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dents, as follows: T. Z. McClurkin, Rom. 8:32; J. R. Wylie, 1 Cor. 1: 21; W. J. Coleman, Ps. 32: 2; W. J. Dauerty, John 13: 35; and W. J. Sproull, Ps. 27:8. The discourses were criticised, and the Board took a recess until 7.30 P. M.

Wednesday, 7.30 P. M. The Board met in the same place, and discourses were delivered by J. Ralston Wylie, Job 7:19; A. D. Crowe, 2 Tim. 3: 12; G. Kennedy, Ps. 14: 1; and R. McKinney, Job 9:2. Adjourned to meet in Seminary Hall to-morrow at 9 A. M. Closed with prayer by Prof. Sloane.

Thursday, 9 A. M.

The Board met and was opened with prayer by Dr. Wylie. The discourses of last evening were criticised. Prof. Sloane conducted examinations in Pastoral Theology and Church History, and Prof. Willson in Greek Exegesis and Hermeneutics. It was then resolved, that the discourses delivered and the examinations conducted before the Board have given satisfactory evidence of the diligence and progress of the young men in the several branches of theological study, and of the careful and accurate teaching of the Professors in their respective departments of instruction. Certificates of having completed the full course of seminary studies were given to Messrs. J. M. Foster, W. S. Fulton, S. A. George, J. L. Pinkerton, W. M. Shanks and J. Renwick Wylie; and of having finished the third year to Messrs. A. D. Crowe, G. Kennedy and R. M. McKinney. Dr. A. M. Milligan, Revs. S. J. Crowe and A. Kilpatrick were present at most of the sessions of the Board.

There being no other business, the Board adjourned, with prayer by Dr. Milligan. R. J. GEORGE, Secretary.

JOINT REPORT OF THE PROFESSORS.

To the Board of Superintendents of the R. P. Theological Seminary :

The Professors herewith present their joint annual report:

The session for 1876-7 began with an introductory lecture on preaching by Prof. Sloane, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 1876, and we have been graciously enabled to carry on the work of the session without interruption to the end. Messrs. Boxley, Elliott, Frazer, Latimer and J. M. Wylie, of last year's class did not return; Mr. Frazer through indisposition, the others through engagements to teach. New students, however, gathered in, so that we have in all twenty-one students to report as in attendance during the past session. They are as follows:

First Year-R H. Abraham, R. C. Allen, F. M. Foster, T. Z. McClurkin, T. McFall, W. R. Laird, T. A. H. Wylie.

Second Year-W. J. Coleman, W. J. Dauerty, W. J. Sproull, J. Ralston Wylie.
Third Year-A. D. Crowe, George Kennedy, R. M. McKinney.

Fourth Year-J. M. Foster, W. S Fulton, S. A. George, W. McKinney, J. L. Pink erton, W. M. Shanks, J. Renwick Wylie. Mr. McKinney was in attendance until January, when he left Allegheny under the appointment of the Central Board of Missions to take charge of the Mission Station at Camden, Ala. Mr. McClurkin entered the Seminary in January.

Discourses have been delivered as usual by the students before the professors and students. We met in church for this exercise on Thursday evening, and the size of the audiences this winter has been more than usually encouraging. We are glad to note this sign of interest in our work. The discourses were on texts assigned by the professors, and these were criticised on Friday morning, by both professors and students. This exercise has been, we think, very profitable. The discourses have in all cases given great satisfaction, and have given evidence of care in preparation.

Besides attending the social services of the congregations, the students have held a prayer meeting among themselves once a week, on Thursday morning: The report from this is, that the attendance is good and the interest in it sustained. A number of the students are also identified with the Sabbath school and city missionary work of the congregations.

In conclusion, we note with gratitude the size of the class-so many of the first year to supply the place of the large out going fourth year class. It is encouraging to see that, while there have been so many changes of late in our congregations, by death, &c., the Lord of the harvest is sending forth laborers into his harvest. We trust our labor is not in vain in the Lord.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

Allegheny City, Pa., March 27, 1877.

J. R. W. SLOANE,

D. B. WILLSON.

PROF. SLOANE'S ANNUAL REPORT.

The session which has now closed has not been in any special particular different from its predecessors. The health of the students has continued good, and there have been few absences occasioned by sickness of any kind. The studies of my department have been pursued in the usual manner.

THEOLOGY.--The class has recited twice in each week from the text book, "Hodge's Systematic Theology," taking sixteen pages at a lesson, and in this way have completed the first volume, containing 648 pages. In addition to this I have delivered thirty lectures in Theology, pursuing the same course as during last session. These lectures have been carefully reviewed by the class, and I propose to make them the basis of examination on the subject of Theology.

