That the decision of Session was opposed to the decision of Synod in 1849, in the case of W. Roan.

His complaint was sustained by a vote of thirty-three to five against it, and the following Minute was adopted:

Resolved, That Synod sustain the complaint of Henry May against the Presbytery of Chillicothe, for sustaining the action of Eckmansville Church, in refusing him membership in said church, upon the sole ground of his being a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows: because Synod deems the act of the church unconstitutional and oppressive-unconstitutional, because it institutes an unusual and unwarrantable term of church communion, and pronounces that to be an offence worthy of the forfeiture of church membership, which cannot be proved such from Scripture, or from the regulations and practice of the Church founded on Scripture-and oppressive, because it denies to an humble lay member of the Church, what is permitted without complaint to ministers in our connection. Nevertheless, while Synod thus sustains the complaint for the above reason, it would reiterate its decided and solemn conviction of the inexpediency of church members holding membership in the Odd Fellows' Association; and would again most earnestly recommend to all such immediately to withdraw from said connection, it being deemed by Synod incompatible with the highest development of Christian character, and with the peace and good order of the Church of Christ.

SYNOD OF ARKANSAS.

Synod of Arkansas met at Little Rock, Sept. 20th, 1855. Sermon by Rev. R. M. LOUGHRIDGE, from Deut. 1:21. Rev. C. WASHBURN was chosen Moderator. The ordinary items of Synodical business were attended to, there being nothing special before Synod. Adjourned to meet at Hempstead, on Thursday before 4th Sabbath of September, 1856.

SYNOD OF GEORGIA.

Synod of Georgia met at La Grange, Nov. 15th, 1855. The Rev. Dr. C. P. BEMAN was Moderator.

The subject of removing Oglethorpe University was discussed largely and ably, when, by a vote of 31 to 17, it was resolved to make no change in the location. The Rev. W. M. Cunningham was appointed agent for raising the endowment of the Fourth Professorship in Oglethorpe University. His church offered him leave of absence for three months, and it is understood that he will enter upon the work.

Resolutions were unanimously adopted commending the "Church Extension scheme," and appointing the 2d Sabbath in February for collections in all the churches, in aid of the Committee at St. Louis.

The Synod, by an undivided vote, concurred in the suggestions of the Synod of South Carolina, with reference to the increase of the Salaries of the Professors in the Theological Seminary, and also respecting the new hall for the Library. The next meeting of the Synod will be held in Atlanta.

SYNOD OF ALABAMA.

Synod of Alabama met at Talladega, on Oct. 25th, 1855. The proposition to raise a fund for disabled ministers, which the Synod adopted six years ago, met with so little favour from the churches, that it has been abandoned, at least in the form of a permanent endowment. The Presbytery of Talledega has been dissolved, on account of its diminished numbers by death and removal, and it has been reunited to the Presbytery of East Alabama. The Presbyterian Female Institute, at Talladega, was received under the care of Synod. Arrangements were made for paying a debt of $6,500, and when this shall have been accomplished, the titles to the whole property, valued at $15,000, will be in the hands of the Synod.

Oglethorpe University.-The Synod resolved to unite with Synod of Georgia in endowing a fourth Professorship.

Statistics.

RELIGIOUS STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES.-The following interesting statistics of religion are exhibited by the late U. S. Census.

"We have calculated the amount of preaching at the North in these four churches, Old School Presbyterian, New School Presbyterian, Baptist, and Episcopalian, for the following five years, viz.: 1850, 51, 52, 53, 54, and the result of the same, in reported conversions. And we have compared this calculation with the amount of preaching performed at the South, in the churches of these denominations during the same period, and with its result in reported conversions. The figures stand thus: At the North the amount of preaching was 33, 436 years; additions to the churches, 163,553 souls. At the South, amount of preaching 24,018 years,-about one-fourth less; reported additions, 212,917 souls, -or about one-fourth more. There may exist some error in these calculations which we have not discovered; but of this we are persuaded: he who will study the records of the churches, will rest assured that the Great Head of the Church is bestowing a blessing upon the preached Gospel at the South, which should encourage all those who are interested in Southern Missions."-Southern Aid S.

THE JESUITS.-A return, just published at Rome, shows that the order of Jesuits at present, consists of 5510 members-1515 of whom are in Italy; 1697 in France; 453 in Belgium; 364 in Spain; 177 in Germany; and 1294 in England, America, and other countries. In 1797, when the order was at the height of its glory, it possessed not fewer than 19,816 members.

COAST AND SHORE LINE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE Coast Survey, now progressing, developes very many interesting facts in relation to harbours, shores, and coasts. That portion of the report of Coast Survey, issued on the 12th of July, 1854, gives us our extent of sea-coast on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as follows:

The shore line of the State of Maine, including bays, islands, and all irregularities, 2,486 miles; of New Hampshire, 49; Massachusetts, 886; Rhode Island, 320; Connecticut, 262; New York, 980; New Jersey, 540; Delaware, 118; Maryland, 509; Virginia, 654; North Carolina, 1,641; South Carolina, 756; Georgia, 684; Florida, east coast, 2,474, west coast, 1,562; Alabama, 315; Mississippi, 287; Louisiana, 2,250; Texas, 1,330.

