Hope branch, and Mount Hope is also vacant. Thus our vacancies are increasing far beyond our power to supply them with preaching.

Presbytery voted to request Synod to explain the meaning of our Standards on the singing of fugue and repeating tunes in our worshiping assemblies. This question is suggested in reference to a difficulty in one of our churches on the subject, and an explicit answer would be of some utility in our bounds.

دو

The state of religion in our bounds presents nothing unusual--some things there are encouraging and some discouraging, and still we feel that we may, "thank God and take courage. Our churches are at peace and our lives have been spared. By order of the WILSON BLAIN, Mod. J. F. KERR, Pres'y clerk.

Presbytery.

Done at Centerville,

Michigan, Sep. 2d, 1844.

Read two communications from the Clerk of the 1st Ass. Ref. Synod of the West, communicating some information relative to the transactions of that Synod respecting the Home Missionary Fund, & the acceptance of Dr. Paulding's tender of himself to be an Associate Missionary with Mr. Barnett.

Read a paper from members of New Zion congregation denominated an apology &c. Messers. John Graham and John M. Gordon came in and took their seats.

Read the report of the Presbytery of Chillicothe as follows:

To the Second Synod of the West to meet at Oxford Ohio, on the 2d Wednesday of October 1844, the Presbytery of Chillicothe

REPORT:

That the situation of our congregations, settled and vacant with the exception of Chillicothe, continues for any thing we can discover, without material change since our last report to Synod. Outward attention at least. to word and ordinances, is still encouragingly good. And additions of greater or less numbers to our membership are made from time to time we trust of "such as shall be saved." And though we have reason to lament the existence of too much lukewarmness and formality among professors in our connection; yet we hope the evidences of practical religion and of vital godliness are not wanting in our congregations, any more than among professors of other parts of our own, or other churches.

At a pro re nata meeting of Presbytery held at Cherry Fork in June last the Rev. Henry H. Johnson asked and received a certificate of standing and dismission to join the Presbytery of Illinois, at least for the present; under the impression, that having been placed by the General Synod for so long a time, within their bounds, it would be most convenient to have his Presbyterial connection with them.

A gur present meeting commenced at Russelville on the 30th In:

stant, a call regularly made out by the Chillicothe congregation for the Rev. W. T. Findley of the 2d Presbytery of Ohio was handed in to us. It was sustained as regular and presented to Mr. Findley, who had just been received as a member with us, on the certificate of Testimonials from his former Presbytery. The call was by him accepted; and thus has one of our vacancies obtained the stated administration of word and ordinances, and a member that we trust will be both acceptable and useful amongst us been added to our Presbyterial numbers.

At our present meeting also Mr. Alexander McClenahan, a recent graduate of Miami University was received as a student under our care and was directed to attend our Theological Seminary at the coming session. He is considered a youth of promise, and it is hoped will be in due time an important accession to the ministry of our Church. All which is respectfully submitted, by order of Presbytery: JAMES CASKEY, Mod.

Done at Russelville,

this 2d day of Sep. 1844.

Read a petition from Dayton O.
Took a recess for fifteen minutes.

JOHN GRAHAM, clerk.

The recess ended and the Synod came to order.

The Moderator nominated on the Committee of Overtures, Messrs. Samuel W. McCracken, James Arbuthnot, John Reynolds, James F. Sawyer, Jeremiah Morrow, and R. C. Stewart, who were appointed.

On motion of Messrs. John Graham and Mayne,

Resolved, That the hours of meeting shall be 9 o'clock in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, and the hours of adjournment 12 M. and 5 P. M.

The petition from Dayton and the unfinished business on the reference at last meeting from the Springfield Presbytery, were referred to the Committee of Overtures.

The reference of the Michigan Presbytery together with the paper from New Zion were referred to the same Committee; with instructions to bring in a special report on the latter.

On motion of Messrs. Pressly and Mayne, Dr. Macdill was added to the Committee to act with it on the special matters

referred.

Adjourned. Closed with prayer.

Oct. 10th. 9 o'clock, A. M.

Synod met. Opened with prayer. Members generally pres ent as yesterday.

Mr. Barnett being present nis name was added to the roll.

Read and corrected the minutes of yesterday. The Moderator announced the following names as members of Committees:

On the Committee of Correspondence-John Graham and Robert Stewart.

On the Committe of Accounts-William M. Boyse and Robert Reid.

On the Committee of Revision-John N. Pressly and John M. Graham.

Committee to examine the minutes of the first Presbytery of Ohio---William Lind and Hugh Mayne.

To examine the minutes of the Presbytery of Ia.---James Prestley and Alexander Fairly.

To examine the minutes of the Presbytery of Chillicothe James Morrow and John H. Bonner.

To examine the minutes of the Springfield Presbytery Saml. C. Baldridge and Alexander Innis.

To examine the minutes of the first Presbytery of Illi-. nois---Dr. Macdill and James McCracken.

