teaching. In 1825 he was licensed by Glasgow Relief Presbytery, and labored in his Master's service within the bounds of Presbytery in addition to his other duties as an educator. On May 8, 1830, he emigrated to the United States, bearing with him the following credentials, given him by JAMES THOMSON, D.D., of the Synod of Relief: "I have known Mr. James Laing, preacher of the gospel, for a great many years; that his behavior from his youth up has been irreproachable; that his applying himself to those studies which are preparatory to the holy ministry was the effect of his own choice; that he received a very liberal education, having attended the Lectures on Languages, Philosophy and Theology in the University of Glasgow for nine sessions; that he was regularly licensed to preach the gospel by the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow; that he is a man of exemplary piety, prudence and modesty; that he is strictly evangelical in his sentiments, holding, in accordance with the body that licensed him, the doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith; that he has good natural talents, which he has diligently cultivated; that besides his knowledge of divinity he possesses much general information; that I have heard him preach several times with much satisfaction; that his discourses are scriptural and practical; that his style is perspicuous and energetic; and that, if called to the ministry, I am fully convinced he will study, in dependence on the grace of God, to approve himself a laborious and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Attested at Paisley, Scotland, April 26, 1830." On his arrival in the United States he became connected with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, and was ordained by Washington Classis in 1832, and was installed as pastor of the church in Argyle, New York. This relation lasted but little over a year, when he joined the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and became a member of Saratoga Presbytery. About this time a few Scotch families settled in Andes and Middletown, New York, and applied for preaching, and on June 15, 1834, Mr. Laing, who had been sent to them by his Presbytery, preached his first sermon, and Oct. 18, 1834, he removed with his family to Andes, expecting to remain during the winter, but without the least idea of continuing longer; but with this people his life-work as a minister was performed. God had a work for him to do, and in his providence he seemed to say, Thus far shalt thou go, but no farther." The people were very kind, but generally poor. They had no church, and Mr. Laing preached in the school-houses around for some time. He made many sacrifices for the church he loved and for the work his Master gave him to do. In 1835 the Congregational church in the village of Andes offered the use of their building when they were not using it themselves. This plan remained till Nov. 18, 1848, when their own house of worship was dedicated. In addition to the church in Andes, N. Y., he was pastor of the Cabin |