So far as we are informed, the days of fasting and thanksgiving have been observed by all our congregations. Collections have been taken up in all that Presbytery could control, for Synod's Traveling Fund.

Believing that Synod's action of last year requiring each Presbytery to pay the expenses incurred by its own member of the Seminary Board was hasty, and moreover, that it is unjust to the more distant Presbyteries, we respectfully request that it will be reconsidered and reversed.

Presbytery desires at least the full services of two laborers during the ensuing six months. R. D. SPROULL, Clerk of Pres.

REPORT OF PITTSBURGH PRESBYTERY.

Since last Synod, Presbytery has held two regular and one special meeting, all of which were characterized by harmony and good feeling. In regard to our internal condition but few changes worthy of notice have taken place since our last report. Our pastors, with but one exception, Rev. S. Sterrett, continue in the assiduous discharge of duty in their respective fields of labor. Mr. Sterrett, having accepted a call from Cedarville congregation, was certified to Lakes Presbytery, and the pastoral relation existing between him and his former charge, Poland and North Jackson, was dissolved. This adds one more to our list of vacant congregations. Rev. J. M. Johnston was received on certificate from Rochester Presbytery. Rev. John M'Auley, of the Associate Church, having expressed a desire to connect himself with us, was, after a satisfactory examination, received, and his name added to our list of ministerial members. The congregation of New Alexandria, &c., has been divided. Clarksburg now constitutes a congregation by itself, and New Alexandria and Greensburg one by themselves. Each of the congregations is abundantly able to support a pastor.

We have now on our roll the names of twenty ministers. Eight are unsettled. Of these, one, Hannay, has been appointed stated supply for July and August at Piny branch of Rehoboth congregation; two, Elder and N. R. Johnston, are engaged teaching, and three, Buck, Dodds and J. M. Johnston, are missionaries. The entire time of the other two, M'Auley and Wallace, is at the disposal of Synod.

Our congregations now number eighteen. Six are without pastors. A call from Clarksburg on J. M. Johnston, was declined. A call from New Alexandria and Greensburg on T. A. Sproull, was accepted, and a commission appointed to attend to the ordination and installation on the third Wednesday of June. A call from Oil City on J. A. Black, is now in the hands of a commission, awaiting presentation. On account of the number of our vacancies, we ask Synod to give us the full time of two laborers.

D. C.

We have under our care eleven theological students-S. J. Crow, Martin, D. M'Fall, W. M'Farland, T. P. Robb, T. C. Sproull, of the second year; S. R. Galbraith, R. J. George, of the third year; W. Gillespie, D. Gregg, Jr., D. B. Willson, of the fourth year. The last three having expressed an earnest desire to be licensed at the close of their third year, Presbytery complied with their request, and licensed them at its last meeting, upon express understanding that they return to the Seminary the fourth year. Wm. Gillespie has accepted the appointment of the Central Board of Missions, to go to the North West as a missionary. The other two intend to travel during the summer for the benefit of their health.

the

Days of fasting and thanksgiving have been observed by all our congregations.

The directions of Synod in regard to the traveling fund have been complied with by Presbytery. J. W. SPROULL, Chairman.

REPORT OF OHIO PRESBYTERY.

Ohio Presbytery respectfully reports: That we have held two meetings since last meeting of Synod, which were very harmonious. We have five ministers, all regularly settled. At our fall meeting the pastoral relation between Rev. J. C. Boyd and Sandusky congregation was dissolved, and all his time given to Utica congregation. We have two vacant congregations under our care, Sandusky and Brownsville. We have no proper missionary stations; there are, however, a number of places within our bounds where something might be done if we had the men and means. We have endeavored to do something in the cause of national reform. Two agents were appointed to act in this matter, Rev. A. M'Farland and H. P. M'Clurkin, who report encouraging progress. The Christian Statesman is pretty generally taken by our members, and by an encouraging number of others.

As far as we have been able to ascertain, days of fasting and thanksgiving have been punctually attended to; the week of prayer in part, but not generally. The collections appointed by Synod have been attended to, with the exception, in some cases, of one or two items. We ask Synod to grant us supplies of seven or eight days during the ensuing six months; and also the sum of one hundred dollars.

Respectfully submitted.

J. C. BOYD, Clerk.

REPORT OF PRESBYTERY OF THE LAKES.

The Presbytery of the Lakes would respectfully report: That since your last meeting, it has had two sessions, both of which were well attended, and were characterized by great harmony and unanimity. So far as known, the various ordinances of religion have been observed among us, and a good deal of interest and zeal has been manifested for the cause of Christ.

