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5. The Charleston Female Scholarship, founded by the Congregational and Presbyterian Female Associations of Charleston, for assisting in the education of pious youth for the Gospel Ministry.

CHAPTER V.

OF RESOLUTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO DIRECTORS, AGENTS, AND OTHERS.

Sect. 1. YOUR Committee further report, that in their opinion the Agents should be in1814. structed to use their utmost exertions to promote the formation of Societies, for the accomplishment of the views of the Assembly on this important subject.

Sect. 2. Resolved, that the pulpits of the Agents, 1815. when they are prosecuting the business of their Agency, be supplied, when necessary, at the expense of the Assembly; and that the necessary expenses of the Agents, while performing the service assigned to them above be defrayed from what they may collect.

1815.

Sect. 3. Resolved, that it be, and hereby is again, enjoined on all the former and present Agents, to transmit to the Rev. John M'Dowel of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, Secretary to the Board of Directors, an accurate list of the names of the Donors to the Institution, with the sums or books which they may have given, that they may be recorded in the book kept for that purpose.

Resolved, further, that if any of the Agents should decline their appointment, the Board of Directors may, on receiving information thereof, appoint some other persons in their place, until the meeting of the next Assembly.

Sect. 4. Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is, made the duty of the agents appointed to 1816. solicit contributions to the Theological Seminary, to lay an account of the expenses attending that business before the Assembly, in order that the Treasurer may be authorized to pay the accounts, when approved by the Assembly.

Sect. 5. Resolved, That the Directors of the Theological Seminary be authorized to have 1815. printed, when they may think it expedient, a correct copy of the Plan of said Seminary; together with such other information relating to the Seminary as may appear to them important to be communicated to the public.

Sect. 6. Resolved, That this Assembly renew the recommendation of the last Assembly 1818. to Presbyteries and Students, that the

course of study prescribed by the Plan of the Seminary be in every case completed.

1817.

Sect. 7. Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary be authorized to fill up any vacancies that may be occasioned by the failure of agents appointed by the Assembly; and, in case they hear of unoccupied ground were there is a prospect of obtaining aid, they have the power of appointing agents for such places.

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Sect. 8. Resolved, * That the Board of Directors take measures to procure and have published, in such man1818. ner as they shall think best, the names of the Donors to the Seminary, and of the charitable institutions that have in any manner contributed to the support of the institution.

Sect. 9. Resolved,

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That the Directors of the Theological Seminary be charged with preparing and publishing, 1818. as soon as they may find it practicable, such statement in regard to the establishment and present state and circumstances of the Seminary, as shall be calculated to give full and correct information in regard to it; and that they furnish the agents to be appointed to solicit donations and contributions for the Seminary with a sufficient number of copies of this statement; and that the Directors also take the most effectual measures in their power to diffuse generally in the various parts of our country, the information contemplated by this order.

PART X.

OF MINISTERS

AND

MISSIONARIES.

Sect. 1. Ministers should be supported. WITH pain we have heard, that in some parts of our church the disposition to support the gospel ministry is becoming cold. We lament this appearance the more, because we learn that there is no backwardness to advance money for objects, which, though laudable in themselves, are subordinate in importance to the preaching of the word. We trust that our people possess too much good sense, and too much respect for the God who made and redeemed them, to listen to the dreams of men who neither know what they say, nor whereof they affirm. These do not hesitate to libel an ordinance of the living God, to promote ir selfish views, their degrading, prejudices.

has said, whosoever serveth at the altar, shall 1815f the altar. But these say no-the ministry

must be kept in want, that they may be kept humble. We fervently wish that the men who thus act towards the ministry would, to be consistent, apply their reasonings to themselves. We do not hesitate to say, that the profession of religion which is connected with a disposition to abridge the means of supporting the gospel, is, at best, suspicious. Men who do so, practically say, we love our bodies more than our souls; our temporal substance more than an eternal inheritance. It is among the foulest blots on the christian name, that, in so many instances, the confession is made of the heart being opened to receive the truth in the love of it, whilst at the same time great reluctance is displayed in giving worldly substance, for the service of Him who alone changes the heart. One of the best evidences of the power of religion, is an increase of liberality in relation to all those objects, which regard the salvation of souls and the prosperity of Zion. We hope that they who have in this respect gone back, will without delay retrace their steps, and redeem their name from reproach or suspicion.*

Sect. 2. Diligence in discharge of pastoral duties enjoined by the Assembly, in 1811.

See Part III. Chap. II. Sect. 21. No. 4.

Sect. 3. Ministers should persuade their peo

* An extract from the narative on the state of religion for 1811.

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