John Neil was released from the Mahoning branch of his charge, and his whole time equally divided between Slippery Rock and Mt, Jackson, At the same meeting, Mr, R. W. Oliver, a probationer, was received under our care, ou certificate, from Monongahela Presbytery.

At a called meeting, held in Butler, on the 10th of July ́ult,, a call was presented from the congregations of Bear Creek, Varnum and Lawrenceburgh, addressed to Mr, R, W, Oliver: also, a call from Sunbury, addressed to Rev, W, P, Breaden, for the unsettled third of his time. These calls being sustained, and presented to the persons, to whom they were respectively addressed, were by them accepted. Pieces of trial, for ordination were assigned to Mr. Oliver, which he delivered to the satisfaction of Presbytery, at a meeting in Hartstown, on the 4th ult.

On Wednesday, tha 25th ult., Mr. Breaden was installed in Sunbury, by a Committee of Presbytery; and on the next day Presbytery met in Varnum, at which time and place, Mr. Oliver was ordained and installed pastor of the united congregations of Bear creek, Varnum and Lawrenceburgh.

All our congregations have paid their proportion of the sum to be raised by us, for the support of domestic missions, except Mercer congregation, which, we are informed, will soon forward its contri

At our meeting, held in Mercer, on the 7th of November last, Prest bytery, in answer to a question of order, put by a member, decided that church courts are not absolutely under the necessity of censure po ing prosecutors in every instance, who may fail to prove the charges which they bring; but that the power to censure is discretionary, and to be exercised by courts, when, in their judgment, it is right from the nature of cases and the conduct of prosecutors.

From this decision, Rev. Messrs. Niblock and Neil appeal to your body; and, at Varnum, on the 26th ult., they signified to us their intention to prosecute their appeal. A.

Of the state of religion in our bounds we have nothing new to report. Whilst some are asking for the means of grace, others are neglecting them; and whilst, in some places, there is a respectable increase to the visible church, and much reason to hope for a plentiful spiritual harvest, in others, the prospect is not so encouraging. In. View of this we would devoutly say: "Oh, that the salvation of Israel' were come out of Sion! When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad." DE THOMAS MEHARD,

Report of the Presbytery of Blairsville.

Clerks ov

mem

In reviewing the events of the past year, nothing appears to have occurred of unusual interest. While the labors of some of our bers have been temporarily suspended on account of ill health, yet our lives have been spared, and we feel encouraged to hope that ere long

VOL. II:-SIG. 24

all will be again in the enjoyment of their usual health. At our sta1-' ted meeting, last November, at Bethesda, application being made, supply of preaching was granted to the people of Connelsville and Laurel Run, both in Fayette county. At the same meeting, Mr. D. H. Pollock

meeting was received as a student of Theology. At our stated.

April, held at Sewickly, Rev. Alex. McCahan demitted his charge of Olivet and Jacksonsville into the hands of Presbytery, for reasons which were considered satisfactory. He was then appointed as a stated supply to Olivet, so much of his time as the congrega. tion might require.

The congregation of Beulah, Westmoreland county, having made application for a part of the pastoral labors of Rev. Wm Conner, and the people of Unity congregation having concurred, the request was granted. In November last, John W. Duff was ordained to the office of the holy ministry, and installed in the congregation of Puckety, Westmoreland county Pa. At our meeting in August last, trials for ordination were assigned to Mr. Jeremiah M. Dick, to be delivered at his return from the missionary field next Spring.

Reports, injurious to the ministerial character of Mr. John M'Gregor, a probationer under our care, having obtained, Presbytery cited. him to appear before them, and at an adjourned meeting, held at Turtle creek, on the 26th inst., Mr. Gregor being present, was interrogated as to the truth of the charges; he assigned reasons for his conduct without denying the facts, and then declining the authority of Presbytery, withdrew. His reasons were judged unsatisfactory; and upon his own acknowledgment and for disrespect to, and contempt of Presbytery, his license to preach the gospel was withdrawn.

That the King of Zion may preside over your deliberations, as a court of his house, and abundantly bless your labors in advancing his kingdom, is the prayer of your brethren. R. GAILEY, Mod. J. W. DUFF, Clerk.

Report of the Presbytery of Mansfield.

The Presbytery of Mansfield beg leave to report, that it has pleased their supreme Head to own and retain within her folds all her original congregations, with some additional new organized churches, since your last meeting. For this special interposition of the God of the Covenant, we feel called on to record a special expression of gratitude and thanksgiving. But whilst there is much reason to rejoice, we have also reason to lament on account of the afflictive vicissitudes which the Presbytery has experienced during the last year, by the withdrawal of some of our ministers from their flocks and our connection.

At our last meeting in October, the Rev. S. Findley Jr. and J. H. Peacock, (the former an ordained minister, the latter a probationer,) having presented their respective certificates from their respective presbyteries, were received into our connection. Subjects of trial for ordination having been previously appointed Mr. Peacock, and

he having delivered them to the satisfaction of the Presbytery, was ordained the same day to the holy ministry.

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At the same time a call was presented to S. Findley, Jr. from the united congregations of Troy, Sulphur Springs and Chesterville, and was by him accepted. Subsequently the congregations of Perrysburgh Wooster, Mt. Vernon and De Kalb were organized.

At our regular meeting, in April, at Pine Run, Mr. Thos. Palmer, a student of Theology in connection with the General Assembly Presbyterian Church, having presented testimonials of good standing, and having passed a satisfactory examination, was received as a student of Theology under our care. At the same Presbytery, Mr. A. Miils, at his own request, was disniissed from our Presbytery.