We are persuaded that the day in which we live is one of marked decline in vital godliness, when the church is tending to that point witnessed by Ezekiel in the valley, where the bones were many, and very dry. But as at that point a grand revival occurred, "and the breath came into them and they lived and stood up upon their feet an exceeding great army," so we trust that the dawn of a grander and more glorious revival is drawing nigh.

The influence of our distinctive testimony is working its silent, yet not altogether imperceptible leaven among us; and we feel that no effort should be relaxed in the direction of a bold and faithful advocacy of the claims of the Messiah over the nations. It is becoming more manifest daily, in the growing corruptions of politics, that unless the nation anchor to the Rock, Christ, it must reel and stagger like a drunken man; it must sink down into the mire of political depravity, where there is no standing.

Especially now, when the confidence of the nation is being shaken in its leaders—when men are proving themselves unworthy of high trust-should they be exhorted. "Be wise, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth; serve the Lord with fear."

Since your last meeting the congregation of Cedarville has made a call on Rev. Samuel Sterrett, who has aceepted, and is now residing in his charge. Arrangements have been made for his installation. The Presbytery ask the full time of one of the laborers at Synod's disposal. Respectfully submitted. H. H. GEORGE.

REPORT OF ILLINOIS PRESBYTERY.

We have ten

Presbytery has held two regular meetings during the year. ministerial members and ten congregations. We have three theological students under our care- -John Hood, of the third year; D. C. Faris and Isaiah Faris, of the fourth year. J. M. Faris was, at our last meeting, licensed to preach the gospel. A call from Old Bethel congregation on J. A. Black was

sustained, and ordered to be forwarded to Pittsburgh Presbytery. Days of fasting and thanksgiving have been observed. The week of prayer received some attention among us. All the congregations have furnished their quota of the traveling fund. Rev. J. Crozier is appointed a member of the Board of Superintendents of Theological Seminary.

Rev. James Wallace has been laboring successfully during the year in the cause of national reform, as the agent of the Reform Association of Southern Illinois. There is much encouragement for increased effort. Many seem ready to learn and maintain the claims of Christ as King of nations. Much work is yet to be done in sowing the good seed, and we have the promise of an abundant harvest.

The youth of the church under our care have given much encouragement by an early public confession of Christ. There is some evidence that God is with us. His goodness should stimulate to greater diligence in maintaining the truth and extending the kingdom of Christ.

We request Synod to provide means for the support of Indianapolis congregation, put under our care by Synod at its last meeting. The statistical report is appended.

W. F. GEORGE, Clerk.

REPORT OF IOWA PRESBYTERY.

The Iowa Presbytery would respectfully report: That since your last meeting we have held two regular semi-annual meetings, and one pro-re-nata meeting. These have been characterized with fraternal love and harmony.

At the pro-re-nata meeting, held Dec. 17th, 1867, the Rev. R. B. Cannon, at his own request, was relieved from the pastoral charge of the Rehoboth congregation.

The Rev. R. Johnston, having received and accepted a call from Kossuth congregation, was released from the pastoral charge of Vernon, and installed pastor of Kossuth. In the month of March last a congregation was organized at Walnut City, Iowa. The Amboy branch of the Washington and Amboy congregation was stricken off, and is now known as the Ainsworth congregation.

We have now thirteen congregations under our care, six of which are without settled ministers, viz., Rehoboth, Vernon, Ainsworth, Davenport, Grove Hill, and Walnut City. From all these vacant congregations demands come for the gospel, but the lack of means and the want of laborers have very much hindered them from getting anything like an adequate supply of preaching.

Two of our congregations, viz., Rehoboth and Vernon, have asked for the moderation of calls. The missionary stations, Elliota, Minn., and Winchester, Kansas, under Synod's provision and care, have asked for organizations. We have two unsettled ministers, Revs. R. B. Cannon and R. Hutcheson, in our bounds.

The days of fasting and thanksgiving were observed by all our congregations. Those congregations that observed the week of prayer feel that they have derived spiritual benefit, and hope for its continued observance with increased interest.

Congregations have contributed generally to the public schemes of the

church.

The subject of national reform has received some attention in many of our congregations, yet there is not that active and earnest effort that should be made.

Rev. J. M. M'Donald was continued a member of the Board of the Theological Seminary.

Having an unusual number of vacant congregations under our care, Presbytery would ask for the labor of two ministers. C. D. TRUMBULL, P. C.

