posed College, and in the said Branch School, or either of them— have, by an instrument in writing, under their respective seals, renounced all connection with, and claim upon this Seminary, which the said Branch School, by reason of any matter or thing heretofore said or done by, or on behalf of this Seminary, may, might, or could have had, or hereafter have, with or upon this Seminary; subject to this condition, that this Seminary shall cause the sum of eight thousand dollars to be appropriated towards the permanent endowment of the proposed College at Geneva, or shall secure to the use and benefit of said College, the payment of the yearly interest of the said sum perpetually, and payable half-yearly, at the rate of six per cent. per

annum.

And whereas, the Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learning in the State of New-York have agreed to advance the sum of eight thousand dollars, or secure the annual interest thereof, if the Trustees of this Seminary shall effect an arrangement with the Professors, Trustees, and others interested in the said Branch School, by which all connexion with, and claims upon this Seminary, shall be for ever renounced by the said Branch School, provided an equivalent be given by this Seminary to the said Society in Scholarships; therefore,

Resolved, that if the said "Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning in the State of New-York," shall and do, for and on behalf of this Seminary, advance the said sum of eight thousand dollars, to be appropriated towards the permanent endowment of the said proposed College at Geneva; or shall and do, for and on behalf of this same Seminary, secure to the use and benefit of the said College, the payment of the interest of the said sum perpetually, and payable half-yearly, at the rate of six per cent.-and if, upon such advance or security, all the parties who have executed the above mentioned instrument, shall and do ratify and confirm the same fully and unconditionally-then, and from thenceforth, the Trustees of the said "Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning," shall be entitled to four Scholarships in this Seminary, with all the rights and privileges given and granted, or intended to be given and granted, to the founders of Scholarships, under and by virtue of the third Section of the third Chapter of the Statutes of this Seminary; subject, however, to such general regulations, not inconsistent with the rights of founders, which this Seminary may hereafter make in regard to Scholarships.

Resolved further, that so soon as the above mentioned sum of eight thousand dollars, or the interest thereof, shall be advanced or secured as above mentioned,-the said branch school at Geneva, shall be, and the same is hereby abolished.

The report to the Finance Committee, of the Rev. Robert B. Croes, an agent for collecting funds for this Seminary, was read; whereupon it was

Resolved, that the thanks of this Board be presented to the Rev. Robert B. Croes, for the zeal and ability with which he has performed the duties of an agent for this Institution.

Resolved, that the four Bishops present be a Committee to inquire into, and report the best methods of further increasing the funds of this Seminary.

The Right Rev. Bishops, who were appointed a committee to inquire into and report the best methods of further increasing the funds of this Seminary, reported, that it would be eligible to employ one agent for this business, and recommended the Rev. Robert B. Croes to be the said agent; and this report and recommendation were adopted by this Board.

A resolution of the Standing Committee on the subject of erecting buildings, and a communication from South-Carolina on the same subject, being under consideration, it was, on motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Kemper,

Resolved unanimously, that it is expedient to erect, on the ground conveyed to certain Trustees for this Institution by Clement C. Moore, Esq., a suitable building or buildings for its accommodation.

Resolved, that a Committee of five be appointed to report the proper measures for carrying the preceding resolution into effect:

And Bishop Kemp, Bishop Croes, Mr. Ogden, Mr. Lorillard, and Mr. Eccleston, were appointed said Committee.

This Committee reported the following resolutions, which on motion of Bishop Croes, were unanimously accepted and passed.

Resolved, That the Standing Committee be authorized to take measures for the collection of contributions for the erection of buildings for the accommodation of the Professors and Students, and other purposes of this Seminary, on the land conveyed to the use of the Seminary, by Clement C. Moore, Esq. which contributions shall constitute a separate fund, to be denominated the " Building Fund."

Resolved, That the Agent lately appointed to collect funds for the use of the institution, be authorized, on the requisition of the Standing Committee, to solicit and receive contributions towards the erection of the said buildings, which contributions shall be entered on a separate subscription book, and the amount thereof shall be carried to the credit of the building fund by the Treasurer.

