The American Sunday School Union, concentrated in the City of Philadelphia, is in successful progress, and promises to be a rich and lasting blessing to our country, and to the Church of God. To recommend it to the prayers, and the vigorous co-operation of all our churches, it need only be stated, that in their last annual report, the managers inform their patrons, that from correct sources, they are able to number upwards of fourteen hundred souls, including teachers and pupils, who have been hopefully converted by the instrumentality of Schools in their connexion, since the origin of their institution, in 1818. Men of rank and influence are lending a helping hand to this benevolent enterprise. Let this work of pious cha rity proceed-Heaven shall recompense its deeds of mercy.

As associated with these religious and benevolent institutions, and contributing to their spiritual effect, is the Monthly concert of prayer, which appears to be extensively observed. Other meetings for prayer and conference are multiplying, and giving expansion to the labours of Christian benevolence. Indeed the spirit of prayer is the very spirit of Christian effort, and breathes its hallowed influence over every institution which has for its object the glory of God, and the salvation of men. The Assembly would look forward to the day when the voice of prayer shall be heard from every dwelling, and when our concerts for prayer shall be crowded with the sons and daughters of the Almighty, invoking the effusions of the Holy Ghost on all the inhabitants of our guilty world.

The cause of Seamen continues to receive a liberal and increasing patronage in our great commercial cities. In Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, the friends of piety continue to labour with unabated zeal, for the salvation of this long neglected portion of our race. The American Seamen's Friend Society, is noticed as an important engine in contributing to their spiritual welfare. They ask, and the Assembly would ask for them, the prayers of all the Churches.

But while the Assembly would rejoice and bless God for sustaining, and multiply. ing, and giving increased action to the benevolent institutions within our Church, and throughout our land, they have still higher grounds of joy and gratitude to the Head of the Church, for the showers of divine grace, with which their Zion has been favoured during the past year. The Holy Ghost, like a mighty rushing wind, has descended and rested on many assemblies, and by his all conquering energy has subdued many stout hearts which were fraught with enmity against God, VOL. V.Ch. Adv.

and the gospel of his grace. The past year has been emphatically a year of revivals. To enumerate all the towns and congregations on which God has poured out his Holy Spirit would swell our report beyond its assigned limits. Suffice it to say, that upwards of twenty Presbyteries have participated, in a greater or less degree, in the refreshing showers with which God has been watering his Church. -Within the bounds of the Synod of Genessee, we may mention the Presbyteries of Rochester and Buffalo. In the Synod of Geneva, the Presbyteries of Bath, Geneva, Onondaga and Cayuga. In Onondaga, from four to five hundred have been added to the Church, and in Cayuga, about nine hundred. In the Synod of Albany, the Presbyteries of Columbia, Champlain, Londonderry, Troy, Ogdens burg and Oneida. The last two have been most signally visited. In Oneida, 1300 are reported to have joined the Church, and in the Presbyteries of Oneida and Ogdensburg, some thousands are enumerated as the hopeful subjects of converting grace. In the Synod of New York, refreshing influences have descended on portions of the Presbyteries of Long Island, North River, Hudson, and the first Presbytery of New York. In the Synod of New Jersey, on the Presbyteries of New Brunswick and Elizabethtown. In the Synod of Philadelphia, on a few of the Churches within the Presbyteries of Philadelphia, Carlisle and Baltimore. In the City of Baltimore, a good work is now in progress in the first and second Churches. In the Synod of Kentucky, the Presbytery of Transylvania has been signally blessed. In the midst of other trophies of converting grace, they have to record the hope. ful conversion of the Teacher and several of the pupils in the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb within their limits. In the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, the Presbyteries of Orange, Fayetteville, Georgia, Union and Hopewell, have been more or less favoured. The two last have had the greatest additions to their communion, and the Lord is still carrying on his glorious work in the midst of them.

For all that the Lord has thus been doing, and is continuing to do for his Zion, the Assembly would rejoice and give thanks to his holy name. And it is their fervent prayer that while God is working for the advancement of his glory, and the salvation of souls, those who are called to co-operate with him, may be richly endued with the spirit of wisdom, of grace, and of a sound mind, that the work may not be marred by human imperfection, but that the building of God may rise with symmetry and grandeur towards its summit in the heavens.

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Upon several of our Colleges, the Spirit has been poured out. Centre College, in Kentucky, Athens, in Georgia, and Dickinson, in Pennsylvania, have all participated, more or less, in the spiritual bounty of heaven's converting grace. Our Theological Seminaries continue to receive the liberal support of the friends of sound learning and vital godliness. From these fountains, streams are issuing to water our parched land, and to make glad the city of our God. The number of efficient ministers is increasing, and our prayer is, that they may increase an hundred fold, until every destitute region of our world shall be supplied, and every ear be greeted with the voice of the messengers of salvation.

