these pages,

The Board of Directors of the Northern Baptist Education Society have

obtained leave of the Publishers of the Baptist Magazine, to occupy quarterly, at least four pages in this highly useful Journal. In we shall endeavor to give the readers of the Magazine as much knowledge of our progress and of the progress of education generally, as circumstances will admit.

NORTHERN BAPTIST EDUCATION SOCIETY.

Tais Society was formed on the 24th of March of the present year. It originated in the Massachusetts Education Society,--a Society which was formed in 1814, and has accomplished more, probably, than any other similar Society in the denomination in this country.

The need of a Society that should occupy the place which the Northern Baptist Ed. Soc. now occupies, the leading and pious men in our denomination have long felt and deeply deplored. We had an Education Society of some sort in almost every New England State; but in all of them there was a want of system and efficiency. In relation to the accomplishment of the ultimate object of these Societies, we were like a few detached and feeble forces, opposed by a vast army of well disciplined troops: our efforts were mere skirmishes.

As the Massachusetts Education Society was central, and had become the most efficient of any of these Societies, it was thought desirable that this Society should throw off its territorial liinits, and hold a similar relation to each of the Northern States. This object has been happily accomplished, and the principles of the Society established; which, so far as we have been able to learn, have met with general approbation.* Two of the States have already become constituent Branches of the Northern Education Society; and each of the other States, so far as our intercourse has extended, has expressed a willingness to do the same.

The object of the Northern Baptist Education Society is, to assist in acquiring a suitable education, the indigent but worthy youth of our country, who give evidence that they are designed of Heaven for usefulness as ministers of the gospel. And the ultimate object of this Society will not be attained until it has called from secret retirement into a course of healthful study, every youth in our churches who is pining away under a conviction of duty to preach the gospel, and a conscious want of suitable qualifications.

We know that there have been, and still are, many such persons; and we believe that God will increase them as fast as they can obtain those qualifications, which he requires them to seek, until the church and the world shall be supplied with well qualified and devoted ministers.

The plan of the Northern Baptist Education Society is, to have a Society in each State, independent in itself, except so far as the mutual relation of giving and receiving aid, as the circumstances of a given Branch might admit or require. Great advantages are expected to result from such an organization. A Society thus situated in the midst of a given territory can best perform the necessary labor. The offi

* For a full developement of the principles of the Society, we refer our readers to its Constitution and By-laws, which have been recently published.

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cers of the Society, who are to have the management of its concerns, will doubtless be the best men in the State, and will be selected from its different sections ; so that they will be familiar with all necessary facts, whether they relate to the individuals who ought to be patronized, or to the means by which they are to be supported. On the other hand, advantages equally great are expected to result from a union of the several State Societies to some common head. In some of these States there is more wealth than in others; but in all probability those States which have less wealth will furnish the greater number of students. Besides, it may occur that some State at a given time may have no studentsbut they have the means of support. Again, they may have twice as many students as they can support, and then let them call for aid. These circumstances, which we have now supposed might exist, actually do exist in the two States which have united with the Society. In Rhode Island they have the means of supporting five students; but for two years past there has not been a beneficiary within the limits of the State. In New Hampshire there are at least eight beneficiaries, and they have not the means at present, of supporting the one quarter of them.

EDUCATION SOCIETY OF WARREN ASSOCIATION. The following extract is from a communication made to the Warren Association in 1791.

“A friend to the cause of true religion, and of the Baptist interest in particular, having for some time considered, that among that denomination there are but few charitable institutions, and reflecting that there are at all times, many young inen who might be very useful in the church as ministers of Christ, whose circumstances in life in a great measure exclude them from the advantages of a good education, believes it to be a duty really encumbent on us to assist those of our own persuasion, so as to render them as useful as possible in the world. He is sensible that the great Head of the church may, and often does make use of men without the aids of human learning, as instruments greatly to promote his cause; yet this should by no means prevent us from doing what may appear to be our duty: many a man who might have shone as a star of the first magnitude in the church, has been confined to a small circle, for want of some assistance of the nature we now contemplate. Impressed with these ideas, and a sincere desire to promote the cause of true religion, and the ordinances of the New Testament, as they were instituted by our blessed Lord and Saviour, he is induced most respectfully to offer to this Association, the idea of founding an institution, 'For the purpose of assisting such young men of the Baptist denomination, as may appear to be suitably qualified for the ministry, with a collegiate education.” It is therefore proposed, that the Association should recommend to all the churches in their communion in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, a public collection on some Lord's-day, for the purpose of cominencing it, or in any other way they shall prefer; that the moneys in this, and other ways obtained, shall be paid into the hands of a comunittee (of two or three) appointed by this Association, until the whole shall be collected, and by said Committee paid into the hands of the Trustees of the charity–who will so dispose of it, as they shall judge most for the benefit of the Institution; the interest only of all such moneys, or other property as may be obtained, shall be yearly appropriated for the use of such students as may be admitted to the benefits of the proposed plan. The writer is

ence.

sensible that the sum thus to be expended will be small at first ; but this ought by no means to discourage us, if the plan itself is thought to be feasible ; for the foundation once laid, the superstructure, we hope, will be constantly building up until it shall be completed, by the charity of our friends, both in their life time, and at their death."

This communication is valuable both for its antiquity, and the justness of its sentiment. Forty years since, and there were but five charitable institutions in our country. The whole Baptist denomination at that time were a mere handful.

