dialects, especially of the Chaldee that occurs in the Old Testament; on the Hebrew poetry; on the geography and the natural history of the Bible; on the ancient arts and customs of the Jews and oriental nations; on the Greek of the New Testament, with special reference to its peculiarities, and the probable origin of them; on the history, character, influence, and uses of the ancient versions and manuscripts of the Old Testament and of the New; on modern translations, especially our common English version; and on the principal editions of the original Scriptures.

• To the department of Ecclesiastical History, shall be referred instruction on the evidences of the christian religion ; on the formation, preservation, transmission, and canonical authority of the sacred volume; on the ancient and the subsequent history of the Hebrews, and, so far as may be requisite, of the nations with whose history that of the Hebrews is connected; on the history of CHRISTIANITY, and the various opinions and practices which, under its name, have been supported, with the causes and the consequences; on the attempts at reformation; and on the present state as well as the origin of the different denominations of professed christians, and of unbelievers, and the unevangelized throughout the world.

"To the sphere of Biblical Theology it shall belong to aid the students in acquiring a knowledge of the sacred Scriptures in the original languages as well as in the English; to guide them to correct principles of interpretation, and habituate them to employ, in seeking to understand the various parts of the Bible, all those helps which may be derived from the different branches of Biblical Literature; to analyze, and lead the students to analyze, in the original, the most important portions of the Old Testament, and the whole, if possible, of the New, exhibiting the scope of the respective parts, and whatever of doctrinal or of practical import they may contain, and showing how they are applicable at the present day, and " profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ;”—and after thus surveying the rich field of Scripture, and viewing the products as scattered profusely on every side by the bounteous hand of God, it shall be required, for the sake of convenient reference, to classify and arrange the particulars, and, for this purpose, to bring the students to the examination of a series of theological subjects, in such a manner as most to awaken the efforts of the genuine disciple of Christ, and lead him to “ search the Scriptures."

• Under the head of Pastoral Duties it shall be required to give instruction on the nature, objects, difficulties, responsibilities, and supports of the pastoral office; on the great work of PREACHING the gospel; on the various ways and occasions of promoting the welfare of a church, and commending the gospel to the consciences of men by private labors as well as by public preaching, exhortation and prayer; on the dangers of the preacher, and the appropriate guards; on his visits to persons in health, and in sickness, and in other affliction ; and on administering consolation, or reproof, or instruction, or entreaty, as different individuals may need, and as

becomes

one,

who is to watch for souls as they that must give account.

• The Professors shall take precedence, respectively, according to seniority. They shall receive to themselves no compensation for preaching; but whatever compensation may be made, shall go

into the treasury. They shall statedly reside near the Institution ; and they shall be considered as constituting a Faculty for the final admitting and the removing of students, and for the general regulation and government of the Institution, according to the principles already established and the rules that may hereafter be approved and established by the Board. It shall be their duty to guard with vigilance against the adınission, and against the retaining of unsuitable persons as members; to have frequent recitations and other appropriate exercises in the different branches of study ; to devote their time and talents to accelerating the progress of their pupils in the acquisition of those attainments which shall be most conducive to their usefulness in the gospel ministry; to guard them against error; to guide them in their inquiries after truth; to communicate instruction adapted to their wants and capacities; to point out the course of study to be pursued, with the approbation of the Board ; to name to the students, from time to time, such books as may be perused by them with the greatest profit; to intimate to them, as there may be occasion, the best method of studying ; to animate their pursuits by frequent inquiries and examinations relative to their progress; to assign them proper subjects for their first compositions, and suggest a proper manner of treating them; to devote special attention to the improvement of their style and delivery, favoring them with free and affectionate remarks on their productions and their public speaking; to watch over their health with paternal solicitude; to teach them how they may distribute and employ their time to the greatest advantage; to give them friendly advice respecting their intercourse with persons in various stations and circumstances; above all, to confer with them freely and frequently on those subjects, and to take those measures which are best calculated to promote their growth in grace, and warm their hearts with love to God and the souls of men.'