Resolved, That as soon as the building fund shall amount to ten thousand dollars, a similar amount out of the general funds of the Seminary be appropriated in aid of, and placed to the credit of the said fund; after which, the rent of the buildings which may be required for the temporary accommodation of the Professors and Students, shall be a charge on the building fund.

Resolved, That the Standing Committee be authorized, whenever the building fund, exclusive of the above appropriation, shall amount to ten thousand dollars, to proceed in the erection of the said buildings, and upon such scale of expenditure as shall be commensurate with the means secured, so that no more than ten thousand dollars be, in any event, drawn from the general funds of the Seminary.

The instrument by which Clement C. Moore, Esq. conveyed to certain trustees, for the use of the Seminary, certain lots of ground at Greenwich, was read:

Whereupon, it was resolved, that the same be referred to the Standing Committee, to take measures for the vesting of the title of the said land in this Seminary; Also,

On motion of the Rev. J. Croes, jun. resolved, that the thanks of the Board of Trustees of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, be presented to Clement C. Moore, Esq., for the very valuable and munificent donation of land which he has made for the use of the said Seminary.

On motion of the Rev. Professor M'Vickar, resolved, that so much of the report of the faculty of this Seminary as relates to the evil arising from the short term of residence of the students, be printed; and that a copy of the same be transmitted to each of the bishops, with the respectful request of this board, that they will take the subject under their consideration, and adopt such measures as they may deem expedient to remedy the same.

On motion of the Rev. Dr. Milnor, resolved, that the resolution appointing the Rev. Robert B. Croes an agent for collections, shall be understood as appointing him the sole agent at present, but not as restricting the Standing Committee from making such other auxiliary arrange. ments in relation thereto, as circumstances in their opinion may require.

On motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp, resolved, that the agent for collecting funds be instructed, with the permission of the rectors or ministers, to preach sermons in all places where he may deem it useful; in order to explain the situation, character, and objects of this Seminary, with a view to induce the friends of the Church to contribute to its support.

On motion of Bishop Kemp, seconded by the Rev. George Boyd, resolved, that the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary deem it their duty to express the high gratification they have enjoyed, in attending the examination and exercises of the Students. [Two or three other resolutions were adopted, which we are obliged to omit.]

On motion of the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, seconded by Mr. Kean, resolved, that the thanks of this board be presented to the venerable President for his address delivered this day at the commencement; and that a copy of the same be requested.for publication.

* Extract from the report of the Faculty referred to in this resolution. "The Professors are aware, that the number of pupils belonging to the Seminary is small, compared with the whole number of candidates for holy orders. They regret that the want of pecuniary aid obliges so many Students of Theolo. gy to content themselves with a private education, or to resort to other Seminaries better endowed than their own. They hope that it will not be considered as indecorous, if they suggest the great benefit which would accrue to the cause of religion and of our church, if the larger and more wealthy of our congrega. tions were to support one Student annually at the Seminary. They hope, too, that experience will justify them in expressing the opinion, that to extend the term of candidateship from one year, as now required by the canons, to three, would promote, in a very high degree, the interests of the Seminary. For it is a fact, that but a few young men can be induced to spend three years in the Semi. nary, if there is a probability of their receiving orders after a shorter term of probation, and hence it is that our first classes and our second, at the close of the Second session, are so small."

THE

GOSPEL ADVOCATE.

No. 47.]

NOVEMBER, 1824. [No. 1. Vol. IV.

THEOLOGICAL.

[We publish the following communication with the greater pleasure, because it exhibits the edifying and exemplary character of a Congregational minister of former days. Our readers will see that in substance the same faith then cheered and supported the pious Congregationalist which now cheers and supports the pious Churchman. They will see, in this example, the same regard paid to the Christian ordinance of baptism, which has of late years been so un appily considered as fixing upon Churchmen the stigma of formalism. They will see, in fact, nothing wanting to complete the character of ** a dying pastor," but that which we can never consider as unimportant— authority to minister in Christ's church, derived from Christ, through the instrumentality of apostolick ordination.]