To the memory of our brethren who have rested from their labours since our last meeting, we would here pause to consecrate a monument of fraternal affec. tion, By the Master's order, they have been taken from our ranks, and their departure admonishes us to increased exertion before the night of death cometh when no man can work.

From some of our sister Churches in correspondence with us, reports have been received. The General Association of Connecticut, although labouring under many discouragements, are still cheered by the manifestations of the divine favour

* Rev. Abner Towne, and Rev. James Southworth, of the Presbytery of Oneida. Rev. Cyrus Downs, of the Presbytery of Otsego.

Rev. Samuel P. Williams, of the Presbytery of Newburyport.

Rev. William Arthur, of the Presbytery

of Lancaster.

Rev. Matthew Lyle, of the Presbytery of Hanover.

Rev. Argus Diarmed, of the Presbytery of Fayetteville.

Rev. Amzi Armstrong, D. D. of the Presbytery of Newark.

Rev. Lyman Whitney, of the Presbytery of West Lexington.

Rev. Samuel Davies Hoge, of the Presbytery of Athens.

Rev. James Adams, of the Presbytery of Richland.

Rev. Stephen Kinsley, of the Presbytery of Champlain.

Rev. David Phillips, of the Presbytery of Muhlenburg.

Flev. Samuel C. Caldwell, of the Presby tery of Mecklenburg.

Rev. James Hall, D. D. of the Presbytery of Concord.

Rev. William F. Watts, of the Pres

bytery of

Rev. William Wilson, of the Presbytery of Harmony.

in the prosperity of their benevolent institutions, and in the progress of revivals throughout many of their churches.

From the General Association of Massachusetts, the reports are highly animating. There have been, in many places, powerful revivals during the past year. In the city of Boston and Berkshire county par ticularly, the Lord has been marching through the midst of his churches, and nearly 800 souls are numbered among the fruits of his reviving grace. We would rejoice with our eastern brethren in this testimony of God's grace to the cause of evangelical truth.

The reports from the Reformed Dutch Church, are encouraging. Revivals exist in a few of their congregations. The cause of Domestic Missions is receiving additional support, and their Theological Seminary is well sustained, and promises to be a lasting blessing to their church.

From the other ecclesiastical bodies in connexion with us, no reports have been received.

In closing this narrative, the Assembly would remark, that their present session has been to them, one of peculiar and solemn interest. They have had the wonderful doings of God spread before their eyes, and while they have been excited to mourning, for the remaining desolations of Zion, their hearts have been made to rejoice in the triumphs of redeeming grace. Called upon by the signal movements of Jehovah's providence and love towards them, and the churches under their care, the General Assembly appropriated an entire day during their sessions, to the solemn duties of thanksgiving, humiliation and prayer. As the representatives of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, they endeavoured to bring the whole interests of that church before the throne of grace, and in the name of their ascended Saviour, to plead for additional tokens of his mercy on her behalf. It was a day of mingled sorrow and joy to their hearts. It was a day which they would wish to record, as the commencement of a new era in the history of their ecclesiastical proceedings, and which, from the evident indications of the presence of the Holy Ghost, they humbly trust will shed a benign influence over the character and transactions of that body for years to come.

Brethren, pray for us, and for yourselves, and for the whole church of God. It is a day of hope in relation to the souls of men. The hour of the world's redemp tion draweth near, when nations shall be born at once, and when the whole earth shall be full of the glory of the Saviour. May the good Lord hasten forward the long expected hour, and let our uni

ted cry be, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen."

By order of the Assembly.

E. S. ELY, Stated Clerk.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The Eleventh Annual Meeting of this noble Institution was held on Thursday, the 10th of May, at the Middle Dutch Church, in Nassau street, New York. The Hon. John Jay, the venerable President of the Society, not being present, His Excellency, Governor Clinton, took the chair. The Rev. President Day, of Yale College, commenced the exercises by reading the 7th chapter of Micah. Letters were then read from the President of the United States, and several other Vice Presidents of the Society, apologising for their non-attendance; after which an address, which occupied about 20 minutes, was delivered by His Excellency the Governor. The annual reports of the Treasurer and the Managers were read by W. W. Woolsey, Esq., and the Rev. Mr. Brigham. After the report, the following resolutions were moved and unanimously adopted.

On motion of the Rev. Samuel Merwin, of the Methodist Church, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Smith, of Middlebury, Vt. of the Episcopal Church,

Resolved, That the Report which has been presented by the Board of Mana. gers, be accepted, and that it be published under their direction.

On motion of the Rev. Mr. Eastburn, of the Episcopal Church, of this city, seconded by Rev. Mr. Bourne, Baptist Missionary at Honduras,

Resolved, That while the Society are not unmindful of the services rendered by the officers and managers the past year, they recognise with devout gratitude that goodness of Providence, which has furnished means to carry forward, to so great an extent, the work of preparing and circulating his Holy Word.