CHURCH HISTORY.-The class has also recited twice in each week in Church History, using “Kurtz's Manual" as a text book. Ten pages of this work have been the usual lesson. The period embraced in the session's work is "Ecclesiastical History in its Medieval and Germanic form of Development," from the 4th to the 15th century, the period usually termed the dark ages. This period occupies the second part of the history, and covers about 220 pages, which has been carefully reviewed.

PASTORAL THEOLOGY.-This has been taught exclusively by lectures. I have delivered twenty lectures on this subject.

HOMILETICS.-We have not made this a special study during the entire session, it being properly connected and belonging to the same course with Pastoral Theology. I have, however, delivered ten lectures on this subject. These lectures have been occupied with the sermon-the preparation, the preaching, the introduction, skeleton, and conclusion of a discourse.

SUMMARY.-The work of the session in my department has been the study of 648 pages of Theology, 220 pages of Church History, and the hearing of 60 lectures on the subjects indicated above.

Respectfully submitted,

PROF. WILLSON'S ANNUAL REPORT.

J. R. W. SLOANE.

I have the following report to make of the Seminary work in my department: 1. IN HEBREW.-The senior dass finished the Grammar this session. Green's Grammar is the text book. We have been two sessions in going through it. The class has read Genesis, chapter 49; Deuteronomy, chapter 33; Psalms, 40 to 45, inclusive, and Isaiah, chapters 40 to 43, inclusive, reciting twice a week. The junior class began the Grammar and went to Syntax, taking the principal parts. They have read in the Bible between three and four chapters, reciting three times a week. The recitations of Mr. McClurkin, who entered in January, have been separate in this branch. He is now in the Verb, and is reading in Genesis, first chapter.

II. IN GREEK.-We continued this session with the book on which we were engaged last year-the Epistle to the Romans- and have finished it. This study was attended to twice a week for the first half of the session, and once a week during the latter half. III. BIBLICAL CRITICISM.-The lectures on this branch, begun last year, have been continued. We concluded the history of the Old Testament text, printed and unprinted, and also the consideration of three of the sources of criticism-ancient versions, parallels, and quotations.

IV. HERMENEUTICS.-I began this winter with the history of interpretation, and have finished the consideration of the Church teachers of the 4th century. V. CHURCH GOVERNMENT.-I did nothing this winter with this subject. D. B. WILLSON.

Respectfully submitted,

PROCEEDINGS OF PRESBYTERIES.

PITTSBURGH PRESBYTERY.

PITTSBURGH Presbytery met in Allegheny church, April 10, at 7 P. M. There was a large attendance of the ministerial members, and all but four of the congregations were represented by elders. S. J. Crowe was elected moderator, A. Kilpatrick clerk, and R. J. George assistant clerk. Calls from Springfield, &c., congregation, and from Monongahela congregation, on Mr. J. R. Wylie, were sustained as regular gospel calls, and referred to a commission consisting of Professors Sproull and Willson, and elder Martin, to be presented to the candidate. A call from Allegheny congregation on Prof.

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Sloane was laid on the table until a meeting at or subsequent to the meeting of Synod, and this fact to be stated in our report to Synod. Mr. W. J. Dauerty delivered a popular sermon from Hosea 13: 9, as a specimen of improvement. Messrs. A. L. Crowe and R. M. McKinney delivered the usual trials, and were licensed to preach the gospel. Rev. R. Reed presented his demission of the pastoral care over Brooklyn congregation. The reasons given were, a want of encouragement in the work, and want of sufficient pecuniary support; resignation was laid on table until Synod, and the clerk directed to notify the congregation of this action. Only about one-third of the commissions appointed to visit the congregations in reference to Synod's Ministerial Sustentation Scheme had attended to the work. Reports from these showed that the scheme met with favor from the people. The rest of the commissions were continued, and directed that if possible the work be attended to before Synod. It was agreed that although Selma congregation was not regularly organized, yet it should be recognized and entered on our list of congregations.

Congregations which expect supplements were directed to report in writing to Presbytery at the time of Synod their condition and prospects, according to the requirements for drawing from Synod's fund. Prof. Willson was appointed to moderate in session of Allegheny congregation.

Congregations were directed to forward their statistical report and quota of Synod's Travelling Fund to the clerk before the meeting of Synod.

Presbytery adjourned to meet at Wilkinsburg on 2d Tuesday of October, at 1 o'clock, P. M. A. KILPATRICK, Clerk.

LAKES PRESBYTERY.

LAKES Presbytery met April 10th, in 1st Miami church. The meeting was full and harmonious. Some of the items of business are of a very gratifying character. The consolidation of the 1st and 2d Miami congregations was ratified by Presbytery, and the congregation will be known as the United Miami. An organization was granted in Belle Centre. The organization of a society in Tuscola with eighteen members was reported, and the prospects of that mission are considered highly encouraging. A call from Rushsylvania on H. H. George was sustained, but withheld for the present by request of the pastor elect. Mr. J. Ralston Wylie received licensure.

