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"Agreeably to an arrangement of the Faculty, under the eighth chapter of the statutes, the studies connected with the Professorship of the Nature, Ministry, and Polity of the Church, have been confined to the first class, which attended the Professor once in each week, during the first session. Since the commencement of the present session, they have attended twice a week, and will continue to do so through the year. They have recited Potter on Church Government, and the first seven books of Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity; and are now engaged in Barrow's Treatise on the Pope's Supremacy, Several valuable works connected with the subjects of this Professorship, which time would not allow to be recited, have been noticed and recommended to the perusal of the students; particularly Slater's Original Draught of the Primitive Church, and the Letters of Mr. Law to the Bishop of Bangor, in the Scholar Armed. The Professor has, also, from time to time, added such farther illustrations of the several subjects as he thought might lead to a better understanding of them; often with a particular reference to the system of Ecclesiastical Polity adopted in our own Church.

"The Trustees having, at their last meeting, at the request of this Professor, grounded on the claims of his parochial connexion, excused him from the duties of the department of Ecclesiastical History; they have been discharged by Professors Turner and Wilson.

BENJAMIN T. ONDERDONK, Professor of the
Nature, Ministry, and Polity of the Church."

""The Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature begs leave respectfully to report, that during the first session, which commenced in November last, he was attended by the students of the second and third classes. The second class recited twice in each week; and in the course of the session, read in the original, and translated into English, the nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first, and twenty-second Psalms; the first, sixth, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, fiftythird, and sixtieth chapters of Isaiah, and the first nine chapters of the book of Job. Beside which, other parts of the Hebrew Bible were, with the assistance of the Professor, occasionally translated, without having been previously studied. During the course of the recitations, the attention of the students was carefully directed to the characteristic force and beauties of the Hebrew Language, as well as to the vast difference between the ideas excited in the mind by translations, and the vivid pictures presented to the intellectual view by the original.

"The students of the third class, during the first session, attended the recitations in the Hebrew three times in a week; and since the commencement of the second session, they have attended but twice in each week. They commenced their studies with the Hebrew Grammar, and soon proceeded to read and translate the Psalter. They have gone over the first twenty-two Psalms, and the first, sixth, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifty-third chapters of Isaiah. In the course of these recitations, the minute

rules of grammar have been continually pointed out, and questions upon them again and again repeated, as occasions occurred for the application of them. This class has also read with the Professor, and without previous study, several chapters in Genesis.

"In both classes, a part of the business of most of the recitations has been, to repeat some portion of what had previously been recited. So that, while the students have been gradually extending their stock of acquirements, they have been continually impressing on their minds what they had already learned.'

"It was thought advisable that those who commenced their Hebrew studies in the Seminary, should begin to translate the more difficult books of the Old Testament; because, the time allotted by the statutes being too short for a complete course, it seemed best that they should have the assistance of the Professor in those parts where they were most likely to meet with impediments in their progress.

"It has been the aim of the Professor to conduct his course of instruction in such a manner as to give to the recitations in his de partment the character of friendly and familiar conversations; and to afford the students every encouragement to state, without reserve, whatever they found difficult or embarrassing, and to offer freely the thoughts which presented themselves to their minds, in the persuasion that more may be learned by unreserved communications, than by formal lectures; and that the lively and unbiassed intellects of youth may sometimes produce combinations of ideas, from which even veterans in literature may derive advantage.

66

CLEMENT C. MOORE,

"Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature."

Agreeably to the order of attendance established by the Faculty, the Professor of the Evidences of Revealed Religion, and of Moral Science in its Relations to Theology, was not to commence instruction in his department until the second session, which began after the Easter recess. Owing, however, to unavoidable absence from the city, he has but just entered on his duties, and, consequently, has no report to make.

"The Faculty feel great pleasure in being able to state the satisfaction afforded them by the spirit and success with which the studies and exercises of their respective departments have been prosecuted by those students of the Seminary who have not been impeded by ill health, or other unavoidable causes. This remark is especially applicable to the department of Oriental and Greek Literature, as most young men feel an aversion to the difficulty of learning the Hebrew language, the whole structure of which, as well as every word, and every character, is totally different from any thing to which they have ever been accustomed; and in the acquirement of which, they are obliged, at first, to resume the elementary lessons of childhood.

"At the same time, the Faculty feel still higher gratification in

the reason they have to hope, that the industry of the students in the prosecution of their studies, is not only with a view to their advancement in theological science, and their respectable standing in a learned profession, but principally with the hope of being thereby better qualified to advance the glory of God, promote the great interests of his Church, and be humble instruments in the salvation of their fellow men.

"The Faculty, therefore, encouraged by the opportunity which they have of becoming acquainted with the characters, talents, and acquirements of the students, beg leave to congratulate the Trustees on the prospect of the great good to the cause of religion and the Church, which may be anticipated from the future services of those whom the Institution under their protection is engaged in preparing for the ministry.

"In conclusion, the Faculty solicit the prayers of their fellow members of the Church, that in all the doings of this Institution, it may be directed with God's most gracious favour, and furthered with his continual help, for his sake to whose honour and glory it is devoted, Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer.

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We observe that one of the statutes provides as follows.