At the same meeting, a request from Mr. J. K. Riddell, a probation, er of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church, was received, desiring us to admit him into our connection. And he having presented satisfactory credentials from the Presbyterian church, and having fully satisfied the Presbytery concerning his views on those matters, of difference between the church which he desired to leave, and that, with which he sought connection, he was received as a probationer under our care. The moderator having previously appointed him pieces of trial for ordination, (which were sustained by the Presbytery) and he having delivered them to the entire satisfaction of the Presbytery, was duly set apart to the office of the holy ministry,

With us it is literally true."The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers few." Our present laborers are entirely inadequate to our demands. We have two Theological students under our care---Mr. Thomas Palmer of the third year, and Mr. Goodwin Mitchell of the first.

Concerning the state of religion within our bounds, we have nothing special to report. Our members and congregations manifest a strong attachment to our principles. And in some of our congregations we have had a very encouraging increase. But we have to la ment that family devotion is lamentably neglected in many of our families. A statistical table accompanies this report. May He who abounds in all wisdom and prudence, guide and direct you in all your deliberations, is the sincere prayer of your brethren in Christ. D. F. REID, Moderator.

By order of Presbytery.

J. H. PEACOCK, Clerk pro tem. Allegheny City, Oct. 1st, 1844.

Report of Presbytery of Big Spring.

At a meeting of our Presbytery, on Nov. 15th, 1843, a call from Gettysburgh and connections was received, addressed to Joseph H. Pressly, a licentiate under the care of the Presbytery of Monongahe la; and being sustained and duly certified as regular, was forwarded to said Presbytery for his consideration, which, at a subsequent meeting, in April last, we are informed was not accepted,

At a meeting held at Big Spring, April 17th, 1844, a petition from our vacancy at Old Providence, Va., was received, praying for a dismission, for the purpose of placing themselves under the care of the First Associate Reformed Presbytery of the South, which petition was granted.

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At a subsequent meeting, on the 1st of May, Mr. J. Y. Scouller, after delivering, to the satisfaction of Presbytery, the usual pieces of trial, and answering the usual questions, was licensed to preach the everlasting gospel as a probationer for the holy ministry.

At our meeting, on the 18th inst., a petition was presented from the congregation at Chambersburgh, under the pastoral care of the Rev. R. Gracey, praying for such a change in the allotment of his time, as would allow to them one-half instead of two-thirds, which was granted.

At the same meeting, a call from Gettysburgh and the Hill, addressed to Rev. R. Gracey, was received, and being sustained as regular, was presented to the candidate for consideration, and by him accepted; Presbytery have appointed to meet at Gettysburgh, on the 30th Oct., for his installation, in this branch of his charge, for one-half of his time. At the same meeting, J. B. Scouller was, on his own request, dismissed, to connect with the Associate Reformed Presbytery of New York, with a view to his immediate settlement in Philadeiphia. Presbytery have raised the amount of funds required for the domestic missions. The day of fasting appointed was observed. Concord is at present our only vacancy. Our probationers are Wm. Carlisle and John Y. Scouller. That the glory of God and the welfare of Zion may be promoted by your deliberations, is the prayer of your brethren. R. GRACEY,

Allegheny, Sept. 30th, 1944.

J. SHIELDS...

Committee of Presbytery,

LETTER OF DR. CHEEVER.

Geneva, Sept. 31st, 1844.

Our first Sabbath in Geneva has been rendered somewhat more than usually interesting, by the circumstance of a letter from the Abbe Maurette in prison being read to the assembly. We attended church in the street of the e Pelliserie, where the building was crowded with worshippers, there being a union of two congregations, while the edifice of one of them was undergo.ng repairs. The preacher chose for his text the very appropriate words of Christ, "And all ye are brethren." The general subject was that of christian character and union, a simple, plain, affectionate discourse to the people of God. After"

the sermon, the letter from M. Maurette was read, and prayers were offered in his behalf. We were pleased in beholding verwe ified the declaration of the Apostle, that in the body of Christ where one member suffers the whole body sympathizes; and there was truly a primitive simplicity in the manner in which M. Maurette, as a persecuted and suffering disciple, was commended to God.

The letter is as follows, addressed to Col. Tronchin of Geneva. "Beloved and Honored Brother in Christ: I am a prisoner; and God grant I may be able to say, in all the meaning of the term, with St. Paul in the Ephesians, 'I am a prisoner for Jesus Christ.' But though I am in prison, I have not seen,, like Paul, the tribune commanding them to beat me," nor have I seen Paul's chains. And though they should come to me with them, though they should visit me with the saw and the sword, would God refuse to me that which he has granted to so many others, namely, the grace, the power, the privilege of changing this poor life for a better in the resurrection? Oh no! I am full of confidence in Him.

"Up to the present time I have doubted if I were of the number of those, who live with piety in Jesus Christ. But St. Augustin tells me that 'when you begin to please him, you begin to suffer persecution; you enter into the wine-press; prepare yourself to be trampled upon.' Up to the present time I have doubted of my faith, because it had not been strongly tried. But the prisons are the crucible, where it is purified. Wherefore St. James advertises us not to let ourselves be cast down by the afflictions which come to us, but rather to rejoice, knowing that the trial of our faith worketh patience, and patience conducts us to the perfection of all the graces. Up to the present time I have bsen ignorant of the place to be assigned me here below. But God seems to show me that I may have a place among those who have been persecuted on the earth, deprived of liberty, and compelled to lead a strange and wandering life. But is not this, for the sake of the truth, the happiness and glory of the Christian? The prisoners themselves tell me so.

"I doubt not you will desire to know how I find myself. I passed the days of the 18th, 19th, and 20th, without communion or sympathy with any living creature. But on the Sabbath, at 9 in the morning, God offered me a favorable occasion to become acquainted with the prisoners who are in the same corner of the establishment with myself. The hall s