To examine the minutes of the Presbytery of Michigan ---John M. Gordon and Thomas Robison.

Read a memorial from the first Presbytery of Ohio on the subject of a Grammar school.

Read the report of the Presbytery of Indiana, which is as follows:

To the Second Synod of the West to meet at Oxford on the 9th of October 1844, the Presbytery of Indiana

REPORT:

That their congregations settled and vacant are generally on the

helped us."---A reference to cur statistical table will show the facts.--We would earnestly request Synod to take energetic measures for the extension of the gospel within our bounds, by means of Home Missions, in the neighborhood of Vienna, Mud Creek, Indianapolis, Greensburgh, Bethel, Carmi, &c.

Whilst we rejoice, we have reason also for humility. Prevailing diseases have deprived us of some of the most efficient and valuable members, and our sessions, and Presbytery, have not been able to keep altogether clear of exercising the rod of discipline. But we thank the Head of the church that we are not without hope, that the rod has been used so as to promote, "edification and not destruction."

At our meeting at Richland in May we received and approved as a specimen, a discourse from Mr. Millan, and also at New Zion on the 2d inst. we received and approved a critical exercise. These have been considered by Presbytery very creditable and promising pieces of trial for licensure, and Presbytery have proceeded to assign Mr. Millan subjects for a lecture and a popular discourse, in order to his being licensed next Spring.

At our meeting at New Zion we received a memorial from Rev. H. Mayne stating that he cannot entertain any hope of being again actively employed as a preacher of the Gospel, and requesting us to grant him our usual indulgence, which we have accordingly done by appointing him to preach in our stations and vacancies as may be convenient to him. He also brought to our notice that he has made arrangements for a good permanent Academy or Grammar school. In this subject Presbytery thought they ought to take a deep interest. A resolution was accordingly passed recommending the institution to the patronage of our churches, and a committee was appointed to prepare a prospectus for publication. We have no desire to interfere with any other institution of the kind; which may be patronized in any other section of the church; but considering Mr. Mayne's proposed course of instruction, and that he intends to devote to it the remainder of his life, we hope Synod will not think that we take too high,ground when we venture to recommend the above institution to public patronage, and especially to the patronage of the Associate Reformed church. May grace, peace and mercy be with you.

Done at Oxford, O.

Oct. 10th, 1844.

W. TURNER, Mod.
JAMES WORTH, clerk.

The Treasurer handed in his report which was read.

Read the report of the Committee of Superintendents of the Theological Seminary, viz:

To the Second Synod of the West now in session, The Superintendents of the Theological Seminary,

REPORT;

That at the appointed time they met at Oxford, all the members being present except Mr. Sawyer, and attended to the examination

of the students on the several subjects of their studies during the past session, and have the pleasure to state that the students acquit ted themselves to the satisfaction of the Board. We are sorry to inform Synod, that the Professor labored under very serious indisposition through a great part of the session, which must have rendered his attention to the business of his station exceedingly wearisome, and painful to himself: but yet we are rejoiced to state that during all the prescribed time except one week at the commencement of the session, he gave the usual amount of instruction, which to say the least was as much as we could have expected of a man in vigorous health. Though the number of students is not great, we trust that the arduous labors of our Professor have not been expended in vain. A paper accompanying this report, laid before the superintendents, by the Professor will show the manner in which the Professor and students were employed during the session. We believe the Synod have reason and encouragement to cherish the Theological Seminary. The library appears to be in a good condition; and we hope that our people will liberally contribute to its enlargement from time to time. All which is respectfully submitted.

Oxford, Oct. 9th, 1844.

JOHN REYNOLDS,

JOHN N. PRESSLY.

The paper referred to in the above report is as follows: To the Superintendents of the Theological Seminary, Oxford, Ohio: In consequence of the indisposition of the Professor, the session did not open till a week after the time appointed, since which its operations have gone on without interruption.

The following students have been in attendance:

Of the 4th year---Andrew M. Foster,
Of the 3d year---M. M. Brown,
Of the 2d year---Geo. W. Gowdy,
Samuel Millen, James P. Wright,
Of the 1st year---Henry Allen,

John N. Wampler, Gen. Ass. Pres.

Ass. Ref. Church.

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66

66

46

66

Towards the close of the session Mr. Williamson was admitted to the studies of the class, and has for a few weeks attended the exercises in Greek and Hebrew.

The health of Mr. Brown failed him about the last of January, since which time, with the consent and by the advice of the Professor, his attendance has been only partial. The application of the students has been assiduous, and their attendance punctual, and regular. They have accomplished an unusual amount of writing in the way of Exegesis, and Theological essays. Besides these, and besides discourses, the students of the 2d and 3d read each a historical essay in public.

Mr. Brown on the life, character, and influence of Calvin,
Mr. Gowdy, on the Puritans.

Mr. Millen, on the Huguenots.