“Resolved, That it is deeply to be lamented that the Saviour's command, Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest,' has so extensively passed from the minds and hearts of his people, and that this Assembly admonish all its ministers and churches of this neglect, and earnestly exhort them to give attention to it in their private, domestic, social, and public devotions, and that they especially remember it at the monthly concert, as well as at the annual concert of prayer for educational institutions, on the last Thursday of February.

"Resolved, That inasmuch as a large number of Presbyteries have disregarded the urgent recommendation of the last Assembly to forward full reports of their action in reference to ministerial education, this Assembly readopts that recommendation, considering a faithful compliance with it essential to a successful enlistment of the whole Church in this important enterprise.

"Resolved, That it is highly desirable that the subject of the increase of the ministry should be annually presented to the churches on the Sabbath preceding or succeeding the annual concert of prayer for colleges, and that contributions be made on one of the Sabbaths above named, when it will not interfere with or disturb systematic arrangements already adopted.

"Resolved, That it is the conviction of this Assembly that a large and useful increase of the ministry cannot be secured without constant vigilance on the part of the Presbyteries in the introduction of men into the sacred office, in arrangements to direct their efforts and facilitate their settlement, and in holding them to a just responsibility in the discharge of their work, and also without a disposition on the part of the churches to furnish it with an adequate and equitable support.

"Resolved, That the Assembly recommend, as a general principle, that candidates for the ministry, especially those who are connected with churches under the care of our newer and smaller Presbyteries, retain their church and Presbyterial relations unchanged during the progress of their studies.

"Resolved, That the Permanent Committee be directed to publish this annual report, or such portions of it as they may deem advisable."

"ACT OF INCORPORATION.

"An Act to incorporate the Permanent Committee on Education for the Ministry, of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

"The people of the State of New York, as represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

"SEC. 1. John J. Owen, Asa D. Smith, George L. Prentiss, William A. Booth, Joseph B. Sheffield, Jesse W. Benedict, Walter S. Griffith, Anson G. Phelps, William Hogarth, Jonathan F. Stearns, Henry Smith, Harvey Curtis, John Jenkins, William Darling, and William Jessup (designated for the purpose by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which met in Cleveland, Ohio, in May, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven), and their successors in office, are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name of 'The Permanent Committee on Education for the Ministry of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America;' whose duty it shall be to superintend the whole cause of education in behalf of the said General Assembly, as said General Assembly may from time to time direct; also to receive, take charge of, and disburse any property or funds which at any time, and from time to time, may be intrusted to said General Assembly, or said Permanent Committee, for educational purposes.

"SEC. 2. The said corporation shall possess the general powers, and be subject to the provisions contained in title three, of chapter eighteen of the first part of the Revised Statutes, so far as the same are applicable, and have not been repealed or modified.

"SEC. 3. The management and disposition of the affairs and funds of said corporation shall be vested in the individuals named in the first section of this act, and their successors in office, who shall remain in office for such period, and be displaced and succeeded by others, to be elected at such time and in such manner as the said General Assembly shall direct and appoint.

"SEC. 4. The said corporation shall in law be capable of taking, receiving, and holding any real or personal estate which has been or may hereafter be given, devised, or bequeathed to it, or to said General Assembly, for the purposes aforesaid, or which may accrue from the use of the same; but the said corporation shall not take and hold real and personal estate above the sum of two hundred thousand dollars. "SEC. 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

"Passed April 17, 1858."

"APPROVAL BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

"Resolved, That the Assembly approve of the act of incorporation obtained by the Permanent Committee of Education, from the Legisla

ture of New York, and of its acceptance by that committee; and that said committee thus incorporated, is hereby cordially and confidently recommended to such persons as may be disposed to devote property to ministerial education, as a safe and responsible agency for its investment and disbursement."-Minutes, 1858, pp. 597, 598.

4. Report and Resolutions of 1859. Endowment of Scholarships urged. "The committee, therefore, recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of the following resolutions:

"1. That the Assembly has undiminished confidence in the plan for promoting the increase of the ministry, adopted by the Assembly of 1857; the more it is examined, and the better it is understood, the more worthy of confidence does it appear.

“2. That, though the Permanent Committee and their secretary have encountered many embarrassments, in the incipiency of their enterprise, yet, in the judgment of the Assembly, they are doing a great work; and we heartily concur with the two Assemblies last past, in commending them to the favor of the churches.