It is interesting to remark, that the same sentiments which are expressed in this projected plan, for an Education Society, have been steadfastly adhered to by our brethren in all their efforts to promote ministerial education, from that time until the present. We still believe that the great Head of the church may, and often does make use of men, who are unblessed with the aids of human learning, greatly to promote his cause. We believe also, that the same individuals who might be useful without the advantages of education, might become eminently so, could they enjoy these advantages. The question is not, whether mere human science can qualify a man to preach the gospel; but whether a minister of the gospel, in the duties of his high calling, can derive assistance from his knowledge of human sci

This appeal to the great and good men of that Association, was not permitted to pass unnoticed. They immediately formed a Society, which has continued until the present time. This Society, during the long period of its existence, has accomplished much for the cause of ministerial education; though its members and its resources have been successively diminished by the formation of a large number of new Associations. In its progress it has gladdened the heart of many a pious youth, and blessed many a church with the fruit of its labor. Recently the Society has been revived; and they baye become a Branch of the Northern Baptist Education Society. They possess a small fund, and were incorporated by the legislature of Rhode Island in 1823. They are able at present, to support five beneficiaries. And it is devoutly hoped, that the generous and spirited individuals who have recently come to the Society's help, will soon be joined by large numbers from every church in the State.

The Warren Association has long been distinguished as the patrons of sound learning. Frequent resolutions are found in their Minutes, recommending Brown University to the patronage of every Baptist church on the continent. And there are special reasons why they should continue to be the friends of all good learning. In the midst of the Warren Association is situated one of the most ancient and distinguished literary institutions in our country-an institution in whose brightening prospects the heart of every good man is now made to rejoice.

The Offieers of this Society are,
Francis WAYLAND, D. D. Pres.
Prof. A. CASWELL, Sec'ry.

Dea. N. W. WATERMAN, Treas.
Rev. David Benedict, Rev. R. E. Patison,
J. O. Choules,

Pharcellus Church, Directors.
Flavel Shurtleff,

J. C. Welch,
Rev. R. E. Patison,

Pharcellus Church,' Examining Committee.
Wm. Phillips,

THE BRANCH SOCIETY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. This Society was formed on the 24th of June of the present year, and is of course in a state of infancy. It has at present no permanent funds. A respectable number of clergymen and laymen have inade themselves members of the Society, and several have become life members. The Society have received one beneficiary. The Northern Education Society have from the State of New Hampshire seven beneficiaries. This Branch, though small in its beginning, promises great usefulness.

The Officers of the Society are,
Rev. IRA PERSON, Pres.
Rev. SAMUEL Cook, Vice Pres.
Rev. Baron Stow, Sec’ry.

Mr. WILLIAM C. PARKER, Treas.
Rev. N. W. Williams, Rev. Gibbon Williams,
Bela Wilcox,

George Evans,
Oran Tracy,
Rev. George Evans,

N. W. Williams, Eramining Committee.
William Taylor,

Directors.

An account of Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Northern Baptist

Education Society, from June 14, to Sept. 14.

FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP. Thomas P. Ives, Esq. by himself,

$50.00 Rev. G. F. Davis, by his people,

50,00 Rev. Amasa Sanderson, by Middlesex Missionary Society,

50,00 FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP. Rev. Ezra Going,

5,00 Mr. Charles Forbes,

5,00 Dea. James Loring,

5,00 Mr. W. I. Nichols,

5,00 Also, Dividend on Lynn Bank,

30.00 Of Baptist Church, West Cambridge,

5.0) Rev. Mr. Malcom,

5,00 $210.00

The amount of money appropriated to beneficiaries at the last quarterly meeting of the Board, on the 14th of Sept. was $320,00. On the same day 6 new beneficiaries were admitted to the Society's patronage.

**All communications to the Northern Baptist Education Society sboald be addressed to E. THRESHES, to the care of Lincoln & Edmands. Or left at the Society's room, No. 59 Washington-Street.

REPORT Of the Professors of the Neroton Theological Institution, to the

Trustees, Sept. 9, 1830.

I. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS. During the former part of the year, there were nineteen students ; namely, six in the Senior Class, eight in the Middle Class, and five in the Junior Class. Of this number, one who is dependent upon his own exertions for finishing his education, obtained leave of absence for an indefinite time, with the intention of resuming his studies at the Institution hereafter. Another, having been elected to the charge of the Seminary at Horton, in the Province of Nova Scotia, it was judged expedient that he should forthwith enter into that interesting sphere of action. One who had been accepted by the Baptist Board of Missions, as a Missionary to Burmah, in compliance with the direction of the Board of Missions, left the Institution and the country a few months since. Another, having been elected President of Georgetown College, in the State of Kentucky, was also dismissed. Three have been prevented by ill health from prosecuting their studies, So that the number of students in the regular classes, during the summer term, has been twelve. Of these, four composed the Senior Class who have this day been dismissed in course.

There was resident at the Institution, for a few weeks of the summer term, a student who had been connected with the Senior Class in the Seminary at Andover, but who did not tarry sufficiently long at this Institution to become regularly matriculated, as the Board of Missions judged it expedient to embrace a favorable opportunity for his sailing to the East.

During a part of the summer term, there have also resided at the Institution, two graduates for the purpose of prosecuting the study of Hebrew, preparatory to entering the next Junior Class.

II. STUDIES PERFORMED DURING THE YEAR. 1. The Junior Class have been employed in studying Hebrew Grammar; the First and Second Parts of Professor Stuart's Course of Hebrew Study; Winer's Greek Grammar of the New Testament, Nov. 1830.

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