TH E EDITOR OF THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE.

ON THE DEATH OF A CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER.

THERE is po spectacle more interesting and full of instruction than the death-bed of a Christian, who, with a sound mind and quiet conscience, can look without dismay on the prospect before him, and welcome with joy the messenger of God who brings the solemn warning, "Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live." This is the most trying moment in the life of man. It is a moment, too, which we all know must sooner or later come; and even to many who have spent a long life in preparation for the event, it is a moment of doubt and gloom. The separation of soul and body; the dark valley of death through which they are about to pass, and the untried world beyond its confines, rush upon the mind, and trembling hope would fail, but for the bright beams of faith which light their way to the footstool of redeeming love.

If in that dread hour the soul of the pious Christian is sometimes cast down and disquieted within him; how unspeakably wretched must be the condition of him who has lived a life of sin without any sense of guilt leading him to repentance! whose daily provocations against God have been attended with no remorse, and whose conscience till that awful moment had been seared as with a hot iron!

Whoever has witnessed the horrour and despair of a sinner stretched on the bed of death, but clinging to life as the only chance left of making his peace with heaven; and has seen the joyful hope and steadfast faith in which a pious saint is ready to yield up his soul to 42 GOSPEL ADVOCATE, VOL. IV.

:

God; will never think the labour and watchfulness of a whole life too great a price for the choice of alternatives for this is the time when death, judgment, and eternity are brought home to the door, and crowding all at once on a mind never accustomed to the contemplation of them, fill it with perplexity and dismay. A state little adapted to the deliberate consideration of a subject so infinitely surpassing all others in magnitude, that Christ himself pronounced it, "The one thing needful."

The records handed down to us of holy martyrs suffering for their faith, and the triumph with which they braved death rather than renounce a crucified Saviour, should encourage those who profess the like precious faith, to persevere; for, although we are not now hurried away to the block of the executioner, nor to the fires kindled by fanaticism, yet death still reigns; and his approaches, in whatever form they are made, will bring it to the test, and we shall then rejoice in its strength, or shudder for its weakness. We need not go back to the days of martyrdom to prove the efficacy of faith, and its strong support in the most trying scenes; for none can be more trying than that which disunites the soul from the body, and fixes our doom throughout eternity. Such examples may be found in our own time and country; where, blessed be God, persecution is now unknown; where the Puritan and the Churchman may both worship without annoyance, and each sit unmolested under his own vine; where the Arian may inculcate liberal principles, and the Baptist close the door of communion against any but his own sect. Even here, where universal toleration prevails, we may witness that a good life, built upon the foundation of a right faith, will enable us to hail death, though he be indeed the " king of terrours" to the wicked, as a welcome messenger who enters our windows to conduct us to that rest which remaineth for the people of God.

It was but a few weeks since, that I paid my last visit to a venerable clergyman of the congregational order, who had attained his ninetyfourth year, and been almost sixty-nine of them a settled minister. Notwithstanding his great age, his health was good till within a week of his death, and his memory and powers of mind perfect to the last. He was the pastor of a congregation to which my father belonged, and it was on his ministry that I also attended from infancy to manhood.

I love to cherish the remembrance of kind treatment, and Christian advice received from him while a boy at school, and a resident in his family; and I dwell with delight on the strong attachment and mutual confidence that subsisted between him and my father, till death severed the tie which for many years united them in the closest friendship. Soon after attaining that period of life when men ought to think and judge for themselves in matters of religion, I withdrew from the ministry of this good man, and united with the Episcopal Church; and I now record it with pleasure, as an evidence of his Christian spirit, that no difference in his manner, or abatement of his kindness was ever observable in consequence of it; but, when we met, as was