The Report as amended was then unanimously adopted; and is as follows: To the Moderator and other members of the General Associate Reformed Synod of the West, to meet in Hamilton, Ohio, May 22d, 1844, The Commillee on Foreign Missions Report: The Committee have kept the subject before them, and have given it all the attention in their power, The importance of the Palestine Mission, and the encouragements to prosecute it, are daily increas ing. Almost every mail which crosses the Atlantic, brings us inter esting and cheering intelligence concerning God's ancient people, relative to their political condition, their state of mind, and the wakening interest throughout christendom in their behalf; all affording reason to hope, that the promised day of Israel is drawing nigh;---the day of Israel's return to their own land and to the God of their fathers; and reminding us, that if we would participate in the glorious events of that day, and in the instrumentality to be employed in ushering them in, we should hasten to place our missionaries in the field. So far as we have been able to learn the views and feelings of the church, we think there is a prevalent feeling of interest in the undertaking, and we hope a disposition to sustain it by the prayers and alms of the people of God. Yet, the establishment and sustentation of a Foreign Mission in connexion with our institutions at home, will constitute an era in the history of our church. It will require, on the part of the members of the church, a more liberal, and a more general, honoring of the Lord with their substance. To this end the people must be awakened to the crisis and to its duties and its demands. God forbid that we should establish a mission and then leave it to languish and die. And God forbid, that in our efforts to support it, we should neglect missionary and educational interests at home. If we duly consider and appropriate the Lord's bounties, we are abundantly able to sustain both. The worldly-minded and fainthearted may give vent to their unbelieving fears and objections, but we trust that the spirit of a Caleb will animate, not only the entire ministry, but the great body of the people; and that those fears and objections will be promptly overruled: "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." The expense of two missionaries with their wives for the first year including outfit, (if required) passage and other expenses in reaching the place of destination, house rent, subsistence, books, &c., will not be less than three thousand dollars. The expense of erecting a suit-able building for residence not less than a thousand; making in all an amount not less than four thousand dollars. If outfit be not required the expense would be near a thousand dollars less. The subsequent annual expense will not be so great, but may not safely be estimated at less than three thousand dollars. As the mission shall be reinforced, and it is hoped that it will be, the expense will be pro portionably increased.. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in finding the men to send; difficulty arising not so much from a want of inclination, as from a sense of unpreparedness on the part of those with whom the Committee have conferred. This difficulty would, in part at least, have been obviated, had a correspondence been opened sooner, so as to have afforded time for the missionary candidates to prepare. While your Committee have felt, at times, baffled and perplexed in this ma tter, they have yet been gratified to find all with whom they have corresponded, cherishing so high a sense of the importance of the post, and of the eminent qualifications which it demands. This feeling has been evinced by none, more than by him whose name we take pleasure in reporting to you along with his consent to be at your disposal in this matter---Mr. James Barnett of the First Presbytery of O.. This young man we recommend to your choice, as a young man devoted to his Master's work, and of respectable literary and theological attainments. He has some considerable experience in preaching, having labored with acceptance in our vacancies, and he has spent nearly eighteen months as an indefatigable and persevering missionary in our Western field. In special preparation for the Palestine mission, however, he has as yet done but little. Yet his attention has, during the winter, been turned to such studies, so far as his other engagements and his circumstances afforded opportunity. But even after what he may be able to acquire during the summer, provided he be now chosen, and go out this fall, he will have to make his chief special preparation after leaving this country. This would have, to some considerable extent, to be done at any rate. While a more perfect elementary acquaintance with the languages of the East, than he will possess, would be desirable, yet in view of the advantages under which he may conduct those studies in Palestine or Syria, and in view of the evil results which might flow from another year's delay, we would recommend his being sent out the coming autumn. It is with gratitude and pleasure, that we lay before you the following information from the Rev. J. C. Brigham, Corresponding Secretary of the American Bible Society: In answer to a letter of inquiry on the subject. After adverting to the deep interest of the Board in our contemplated mission, he says, "I am authorized to inform you, that our Board will have the greatest satisfaction in furnishing your Missionaries to the old gospel land, with such copies of the Scriptures as they may require. They can take with them a few copies of English, French, and modern Greek from New York, and we will then give them letters to our Agent in the Levant, Rev. Mr. Calhoun, with direction to furnish them with Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, Armenian, and other copies as they may need. We have sold, the past summer, a