THIRTY-SEVENTH MEETING.

CHARTIERS, Tuesday, June 26th, 1792.-Presbytery met according to adjournment. Presbytery opened with a sermon on John x. 14, by Mr. Patterson. The Presbytery found that the Rev. Joseph Smith was removed by death, on the 19th of April last. Mr. David Smith, having been detained from our last meeting by the sickness and death of his father, now brought in and read an Exegesis on a theme assigned sustained. Mr. Hill, having informed Presbytery, by letter, that he could not attend our present meeting to deliver the discourse appointed him, is therefore required to attend to it at our next.

The committee appointed to meet on the Appeal from Salem Session, reported that they met accordingly, but found that they could not proceed, because the witnesses, though cited, did not attend; that, therefore, they had recommended to the parties to call the assistance of some of their elders, and endeavor to have the affair accommodated; which report was approved.

Mr. Smith brought in and read a Homily on the subject appointed him at our last winter meeting; also a Presbyterial Exercise on Heb. iv. 17; which, though not appointed him by Presbytery, as he was necessarily detained from our last meeting, and so had no part of trials given him, yet was received as though it had been appointed, and both were sustained as parts of trial.

Mr. Marquis an Exegesis-sustained. Mr. Boyd Mercer, "having offered himself," &c., (see previous forms of minutes,) taken on trial. The Presbytery, having taken into consideration a reference from the session of Roundhill congregation, were of opinion that they had not sufficient evidence to prove that John Crawford is the father of Hannah Burney's child; and that said Burney be admitted to give satisfaction in the common mode.

Mr. Marquis and Mr. Mercer examined on Latin and Greek languages, and Mr. Smith on Hebrew-all sustained. Messrs.

M'Millan and Brice-leave of absence. Presbytery renewed their order respecting raising funds for the support of missionaries agreeably to the plan of the Synod, and ordered their members to bear or convey said collections to the Treasurer of the Commission of Synod at the next meeting of Synod. Commissioners to the General Assembly fulfilled their appointment.

Mr. Smith to prepare a lecture on Heb. vi. 1-6. Mr. Marquis a Homily on Rom. viii. 14. Mr. Mercer, an Exegesis on "An Decreta Dei conditionata vel absoluta sint?" The united congregations of Cross Creek and Buffalo, being left vacant by Mr. Smith's decease, made application for supplies. Adjourned to meet at Pigeon Creek the 3d Tuesday in October. Concluded with prayer.

THIRTY-EIGHTH MEETING.

PIGEON CREEK, Tuesday, October 16th, 1792. Presbytery met according to adjournment. The Presbytery opened with discourses by Messrs. Hill and Smith-subjects previously assigned-sustained.

Four calls-from Mingo Creek and Horse-shoe Bottom; from Bethel and Ebenezer; from Long Run and Sewickly; and from Mill Creek and King's Creek-for Mr. Swan! all put into his hands for his consideration. Mr. Swan returned the first two calls, and asked longer time about the others. (Supplies furnished to almost all the vacancies, by all the ministerstwo Sabbaths each.) The Presbytery find that, agreeably to the order of the General Assembly, Mr. Cooley's testimonials were laid before Synod, and that the Synod, from the peculiar nature of said testimonials, suspected the authenticity of them, and therefore agreed to retain them and lay them before the General Assembly next Spring. Also, finding that Mr. Cooley has not complied with the order of Presbytery respecting letters of recommendation from, ministers in South Carolina, did not see their way clear to

employ him any longer until further satisfaction be obtained respecting these matters.

The Presbytery proceeded to consider a reference from the Session of Congruity congregation, respecting a certain James Christy and Rebecca Gordon. After hearing all the minutes of the Session relating to that affair, and duly deliberating thereon, Presbytery were unanimously of opinion that no credit ought to be given to the oath of Rebecca Gordon, and therefore that there is no sufficient evidence to criminate said Christy as being the father of said Gordon's child-yet, as there appeared to have been unbecoming conduct between the above-mentioned parties, Presbytery judged that neither of them ought to be received to distinguishing privileges, until Providence shall shed further light upon the matter.

The Presbytery agree to ordain Mr. G. Hill on the second Tuesday of November, at Fairfield; and appointed Mr. Porter to preach the ordination sermon, and Mr. Power to preside and give the charge.