"As mere theological learning, unaccompanied with real piety, is not a sufficient qualification for the ministry, it is declared to be the duty of every student, with an humble reliance on Divine grace, to be assiduous in the cultivation of evangelical faith, and a sound practical piety; neither contenting himself with mere formality, nor running into fanaticism. He must be careful to maintain, every day, stated periods of pious reading, méditation, and devotion; and occasional special seasons for the more solemn and enlarged observance of these duties, together with that of such abstinence as is suited to extraordinary acts of devotion, having due regard to the days and seasons recommended for this purpose by the Church. In order to excite just views of the nature, responsibilities, and obligations of the clerical office, he should frequently and carefully read over the services for the ordination of Deacons and Priests, with a view of making their contents the subjects of serious reflection, and an incitement to fervent prayer, that, if admitted to either of those offices, he may have grace to be faithful in the discharge of its duties. He must be regular in attendance on the public service of the Church, not only on Sundays, but also, as his studies and other duties will admit, on holy-days and prayerdays. Sundays, in particular, he should consider as devoted, except the portions of them occupied in the stated services of the Church, to the private use of means for his advancement in Christian knowledge and piety. And with a view to the promotion of the same great object, it shall be the duty of the Professors to commence their respective lectures or recitations with an office of

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devotion appointed for the purpose, and to incorporate with their instructions, as opportunity is afforded, such advice and directions as may tend to the religious improvement of the students, and to their proper view of the true character and weighty obligations of the Gospel ministry." Constitution, p. 15.

We are happy to find from the above extract that provision is made for the important union of study and devotion, for cherishing not merely the ardour of the theological student, but the humble and fervent piety of the candidate for that ministry which devotes all human talents, and faculties, and attainments, to" serve God for the promoting of his glory and the salvation of the souls of men."

It certainly would be cause of great surprise and regret, if an institution which is thus organized, and which if it continues as it has commenced, will furnish the Episcopal Church with a clergy inferior to those of no other church, in all the qualifications which will render them apt to teach, and meet for the ministry, should not excite the solicitous hopes, and engage the active exertions of the bishops and the clergy, and the laity of that Church. That it does thus excite and occupy their hopes and exertions is evident from the following extracts from a report of a committee to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the General Convention, and from the Annual Resolutions passed by the House of Bishops.

"With respect to the mode of education pursued in the Seminary, your Committee refer the House, with great satisfaction, to the able and luminous report of the Faculty, embodied in the report of the Trustees to the Convention. The course pursued is, in the opinion of your Committee, expanded and liberal in its character, well fitted to render the students able ministers of the New Testament, and to train them up in religious habits, as well as in sound learning."

"Your Committee cannot but contemplate with pleasure the delightful prospect of having a General Seminary, whither, like the temple at Jerusalem, the tribes of the Lord will go up to testify unto Israel; and they anticipate, with full confidence, that happy period, when the north and the south will give up, and the east and the west will not keep back." Journals, &c. p. 50.

"Resolved, That this House [House of Bishops] entertain a gratifying sense of the fidelity with which the Trustees and the Faculty of the General Theological Seminary have executed the trust committed to them, and respectively fulfilled the duties of their appointment; and while they deeply regret that no other provision than such as is yet inadequate to the permanent success of the design, has hitherto been obtained for it, of the members of our Church, they still contemplate it with hope, and affectionately commend it to the liberality and patronage of their brethren, both of the Clergy and of the Laity, as a means of increase to the number of well qualified ministers of the Gospel in this Church.

Resolved, further, as the opinion of this House, that the General Theological Seminary, having been established by the whole body of this Church, in General Convention, seems peculiarly to demand the concurrent solicitudes and exertions to be concentered on it, of all its members; inasmuch as this institution, when possessing the combined and efficient support of the whole Church, must be the most effectual means, under Providence, of perpetuating the unity of the Church in the bond of peace." Journals, &c. p. 63.

The following resolution was passed in September last, by the standing Committee of the Trustees of the Seminary.

"Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee, that the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, from its character as established by the authority of the Church, and under the control of the same; from the importance of its design, which is to provide for the whole Church a pious, learned and orthodox ministry; and from the state of its funds, which are inadequate to even its present limited exigencies, is peculiarly entitled to the patronage of all those benevolent individuals who take an interest in the prosperity of the American Church :-and that the Secretary be directed to furnish official copies of this Resolution, under the seal of the Seminary, to the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, to be used by him as he may judge expedient."

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It appears that a Pastoral Letter is published at every General Convention, by the Bishops. From that published in May last we make the following extracts.

"In our former Pastoral Letters, we have freely delivered our opinions on the various points which were considered by us, at the several times, as the most interesting to our communion. They are still held by us in the same grade of importance: but at present, we rather refer to those addresses, as records of the sentiments which we are still desirous of sustaining, and of impressing on the minds of all degrees of persons within our Church; in order that we may, at this time, invite your attention to two institutions, which were matured and solemnly established by the late special Convention, held in the autumn of the year 1821. We mean the Theological Semmary located in the city of New York, and the Society for Domestic and Foreign Missions, the seat of which is the city of Philadelphia.

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Although our more immediate motive to the combining of the two institutions in this address, is, their being coincident in regard to the period of their respective organization; yet we also consider them as having a bearing on one another. The Theological Seminary may be expected to increase the number of labourers in the Lord's vineyard; and it is owing to deficiency in this particular, added to there being so many destitute congregations in the long settled states, that so few have felt the calls of religious ardour, or conceived of it as a duty, to give their personal agency in extending the influence of religion over states recently organized and

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