large portion of our Heb-Spanish Old Testaments to the Scotch Missionaries to the Jews at Constantinople. We have just authorized Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Schauffler to print another edition of the Pentateuch in that tongue for Schools. I think, therefore, the Missionary brethren, whom you may send out, will be furnished with all the copies which they can put to good use. Mr. Calhoun is a noble man, and will help them power." with great pleasure, to the extent of his Upen the location your Committee have not determined. It is thought, that this can be fixed better after your missionary shall have explored the field, and conferred with the Missionaries of other churches already there. We submit the following resolutions: Resolved, That James Barnett, probationer for the holy ministry, in connection with this Synod, be and hereby is appointed Missionary to Palestine, to go out at the time specified by this Synod at its last, and the previous meeting. 2. Resolved, That his Presbytery be directed to put him under trials for ordination to the office of the ministry, with a view to his going out as a missionary next fall. 3. Resolved, That the exercises of setting him apart to the special work take place in the city of Allegheny at 7 o'clock P. M., on the first day of October next, and that Dr. Pressley preside on the occasion, Rev. William Wallace preach the sermon, and Rev. Joseph Claybaugh give the charge. Mr. S. Findley Sr. was appointed alternate to Dr. Claybaugh, and Rev. James Grier to Rev. Wallace. J. CLAYBAUGH, D. MACDILL, Committee. The Rev. Drs. Claybaugh and Macdill were appointed to direct the studies of Mr. Barnet during the ensuing summer, The following resolution was presented by Rev Alex. Sharp. and Dr. Pressly, and passed. Resolved, That be a Committee with au thority to receive, in behalf of this Synod, the legacy of Mr. Boyse, for the purposes of Foreign missions, and to draw upon our Treasurer for such amount as shall be judged necessary to the support of the mission: and to do all such matters and things in general, as shall be necessary in a pecuniary respect to carry out the measures of Synod respecting the Foreign Mission. Synod adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M. Closed with prayer. 2 o'clock P. M. Synod met, and was opened with prayer. Present as at the morning session. The minutes of the morning were read, and adopted. ly, That Synod resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to hold an extra-judicial Conference on the report of the delegates to the Convention of Reformed churches, on the subject of union. Synod then went into extra-judicial conference, Hon. Jeremiah Morrow in the chair. The committee of the whole reported that the whole matter of the Union be referred to a select committee to consist of Dr. Pressly, Rev. Alex. Sharp and J. Reynolds, Ministers, and Jer. Morrow and John Cook, Elders. The Moderator called on Presbyteries to ascertain whether they had collected their quota of the Domestic Missionary fund. It was Resolved that when Synod adjourn, it adjourn to meet in Chillicothe on the last Wednesday of May 1845, at 11 o'clock A. M. Mr. Ross, Elder, delegate from Mansfield Presbytery, had leave of absence. On motion Synod adjourned. Closed with prayer. Friday, 9 o'clock A. M. The Synod met and was opened with prayer. Present as on yesterday, The minutes of the last sitting were read and approved. The Committee of Overtures reported in regard to the mat ter of Joseph D. Steele. The report of the Treasurer was read. The committee on the union of Reformed Churches reported. Took up the Report of the Committee of Overtures on the case of J. D. Steele-whereupon the following resolutions were adopted: 1. That in the reception of students of Divinity Presbyteries as enjoined by our standards, should be particularly careful as to the testimonials of the applicant's good standing in the church. 2. That Sessions being co-ordinate courts, the Session of one congregation can have no power to take up and issue a case touching the conduct of a person subject to another Session, or for conduct for which such person was amenable to another Session. 3. That Presbyteries be requested to attend to the constitutional rules, as well respecting the time to be spent by young, men, under the care of Presbytery, as in all other respects, as of importance to the peace, purity, and edification of the church. 4. That these resolutions be published without reference to any particular case. The report of the Treasurer was referred to the committee of Accounts. The Report of the Committee on the union of Reformed Churches was taken up and the following resolution adopted: Resolved, That in the judgment of this Synod, there is no insuperable barrier in the way of union, among the churches represented in the convention upon the principles which have been adopted, and that delegates be appointed to attend the next meeting of the Convention. The delegates appointed were A ., Sharpe, D. Macdill, and J. T. Pressly-Moses Gracey, J. Reynolds, and S. Findley Sen. their alternates. On motion of W. Lorimer and J. Prestly the following resolutions were adopted: 1. Resolved, That the Presbyteries under. the care of this Synod be directed to be more careful in future to limit their reports to Synod to such matters as are necessary to be introduced in such reports-setting forth the general operations of the Presbyteries for the past year, the state of religion in their bounds, and the wants of the Presbyteries, for the coming year, and dispensing with all superfluous matter. 2. Resolved, That the Committee of publication be authorized to make such a selection from each and all of the Presbyterial reports as they may deem important to be known by the Church. The Committee of revision reported that the manuscript. minutes of the last General Synod have not been placed in the |