The above figures give the northern Atlantic coast, including that of Maryland, at 6,150 miles; southern Atlantic, from Maryland to the Capes of Florida, 6,200 miles; the Gulf coast, 5,744-total south Atlantic and Gulf, 11,953; total Pacific, from boundary of San Diego to the mouth of Frazer's River, 3,251.

Of the Pacific coast, 1,343 miles are immediately contiguous to the ocean; 483 miles of shore line of bays; 707 miles of shore line from Cape Flattery to Frazer's River; 414 miles of shore line of islands in the Pacific; and 304 miles of shore line of islands from Cape Flattery to Frazer's River.

The area of the slopes of the continent towards the oceans, the lakes, and the Gulf, is as follows: The Pacific slope, 766,002 square miles; Atlantic slope proper, 514,416; Northern Lake region, 112,649; Gulf region, 325,537; Atlantic, Lake, and Gulf, east and west of the Mississippi, 952,602; Mississippi Valley, drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries, 1,217,562; Atlantic, including Northern Lake, 627,065; Mississippi Valley and Gulf, or middle region, 1,543,000. Over two-fifths of the national territory is drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries, and more than one-half is embraced in what may be called its middle region. One-fourth of this total area belongs to the Pacific, one-sixth to the Atlantic proper, one twenty-sixth to the Lakes, one-ninth to the Gulf, or one-third to the Atlantic, including the Lakes and Gulf.

The New Year.

VERY SHORT AND VERY LONG.

VERY SHORT THINGS.

THERE are some things very short, and some things very long. God in his word tells us of both of these, and bids us look at them. And at what time can we think of them more fitly, or make more use of them, than at the close of the year?*

1. Life is very short. God speaks of it as a "shadow" (1 Chron. 29: 15), a "weaver's shuttle" (Job 7:6), a "flower" (Ps. 103:15), a "leaf" (Is. 64:6), a "handbreadth" (Ps. 39:5), a "vapour" (Jas. 4:14), a "sleep" (Ps. 90: 5). Is not life then short? If it be like these, it must be short indeed.

2. Time is very short. It is made up of many lives, yet it is short. The "time is short," says Paul (1 Cor. 7:29), the "world passeth away," says John (1 John 2:17). A few years will end all.

3. The sinner's joy is short. It is but "for a moment," says Job (20: 5), "The fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Cor. 7:31). He may laugh, and dance, and be gay, and take his ease and be merry; but his joy soon comes to an end. It fades away, and leaves nothing behind it but grief.

4. The saint's sorrow is short. It is "but for a moment" (2 Cor. 4:17). It may be heavy, and hard to bear, but it is soon over; and it leaves no shadow behind. When it is done, all is joy for ever.

* It would be well if all the texts that follow were turned up carefully. It would make a good New Year's exercise.

These are some of the things that are very short. They are spoken of by God, that you may think upon them. The New Year bids you think on them. Will you not? Look back at the past year, and look on to the year that is to come,— and let these things that are so short,-so very short,-be looked at in the light of the past and of the coming year.

VERY LONG THINGS.

There are other things that are long,-very long, so long that man cannot count them. They are forever and ever. Let me ask you to think of them also. God bids you think of them.

1. God Himself. He is "from everlasting to everlasting" (Ps. 90:2). His life is throughout all eternity; for He is "the King eternal and immortal" (1 Tim. 1:17). How well for us to have this God for our God,-to have Him for our portion, in such a changing world.

2. God's love. "The mercy of the Lord," says David, "is from everlasting to everlasting" (Ps. 103:17). The love of God changes not. His mercy never His grace never grows old.

dies.

3. The life to come. It is "everlasting life" (John 3:16); there is no death in this life, and no end. He who gets it, gets it for ever and ever.

it be to have ETERNAL life!

What must

4. The saint's joy. At God's right hand are "pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 16:11); the joy which the ransomed of the Lord obtain, is "everlasting joy" (Is. 35:10). How blessed to have joy like this,-joy that shall never end!

5. The sinner's sorrow. It is endless, ENDLESS. The fire is everlasting (Is. 33:14), the torment is "day and night, for ever and ever" (Rev. 20: 10). The darkness is "the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 13). How sad to lie down in such sorrow, to have these everlasting burnings for our home!

This new year bids you think of these things. God asks you to "consider your ways." Will you prefer this world to the world to come? Is sin better than Christ? Are the weeds of earth sweeter than the flowers of Paradise! Time stays not, do not you then stay. Let not sin keep you back from God, and shut you out of heaven. Come, and wash in the open fountain. Come, and get the white robe. Then, whether your days on earth are few or many, it matters not. When the Lord comes, you shall have the joy, and the glory, and

the crown.

H. BONAR.

GEMS.

That which seems to us most contingent and accidental, is often overruled by the Divine Providence to serve its great ends.

Those only are true believers that can find in their hearts to venture for God; and those that by faith take the Lord for their God, take his people for their people, and cast in their lot among them.

Sanctified affliction, like rain after dry weather, lays the dust of passion, softens the soul into resignation, and causes gratitude to spring forth.

Death, to God's people, is but a ferry-boat. Every day and every hour the boat pushes off with some of the saints, and returns for more.

"Sleep," says Sir Thomas Brown, "is so like death, that I dare not commit myself to it without first committing myself to God in prayer."

God is the protector of every Christian in the way of duty.