On motion of the Rev. Mr. Malcom, of the Baptist Church, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Milnor,

Resolved, That the Society view with great satisfaction, the zeal and activity manifested by so many of its Auxiliaries, in ascertaining the wants of their respective districts, and in taking measures to supply them.

On motion of the Rev. Mr. Cornelius, of Massachusetts, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Yates, Baptist Missionary, from Calcutta,

Resolved, That in view of the rapid increase of our own population, and of the

wide fields, which are opening abroad for the reception of the Bible, the friends of this National Institution are called upon, not only for persevering, but increased exertions.

Addresses were made by the several gentlemen who moved and seconded the resolutions.

During the past year there have been issued from the Depository, 71,621 Bibles and Testaments-Whole number since the Society was formed, 511,668.-N. Y. Obs.

The following letter, which we extract from the New York Observer, shows pretty correctly the state of religion in France.

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Extract of a Letter from an American Gentleman in Europe, to the Rev. Mr. Arbuckle, af Blooming Grove, dated Paris, March 1, 1827.

With respect to the state of religion in France, it presents a very different aspect from that of our own country: at least to a man from Blooming Grove. In Paris, when he sees the billiard rooms in every street frequented with gamblers, the theatres and ball-rooms crowded upon the evenings of the sabbath, the shops open and streets full of carts and carmen upon the first, almost as much as any other day of week;-when, not only by twilight, but frequently at noon-day, he meets with her whose ways are the ways of death, he will conclude that the practices of the Popish subjects differ as widely from that of the Protestants as their articles of faith. Out of thirty millions, the whole population of France, there is but half a million of Protestants. Their proportion to the Catholics is, only as one to sixty;-all the remaining part (with the exception of a few Jews) being Catholics; at least baptized into the Catholic Church. Of these, the greater part, in regard to religion, follow the path of their forefathers, with out thinking for themselves whither that path may lead them. They have little religion at any rate; seldom go to church, seldom think of death and eternity; and when they do, the first maxim which presents itself, seems to be, Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die: and they plainly manifest by their conduct, that they esteem pleasure as their chief good. Those whose circumstances permit them to spend their evenings in coffee houses, which are numerous and not expensive, assemble here in clubs, where they spend three or four hours at chess, tric-trac,

domino, &c. Others who have acquired a taste for gambling, even of those who live by their daily labour, assemble at their particular houses in the evening, where they lose perhaps the last franc they have in the world, without looking forward so far even as the end of the present life.

This, I think, is the true character of a great portion of the inhabitants. Others more prudent, more accustomed to reading and thinking, do not all follow the footsteps of their fathers, nor take for granted every ipse dixit of the Pope. A French teacher with whom I studied a few weeks, when I first came to Paris, told me that although he believed his religion the purest in the world, yet he thought several of its doctrines were incorrect, and not founded in Scripture. A young lady told me she thought several of their doctrines absolutely absurd:-that the Protestant religion appeared to her more rational, and the government of our church more agreeable to the spirit of the New Testament; and she gave me a pamphlet containing a satirical account of the Jesuits and their doctrines. Thus many, more or less, disapprove of their religion, though interest prevents them from acknowledging it to their friends. Others, however, even of those well educated, among whom perhaps we may include the king and royal family, give implicit faith to all the doctrines of their church, in their fullest extent. I boarded several weeks with a French Catholic, the Principal of an Academy, and bachelor of letters. The various little observances in his family frequently reminded me of what I had read in Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, concerning the numerous ceremonies introduced into the church during the extensive influence of the Pope in past centu

ries. Even while asking a blessing at table, they form the cross, putting a finger on the forehead and thrice upon the breast: saying at the same time, "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen." A lad of about twelve years once observed that, he wondered so pious a man as he took me to be, should eat meat on Friday, thus weekly committing, as he thought, un grand pêche, or great sin. In their church, when they receive what they believe to be the real body of Christ, they are not allowed to touch it with their hands, but the priest lays it upon their tongues, that they may swallow it wholly at once.Thus they believe they are actually receiving God! that the Pope has the supreme power on earth, and can pardon their sins. But there is yet another class in France, and very numerous, who reject both the true and false doctrines of their religion. The writings of Voltaire, which are to be found in every book-shop, and very cheap, have had a corrupting influence on the minds of those who are accustomed to read them. How strange that a man of sense should attempt to lay the axe at the foot of religion, and yet acknowledge it necessary even to the existence of law and justice! Thus Voltaire, in one part of his works, to give a literal translation of the passage, says, "Consult Zoroaster, and Minos and Solon, and the sage Socrates, and the great Cicero: they all adored one master, one judge, one father. The sublime system, (" that is, religion,") is necessary to man.-It is the sacred bond of society, the first foundation of truth and justice; the check of the wicked, the hope of the righteous, If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."

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