"3. That the ultimate result towards which we should aim, is the universal adoption of this plan, as soon as practicable, and that it be commended to the favorable notice of all our Presbyteries; and further, that all local societies within our bounds, whose existence seems necessary for the time being, be requested, as far as possible, to adjust themselves to it.

"4. That, in the judgment of this Assembly, no student ought to receive from educational funds a larger appropriation than is contemplated in the plan of the General Assembly; and that ministers, and professors in colleges and seminaries, be requested to discountenance all partiality, and scrupulously adhere to the Assembly's plan in this regard.

"5. That, for this purpose, all Presbyteries and colleges and theological seminaries be requested to send to the Permanent Committee the names of all students under their care who receive aid, with the amount apportioned by them.

"6. That, in order to facilitate the connection of the Permanent Committee with every part of the Church, every Synod be requested to appoint a corresponding member, as a medium of communication between the Committee and the Presbyteries, pastors, and churches.

"7. That the common mode of raising funds for this cause is, at pre

sent, a necessity; but that the perfection of the work, in the judgment of the Assembly, is the endowment of scholarships, held in trust by the Assembly's Committee under its charter; and that anything short of this is liable to affect injuriously the churches and the young men who receive their benefactions.

"8. That we cannot disguise the fact, that no plans or rules can compensate for the want of a livelier interest on this subject in all our churches; which interest would obviate all our difficulties, and silence all complaints in all parts of the Church.

"9. That the Permanent Committee be requested to appeal to the churches to make immediate and special efforts to replenish the general treasury for education; and that they be urged to contribute both for present exigencies and wants, and also for a permanent endowment, that the support of applicants may not depend upon the scanty and uncertain contributions of the Church.

"10. That it is the opinion of this Assembly, that $35,000, which is but little more than twenty-five cents for each member in our churches, is the very least amount that our Church, or its members, ought to be content to raise for this cause during the coming year." -Minutes, 1859, p. 34-36.

5. Committee to revise the Plan, and submit it to the Presbyteries.

"Resolved, 1. That the Permanent Committee continue their work as heretofore; and that they be instructed, at an early day, to revise the present plan of the Assembly, and submit the revised plan to the Presbyteries, with the earnest request that they express their views and wishes concerning it to the Permanent Committee previous to the meeting of the next Assembly; and that Rev. Albert Barnes, D. Howe Allen, D.D., Ezra A. Huntington, D.D., and Henry B. Smith, D.D., be appointed to confer with said committee concerning the revision of the plan.

"Resolved, 2. That this Assembly are gratified to learn that the Permanent Committee have begun to aid students from their own treasury; and that the churches be earnestly requested to replenish that treasury, that the work may go on in a manner worthy of the cause and of the Church at large."-Minutes, 1860, p. 246.

SECTION 7.-THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS.

1. Origin of the committee. The Permanent Committee established.-2. The committee enlarged to twelve, and divided into three classes.-3. Duties of the committee.-4. Formation of Foreign Presbyteries encouraged. The Synod of New York and New Jersey empowered to form and receive such Presbyteries.— 5. Report of 1860. The jubilee year.

1. Origin of the Committee. Permanent Committee established.

[In 1850, the subject of "erection of Presbyteries in foreign lands," was referred to a select committee, to report next year. Minutes, 1850, p. 320. This committee having failed to report, was discharged, and the subject recommitted to a new committee. Minutes, 1851, p. 10. Committee continued, 1852, p. 173; 1853, p. 342. In 1854, the committee reported, viz. :]

"The correspondence with ministers in connection with our Church on foreign missionary ground, laboring under the direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, has been carried out according to the instructions of the General Assembly.

"More than twenty responses have been received, in answer to the committee's circular. These communications are characterized by a thoughtful discrimination, a spirit of sincere regard for our Church, and a desire to secure harmonious and successful action in the prosecution of the missionary work.

"From a careful review of this correspondence, and a consideration of the whole subject, your committee would recommend,

“1. That this Assembly regard it as inexpedient to take any measures, at present, for organizing Presbyteries or churches on foreign missionary ground.

"2. That an annual correspondence be recommended to be kept up between our foreign missionaries and the Presbyteries to which they respectively belong.

"3. That, inasmuch as it has hitherto been found to be impracticable to form distinctive Presbyterian organizations among the converted heathen, and inasmuch as the obstacles which have hitherto existed may possibly be removed by further conference with our foreign missionaries and with the Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. M., a Standing Committee of five ministers shall be appointed, who shall take charge of