All which is respectfully submitted.

J. M. M'Donald (D. H. Coulter, alternate) was appointed to preach during the next sessions of Synod upon "The duty of the Nation to the Church."

The report of the committee on Discipline was taken up.

The protest and appeal from Illinois Presbytery was taken up, and the papers returned to the appellant. The pastoral relation between Rev. J. Stott and the Princeton congregation was dissolved. Rev. J. M'Cracken was appointed to make the announcement of the suspension and dissolution of the pastoral relation.

The consideration of the appeal from Lakes Presbytery was deferred. The remainder of the report of the commitee on Discipline was recommitted for revision.

D. Torrens had leave of absence during the remaining sessions of Synod.

The rule requiring Synod to meet at 93 A. M. was supended, and Synod adjourned with prayer, to meet to-morrow at 8 A. M.

SAME PLACE, June 3d, 8 A. M.

Synod met and was constituted with prayer. All the members present, except Coulter, French, Jas. Gray, W. P. Johnston, Patterson, S. Spear, R. M. C. Thompson, Joseph Wallace. Minutes read, amended and approved.

The committee appointed to confer with Professor Sproull, reported his compliance with the request of Synod.

The committee appointed to confer with the Professor elect reported his acceptance.

The Clerk was directed to notify the Presbyteries of New York and Pittsburgh of the action in relation to the Professors, and that those Presbyteries be directed to release them from their pastoral charges. Coulter, Patterson and Jas. Gray appeared.

S. O. Wylie was appointed chairman of the Board of Superintend

cnts.

The committee in charge of the M'Kinney Fund reported. The report was accepted and approved. It is as follows:

The committee on the M'Kinney Fund respectfully report:

1867. Balance as per last report,.....

1868. April 15. Collection in First New York,.

.$433 71

59 76

.$493 47

.$30

30

30

50

30

50

50

$270 270 00

$223 47

The committee would recommend that measures be taken to increase the

Fund.

Signed,

SAMUEL CARLISLE, Chairman.

S. Bowden, in accordance with his notice at last meeting, moved that measures be taken to establish a Fund for Superannuated Ministers. It was Resolved, That a committee be appointed to devise a plan for carrying this into effect. S. Bowden, R. D. Sproull, D.

M'Millan, are that committee.

The committee on Records of Lakes Presbytery reported that "they find in them nothing contrary to the law and order of the church; except that in two instances it is not stated that the court was constituted with prayer; in two cases corrections are made in pencil mark; in two cases the Moderator's signature is not appended to the minutes; in one instance the day of the month is left blank in the date." Report accepted and adopted.

The committee on Sabbath collections reported. The report was accepted and adopted. It is as follows:

The committee to whom was referred the petition of W. W. M'Millan on the subject of Sabbath collections, report as follows:

In the judgment of your committee, the difficulties supposed by the petitioner have no real existence in reason, or the word of God, and certainly are not sustained by the practice of our church, in present or in past times.

Collections for all the variety of church purposes have been, and are, made in our congregations on Sabbath, in connection with public worship.

There is nothing in the subject of collections for the poor that gives them any character of sacredness more than that of collections made for other religious and benevolent purposes. To aid others to enjoy gospel ordinances, by collections for that end, is not of less importance or less sacredness, than to aid the poor to obtain the necessaries of life. Nay, as the soul is of more value than the body, the sacredness of providing the means of supplying the wants of former is greater than that of the latter.

In the light of this remark it becomes evident to your committee, that if the fourth commandment is violated by taking up collections for other purposes, this would carry with it those for the poor also. The latter cannot be

a duty if the former is a desecration of the Sabbath.

Your committee have no recommendation to make of action to be taken in the premises.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

DAVID SCOTT, Chairman.

Rev. J. H. Boggs and J. Lynch were added to the Board of Church Extension.

J. R. W. Sloane resigned his place as a member of the Board of Church Extension, and was appointed a member of the Central Board of Domestic Missions.

Rev. W. Milroy was appointed the Moderator's alternate to preach the opening sermon at next meeting.

The following resolutions were unanimously passed:

Inasmuch as the First Congregation of Philadelphia have undertaken to erect a monument to the memory of Prof. Willson; and inasmuch as the name and memory of Prof. Willson are the heritage and ornament of the entire church; therefore, Resolved, That this Synod endorse this object as worthy of the contributions of all the members of the church.

J. L. M'Cartney laid on the table the following resolutions, and gave notice that he will move them at next meeting: