Laymen.-Henry E. Thomas, John Sibley, James T. Young, H. Lenox Hodge, M. D., Edward R. Hutchins, M. D., William L. Hildeburn, William E. Camp, Horatio B. Lincoln.

For the class whose term shall expire in May, 1872:

Ministers.--George F. Wiswell, D. D., John W. Dulles, Daniel March, D. D., H. Augustus Smith, Willard M. Rice, D. D., F. Reck Harbaugh, Matthew B. Grier, D. D., Matthew Newkirk.

Laymen.-George W. Simons, Joseph Allison, LL.D., Henry.M. Paul, Edward Miller, James Ross Snowden, John D. McCord, Gilbert Combs, Gustavus S. Benson.

For the class whose term shall expire in May, 1873:

Ministers.-William P. Breed, D. D., William E. Schenck, D. D., David A. Cunningham, Benjamin L. Agnew, Zephaniah M. Humphrey, D. D., William E. Moore, Thomas J. Shepherd, D. D., Herrick Johnson, D. D. Laymen.--Morris Patterson, Winthrop Sargent, Archibald McIntyre, George Junkin, Samuel C. Perkins, William E. Tenbrook, Robert N. Wilson, Alexander Whilldin.

4. The said Board shall hold at least four regular meetings in the course of each year, in the months of June, October, January and April. Its first meeting shall be held at 821 Chestnut street, at four o'clock P. M., on the second Tuesday of June of the present year.

5. The executive officers of the Board shall be a secretary or secretaries, whose titles and duties shall be defined by the Board, and a Trea

surer.

6. All other internal arrangements necessary for carrying out the purposes of its organization shall be made by the Board of Publication after its reorganization.

7. Each Presbytery is directed to appoint one or more of its members a Presbyterial Publication Committee; which Committee shall, in that Presbytery, supervise the work of securing an annual collection for this Board from each of its churches; shall search out and recommend to the Board suitable persons to act as colporteurs; shall correspond with the Board in reference to its work in that Presbytery; and shall do whatever else may tend to promote the work and interests of the Board, and to secure a thorough distribution of the Board's publications within and throughout the bounds of the Presbytery.

8. All the property, of every kind, now owned by the "Presbyterian Board of Publication" and by the " Presbyterian Publication Committee," or held by any Board of Trustees for the use and benefit of either of them, is hereby directed to be united, and placed in possession of "The Trustees. of the Presbyterian Board of Publication," incorporated by the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, and whose charter was approved by the governor of that State on the 13th day of February, A. D. 1847. And in order that the late two branches of the Presbyterian Church, now happily reunited, may have, as nearly as possible, an equal representation in said Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Board of Publication (there now being enough vacancies by death and resignation to effect the changes proposed), the Board of Publication is directed, at its next meeting in the month of June, to elect the following persons to be members of this Board of Trustees:

For one year-Alexander Whilldin, Samuel C. Perkins, Archibald MeIntire.

For two years-Morris Patterson, William E. Tenbrook.

For three years-George Junkin, James Ross Snowden and Robert N. Wilson.

9. The "Trustees of the Presbyterian House" are hereby directed to convey, by a good and sufficient legal title, to "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Board of Publication," the house and lot, Nos. 1334 and 1336 Chestnut street, now occupied by the Presbyterian Publication Committee in part as a book-store, and any other property now in their possession, or which may hereafter come into their possession, for the use of the Presbyterian Publication Committee. And should any legal difficulties be found in the way of making such a conveyance or transfer, then "The Trustees of the Presbyterian House" and "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Board of Publication" are hereby directed to procure, as speedily as possible, such special enactments from the Legislature of this State, or decrees of any courts of competent jurisdiction, as shall remove those difficulties.

10. The General Assembly recommends the Board of Publication, as soon as practicable after its reorganization, to sell its house and lot, No. 821 Chestnut street, and to provide a larger house, adequate to its now extended operations, and to the prospective growth of its business, on the premises Nos. 1334 and 1336 Chestnut street, or in that vicinity.

11. In order that the above recommendation may be carried out, so as to provide ample accommodations for the Board's future business, and for all other Presbyterian interests in this city, it is recommended that the sum of one hundred thousand dollars be raised among our churches and people for the erection and equipment of said Presbyterian house, and all contributions made thereto shall be recognized as a part of the offering of five millions of dollars which it was at Pittsburg resolved to raise.

12. All the Committees and officers of the Board of Publication, and of the Publication Committee, are requested to continue to perform their respective duties as at present, until otherwise directed by the newly-organized Board of Publication.