The Treasurer reported that he had received the following contributions for the support of missionaries, viz.: from Mr. M'Pherrin, £5 28.; Mr. Hughes, £3; Mr. Dunlap, £5 168. 9d.; Mr. M'Millan, 158.-in all £14 138. 9d.-for which he produced the receipt of the Commission of Synod.

The Presbytery having received a dismission and certificate from the Commission of Synod, testifying that Mr. Robert Marshall had conducted himself in a becoming manner, while riding a missionary under their care and direction - and also a letter from Mr. M., requesting a dismission from Presbytery, to join the Presbytery of Transylvania — agree to grant his request, and recommend him as a licentiate in good standing. Ordered that the Clerk transmit a copy of this minute to Mr. Marshall. (48)

Upon inquiry, found that a number of the members had done something considerable towards raising a fund for the education of poor and pious youth, and that it is the design

of all the members present to do what they can in this

matter.

Mr. Marquis and Mr. Mercer-discourses-sustained.

Synod having appointed the second Thursday of November to be observed as a day of solemn fasting and prayer, to supplicate Almighty God to pour out his Holy Spirit upon our assemblies, and to revive religion in our churches-also to return God humble thanks for the divine influences he has already granted to some places in our bounds - Presbytery heartily concurred with the appointment, and enjoined it upon the churches in their bounds carefully to observe the same.

The Presbytery granted Mr. Swan's request to retain the two calls now in his hands till next meeting, and appointed him to supply those places till then.

The Presbytery unanimously agreed to appoint Canonsburg to be the seat of that institution of learning, which they are appointed by Synod to superintend; and that all the young men taken upon the fund for the support of poor and pious youths, shall be educated there.

Messrs. Smith, Marquis and Mercer examined on Moral Philosophy and Marquis and Mercer, at some length, on Divinity all sustained. Mr. Smith to prepare a popular sermon on John xv. 12; Mr. Marquis-a Presbyterial Exercise on Galatians iv. 45; and Mr. Mercer a Homily on Isaiah lxiv. 6-all by next meeting. Adjourned to meet at Fairfield, second Tuesday of November. Concluded with prayer.

(48) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE REV. ROBERT MarSHALL. As this very eminent servant of God, after laboring near two-and-a-half years as a licentiate of the Redstone Presbytery, now withdraws to another field, and his name will appear no more on the minutes, it may be proper to give some further account of him.

"The Rev. Robert Marshall was born in County Down, Ireland, November 27th, 1760, and in the twelfth year of his age accompanied his family to western Pennsylvania. He

was a wild boy; and when the Revolutionary War broke out, enlisted as a private soldier, at the age of sixteen, in opposition to the wishes of his mother. Contrary to what might have been expected from such a beginning, while in the army he never swore nor drank, although drinking and profanity were common in the camp, and liquor formed part of the rations. When not on duty, he retired to his tent, and devoted himself, like Cobbet, to the study of arithmetic and mathematics. He was in six general engagements, one of which was the hard-fought battle of Monmouth, where he narrowly es caped with his life, a bullet grazing his locks. To the end of life, military music had a stirring effect on him.

6

"After the War, he joined the Seceders, and was very selfrighteous, but, as he afterwards believed, was a stranger to a real change of heart. It was under a searching sermon of that man of God, Dr. M'Millan, from Romans ix. 22, that he who had come to find food for criticism and cavil in a preacher of a rival denomination, felt that he was one of the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction.' His self-possession deserted him, his proud head dropped, and he was thrown into a state of the deepest anguish. He vainly sought some outward sign from heaven of his acceptance, and not receiving any, fell into despair. At length he became sensible of the presumption of dictating to God the evidences of conversion, and obtained a more rational hope. This hope he never afterwards lost, not even in his wildest aberrations, and towards the close of life it rose to a high degree of assurance.

"He was now about twenty-three years old - but not deterred by his age, he resolutely commenced preparation for the ministry. His academical studies were conducted under Mr. Graham, at Liberty Hall; his theological course under Dr. M'Millan, something of whose solemn manner he caught. While at Liberty Hall, he maintained an exemplary and consistent walk among a set of profane and wicked youths, and though standing alone, commanded universal respect. After being licensed by Redstone Presbytery, he returned to Vir