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The following minute was adopted on the death of the moderator: Presbytery, sensible of its great loss by the removal by death of the Rev. William Milroy, wish to put on record their high sense of his worth as a man, as a faithful ambassador of Christ, and as a valuable counsellor in her sessions for upwards of twenty-two years. They wish also to extend to the bereaved widow and fatherless children their profound sympathy and Christian consolation."

J. MCCRACKEN, Clerk.

The following paper was adopted by Lakes Presbytery, and ordered to be published: A church literary institution lies at the basis of all our work for the Master. It is the only proper and efficient nursery for the training of young men for the Theological Seminary. Out of the Seminary must come the supplies for our pulpits, as well as for our Home, Southern and Foreign Missions. For the amount of money expended three times the number of students could be trained in the Seminary each year. With an efficient literary institution, that number could readily be furnished. The demand for laborers in our church, already great, is increasing every year. The developments in divine Providence call us to increased earnestness and wider efforts.

The general awakening on National Reform-the great and special work for which our church has a right to exist as a separate body-encourages our laborers. Our country is rapidly growing, and if we as a witnessing church are not lost sight of entirely, if we are to be of any particular force in the nation, then we must have a college of our own, where the scores of young men who set out every year from their homes with the ministry in view, may be educated under such influences as will secure them for the church.

In view of these facts, and inasmuch as an effort is now making to endow Geneva College, Presbytery records its hearty and unanimous approval of the same-recommends it to the entire church, and pledges itself to aid in every proper way this commendable effort, that the institution may be planted upon a secure and permanent

basis.

RESOLUTIONS OF YORK CONGREGATION.

THE Congregation of York, N. Y., in consenting to a dissolution of the pastoral relation that has existed for thirty years between Rev. S. Bowden and this congregation, adopted the following paper:

WHEREAS, The relation of pastor and people which has existed for more than thirty years between Rev. S. Bowden and this congregation has been dissolved on account of the inability of our late pastor to continue his labors; and whereas, we gratefully remember his devotion to the welfare and prosperity of this congregation in both its spiritual and temporal interests; his unswerving zeal in visiting the sick and comforting the afflicted, not only in our own houses but in that of others where he was received with gratitude and thankfulness; therefore,

Resolved, That while we would without murmuring submit to the allotments of our Heavenly Father, who doeth all things well, yet it is with deep regret we separate from one who for so long, so earnestly, and so successfully toiled for the cause of Christ among us, striving to stir us up to love and good works.

Resolved, That we tender to him our earnest and loving sympathy in all his afflictions, our hope for his speedy restoration to health and usefulness in the church, and our prayer that whatever position of labor or suffering he may be called to occupy, our God will abundantly supply all his need.

Resolved, That although we may never meet as in days that are past, when as pastor and people we received from him doctrinally and sacramentally the word of life, yet, cherishing a grateful remembrance of the past, we look forward with joyful hope that we shall meet in that better land, where separations are unknown, where tears are wiped from all eyes, and the weary are at rest.

MARRIAGES.

By Rev. H. P. McClurkin, Feb. 7, 1877, Mr. Wм. J. WILLSON and Miss A. MARGARET LORIMER, of New Concord, O.

By D. J. Shaw, at the house of the bride's father, March 1, 1877, Mr. JOHN A. MOORE and Miss AGNES S. PAYNE, both of the Bloomington congregation.

By Rev. H. P. McClurkin, March 21, 1877, AARON J. RICHARDSON, of Kansas, and Miss ELIZA W. ANDERSON, of Zanesville, O.

By Rev. R. Shields, on the 28th of March, at the residence of the bride's mother, Mr. WILLIAM BURNS and Miss MARGARET BOWES, both of the congregation of Ramsay. By Rev. J. Dodds, April 3, 1877, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. MALCOLM MCDERMID, of Stratford, Canada, and Miss MAGGIE CROZIER, of Sylvania, Dade Co., Missouri.

OBITUARIES.

MRS. HANNAH ROBINSON died March 24, 1877, in the eighty-seventh year of her age. The deceased was a person of as lovely Christian character as the writer ever numbered among his intimate acquaintances. She and her husband, James Robinson, who died several years ago, were members of the Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Pittsburgh and Allegheny at the time of its organization in 1833, and for many years under his pastoral care. In all the relations of life she exemplified the excellencies of the religion she professed. Her delight was in the ordinances of grace, and no common hindrance prevented her from being present when they were dispensed. The principles of the Covenanting Church she loved; and though a part of the time of her widowhood her lot was to live where she had not access to the ordinances dispensed in the church of her choice, she still adhered steadfastly to her profession, and awaited God's time to open the way for the enjoyment of the privileges she so highly valued. A few years before her death she removed to Allegheny and united with the Central congregation, under the pastoral care of Rev. J. W. Sproull.