13. The Board of Publication and the Publication Committee are directed to submit to the next General Assembly, and each year thereafter, a full statement of the property of said Boards, consisting of real estate, copy-rights, books, paper, plates and any other assets, with an estimate of the value thereof.-1870, pp. 113-116.

8. The Sabbath-school Work of the Board.-Three Branches.

a. 1st. That the Board of Publication be instructed so to enlarge its arrangements as to make the Sabbath-school work a prominent and organic part of its operations; and that it is exceedingly desirable that the entire congregations in our churches, old and young, be permanently connected with the Sabbath-school, either as scholars or teachers.

2d. That the Board, so enlarged in the sphere of its operations, keep before it these three branches of the Sabbath-school work:

(A.) To furnish a complete literature for Sabbath-schools, consisting of its own and other well-selected books for libraries, helps of all kinds for the study of the Scriptures and catechism, periodicals for teachers and scholars, and all other apparatus fitted to give efficiency to the work of teaching.

(B.) To establish such agencies as it may deem suitable for elevating the standard of teaching, and more thoroughly developing the great idea of Sabbath-schools-that of imparting the knowledge of God to the young and drawing them to the salvation of Christ.

(C.) In appointing colporteurs, as far as possible, to select such persons as may also be suitable for Sabbath-school missionaries, and instruct them to establish Sabbath-schools in destitute localities, under the supervision of the Presbyteries.

3d. That the churches be urged to contribute more largely to the missionary fund of this Board, to meet the increased expense which the working of this branch of its operations will demand.-1871, p. 524.

b. In the Sabbath-school department the instructions of the last Assembly have been carried out. A general superintendent has been appointed -Mr. J. Bennet Tyler--who in January last entered upon his duties, has performed much preparatory work, and everywhere found interest and sympathy with the plans of the Assembly. To the Westminster series of Sabbath-school lessons for teachers and scholars three numbers have been added, in continuation of a plan which embraces a full curriculum of Bible study.-1872, p. 20.

9. Charter of the Board.

An Act to Incorporate "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Board of Publication." Whereas, The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America have a Board of Publication composed of ministers and laymen of the Presbyterian Church, the design of which is "the publication of such works, permanent or periodical, as are adapted to promote sound learning and true religion;"

And Whereas, The aforesaid Board of Publication labors under serious disadvantages as to receiving donations and bequests, and as to the management of funds entrusted to them for the purpose designated in their Constitution, and in accordance with the benevolent intentions of those from whom such bequests and donations are received; Therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that Matthew Newkirk, James N. Dickson, William S. Martien, James B. Ross, Archibald McIntyre, Joseph B. Mitchell, Alexander W. Mitchell, M.D., Robert Soutter, Jr., and James Dunlap, citizens of the United States and of this Commonwealth, and their successors, are hereby constituted and declared to be a body politic and corporate, which shall henceforth be known by the name of "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Board of Publication," and as such shall have perpetual succession, and be able to sue and be sued in all courts of record, and elsewhere; and to purchase and receive, take and hold, to them and their successors, for ever, lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, money and chattels, and all kinds of estate which may be devised, or bequeathed, or given to them; and the same to sell, alien, demise and convey; also to make a common seal, and the same to alter and renew at their pleasure; and also to make such rules, by-laws and ordinances as may be needful for the government of the said corporation, and not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, and of this State; Provided, always, that the clear yearly income of the real estate held by the said corporation shall not at any time exceed the sum of five thousand dollars.

SEC. 2. The Trustees above named shall hold their offices for one year from the date of this incorporation, and until their successors are duly qualified to take their places; who shall be chosen by the aforesaid Board of Publication, at such times and in such manner as shall be provided by the said General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, provided not more than one-third of the Trustees shall be removed in any one year.

SEC. 3. The Trustees hereby incorporated, and their successors, shall (subject to the direction of the said Board of Publication) have full power to manage the funds and property committed to their care, in such manner as shall be deemed most advantageous, and not contrary to law.

JAMES COOPER,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.
CH. GIBBONS,

Speaker of the Senate.

FR. R. SHUNK.

Approved the thirteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and forty

seven.