Mrs. Robinson was of a Covenanter stock. Her father, Robert George, was a highly esteemed member of the Canonsburg congregation in early days. He died more than half a century ago. His wife, Christiana George, survived him many years, and lived beyond the age of ninety. They raised a large family; all their children became professors of the religion of Christ, and all but four have been removed from earth.

Her last illness was of short duration. Constipation of the bowels issued in acute inflammation, and, after a few days of severe suffering, which she bore with Christian resignation and calmness, terminated her life. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." T. S.

DIED, February 27, 1876, Miss SARAH HAMILL, at the residence of Mr. Jno. Patterson, near Perryopolis, Fayette county, Pa. The deceased had for a long time been a member of Redstone branch of Monongahela congregation. To many of the older ministers of the church she was well known, and by all highly esteemed. She was a consistent Covenanter; a regular attendant, when in her power, on the ordinances, a firm friend and active member of the congregatior; a kind neighbor and useful member of society. She will be missed in the circle of her acquaintances. Her friends have comforting evidence by her life that for her to depart was to be with Christ.

MARTHA WARNOCK died April 23, 1876, in the 79th year of her age. Deceased was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and from early life an active member of the R. P. Church. In 1852 she emigrated to the United States and located in the city of Boston, and was one of the original band who had the faith and courage to plant the Reformed Presbyterian Church in that city. By her life and influence she contributed largely to its preservation and growth. She exemplified the power of a living piety. Truly can it be said, "she was a mother in Israel."

WILLIAM S. WARNOCK, ruling elder in the First congregation, Boston, died January 30, 1877, in the 56th year of his age. He was son of the above, and came to Boston at the same time with her. He took an active part in organizing the first fellowship meeting in Boston to establish Reformation principles, and when the First R. P. congregation was organized in 1854 he was chosen to the eldership, and continued in the faithful exercise of the office till his death. His last sickness was of only two weeks' duration. Thus he was called away in the midst of his usefulness.

Session, at a meeting held February 19th, unanimously adopted the following resolutions, and ordered copies to be sent to the REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN AND COVENANTER, and Our Banner, for publication:

WHEREAS, It has pleased God in his gracious providence to remove by death William S. Warnock, a member of this session; and whereas, this is the first death which has occurred among the members of this session; therefore,

Resolved, 1. That while humbly and submissively bowing to the divine dispensation, we hereby express our sorrow for the loss which the session and congregation have sustained in the death of our esteemed brother, and place on record our high appreciation of his excellence, as a warm and constant friend, a humble, devoted and consistent Christian, and a wise, judicious and conscientious ruler, whose chief aim and effort was to advance the cause and testimony of Christ, and to promote the purity, peace and prosperity of Zion. "He preferred Jerusalem above his chief joy."

Resolved, 2. That in the removal of our beloved co-presbyter we recognize the Master's voice unto us, "Arise, therefore, and be doing."

Resolved, 3. That we extend to widow and children in their bereavement, our sincere sympathy.

WILLIAM GRAHAM,
THOMAS MITCHELL,
Committee.

Mrs. ISABELLA, widow of the Rev. Robert Wallace, died Feb. 17th, 1877, after eleven days severe suffering from a fractured thigh, which happened by her falling off her feet going out of the door at the residence of her eldest daughter near Monmouth, Ill. She was in the 85th year of her age, and died in the hope of a blessed immortality. Mrs. Wallace was esteemed highly by all acquainted with her. H. P. M.

DIED, in Allegheny City, August 19th, 1876, ELLA MILLIGAN, youngest daughter of Samuel and Jane McNaugher, aged 3 years and 4 months.

Then, if to God, with faith sincere, our child at death was given,
The kindred tie that bound us here, though rent apart with many a tear,
Shall be renewed in heaven.

DIED, March 6th, 1877, of pleuro-pneumonia, Mr. ISAAC TAYLOR, in the 33d year of his age. The deceased was chosen to the office of deacon in Sylvania congregation at its first organization. This office he continued to fulfil, with much acceptance, up to the time of his death. He was an efficient officer, an exemplary Christian, and a much esteemed and highly valued member of the congregation. His lamented death leaves a void that will not be easily filled. His wife having been called from the church militant about four years before him, he leaves four tender little ones to the care of him who has taught his children to say " When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." Mr. Taylor was in the vigor of life, exceedingly robust and healthy constitution, full of flesh, and still possessing much of the freshness of youth, yet in six days illness he was cut down and called to render an account of his stewardship. "In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." J. D.

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