56

V. THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH ERECTION FUND.

1. The Organization.

The report of the Joint Committee on Church Erection was adopted, as follows:

In entering on their work the Committee found that the trusteeship of the Church Erection Fund was a chartered institution, formed under the laws of the State of New York, and possessed of a permanent fund of $126,000, more or less, of which about $90,000 were invested in interestbearing securities in the State of New York, and the remainder in various liabilities given by feeble churches which had been aided. They also learned that, in accordance with certain amendments of the plan passed by the General Assembly which met at St. Louis in 1866, the system of loans had been abandoned, and a so-called Supplementary Fund created, to consist of the yearly interest of the Permanent Fund, together with such sums as should be raised by the annual contributions of the churches, ali of which, in absolute donations, to be devoted to the current demands of the work. This Board of Trustees, having charge of both the Permanent and the Supplementary Fund by the terms of the charter, consists of nine members residing in New York or its vicinity, and are elected in classes from year to year by the General Assembly, according to the chartered rules prescribed.

On the other hand, the Committee learned that the Board of Church Extension, having its centre of operations in St. Louis, Mo., was without a charter and without permanent funds, holding only current receipts appropriated and unappropriated, together with certain temporary investments in real estate; that the said Board of Church Extension was therefore free from any legal obstacles which might prevent a change either of location or of name, or stand in the way of its being united under the charter of the organized and localized Board of Church Erection.

In view of these considerations the Joint Committee do respectfully and unanimously recommend

1. That the operations of the United Church be carried on under the charter of "The Trustees of the Church Erection Fund of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America," and that its location be continued in the city of New York.

2. That the members of the Board be chosen impartially from both branches of the Church, that their number be twenty-one, consisting of ten ministers and eleven laymen acting in connection with the Presbyterian Church, and that the entire Board so formed be expected to meet at least once a year.

3. That fifteen members, seven ministers and eight laymen, shall reside in the city of New York or its vicinity; that at an early day an amendment of the charter be obtained, authorizing these fifteen local members to act as trustees of the fund, but until such change shall be secured nine of the fifteen members shall continue to hold the said trusteeship under the provisions now existing.

4. That six members of the Board, three ministers and three laymen, shall be chosen from the West. This recommendation is made in view of the fact that certain properties held by the Board of Church Extension are temporarily located in Missouri, and require a local supervision. It also seems desirable that the Board shall have representatives on the ground who may secure those grants of land which are so freely offered for church purposes by railroad and town companies throughout the West, also to have special oversight in the matter of insurance on church prop

erties—a matter of great importance, in which it is feared there is at present great neglect.

5. That a secretary be appointed who shall reside in New York, and whose functions shall be similar to those of the present secretaries of Church Erection and Church Extension; also that the Board shall have authority to appoint an additional secretary and define his duties.

6. While the Committee appreciate and would earnestly encourage all local efforts to build churches and chapels in the cities and in Presbyteries by special contributions, they unanimously recommend that the Assembly take the most efficient measures to secure an annual contribution from all the churches for the general work of the Board. The suburbs of our large cities must be cared for, but at the same time the demands of the great wastes of the continent are most imperative upon the whole Church. In conclusion, the Committee would express the hope that this department of the Church work, so fundamental to all permanent success, may be brought into greater prominence and receive a larger degree of favor and support. It should be not merely a passive resource to which the needy may resort for a stinted dole, but a powerful aggressive agency arousing and stimulating the Church to substantial conquest everywhere in the cities, on the prairies, along the railroads and on the far-off shores of the Pacific. In view of the fact that legal questions might arise in connection with some of the points in this report, Messrs. S. T. Bodine and J. C. Havens were appointed to consult legal authorities thereupon, and report to the Committee at a subsequent meeting.

The Committee then adjourned to meet in the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia during the sessions of the General Assembly.

At a conference of certain members of the Joint Committee, held in Philadelphia since the sessions of the General Assembly began, a quorum not being present, Mr. Samuel T. Bodine reported that he had consulted proper authorities in regard to legal points in the above report, and had obtained the following opinions:

1. That the Church Erection Fund, located by charter in the State of New York, would be embarrassed if not imperiled by any change in the place of business.

2. That at an early day steps should be taken to secure a change in the charter, raising the number of trustees from nine to twenty-one, of whom five shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

3. That fifteen of the twenty-one members of the Board, namely, seven ministers and eight elders, should reside in the city of New York or its vicinity.-1870, p. 116.

2. The Plan for the Custody, Care and Management of the Church Erection Fund, as Adopted by the Assembly of 1854 and Amended by the Assembly of 1866, N. S.

PREAMBLE.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America having, through the liberality of the congregations connected with this body, established a Fund for the purpose of aiding feeble congregations in erecting houses of worship, do hereby adopt the following plan under which this Fund shall be held, administered and used:

ARTICLE I.

The Fund having been committed to the General Assembly as a special trust, no part of it as now established, nor any additions which may