No charge is made to any student for tuition, room-rent and furniture, or use of library. The expense of boarding at the Institution does not exceed one dollar and fifty cents a week. Washing is at the rate of thirty-seven and a half cents a dozen. For fuel and light, the sum of six or seven dollars a year is sufficient. It is the determination of the Trustees to reduce the necessary expenses as much as possible, so that the advantages of the Institution may be extensively enjoyed. They have also consulted for the health of the students; and, as the farm contains about eighty acres, and has a spacious garden, they are making arrangements for regular exercise by laboring on the lands, when the weather is suitable, and by various sorts of work within doors, when the weather is unpleasant.

A reading room, supplied with the more important religious and literary Periodicals, is resorted to by the students at hours not interfering with their regular studies.

There are two vacations in every year, each of six weeks; the first commencing on the Friday after the second Wednesday in September; and the second on the Thursday after the third Wednesday in April. At the end of each term there is an examination.

The Anniversary of the Institution occurs on the Thursday after the second Wednesday in September. The examination in the studies attended to during the term immediately preceding, is to be previous to the day of the Anniversary.

Under a deep impression of the importance of making the regular course of studies here as thorough and as complete as at any Institution, and of encouraging at the Colleges a due attention to one of the most interesting of the ancient languages, it has also been required that, hereafter, candidates for admission be acquainted with Professor Stuart's Hebrew Grammar, and the first forty pages of his Hebrew Chrestomathy. Those who may not be able at College or elsewhere to make this preparation, (and it is to be hoped that the number will be small,) should, if possible, be in Newton as soon, at least, as the time of the Anniversary of the Institution, and employ the succeeding vacation in the most favorable circumstances for being prepared to enter at the beginning of the term. Special attention will be paid to their progress.

This Institution, at its outset, was an object of fervent prayer among several who felt deeply for the welfare of the churches. It has now been in operation nearly five years; and the churches are beginning to reap its benefits. More than twenty persons who nave been connected with it, have entered on their public labors, and are rendering valuable aid to the cause of the gospel. It is to be hoped that the spirit of confidence in God, and of dependence on him, and of noiseless moving forward in the path of duty, will characterize all the operations of the Trustees, and of the Instructers. They have undertaken a great and a good work. They look to the Head of the Church for his blessing; they look to their brethren for prayer and co-operation.

PROVISION FOR A SHORTER COURSE.

It has been resolved, that, while the regular course of study is vigorously sustained, suitable persons, though having only an English education, upon presenting the requisite certificate from the churches to which they belong, may, in special cases, be permitted to reside at the Institution, (subject to its rules, and with the approbation of its immediate government,) for pursuing such a shorter course, as shall be adapted to their ages and circumstances, and as shall be consistent with the regular duties of the Professors.

The shorter or select course is, ordinarily, to be made up of a selection from the most important English branches of study in the regular theological course; namely, Biblical geography, and oriental customs; general principles of interpreting the Scriptures; a series of theological subjects; Ecclesiastical History; and Pastoral Duties.

334

Preparatory Department.... Professor's Address.

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT.

Such a Department has been established; and the Rev. Harvey Ball, an early graduate of the Columbian College in the District of Columbia, and a gentleman of approved piety, and sound scholarship, has been appointed Principal. It is to be opened on the 22nd of October.

The Preparatory Department is designed to increase the facilities of becoming well fitted to enter upon either the regular course in the Institution, or a shorter one; and, without requiring as a term of admission any precise amount of literary attainments, it is to be adapted to the instruction of those who, on account of their, age and other circumstances, cannot pursue an entire collegiate course, and also of those who, after having been through college, may yet need, in view of the requisite knowledge of Hebrew, to make some special preparation.

It is to be open for the admission of those persons only who give evidence of their possessing genuine piety and suitable gifts, and of their being influenced by proper motives in wishing to be prepared for a theological course, and who, moreover, present to the Principal a certificate from the churches of which they are members approving of their devoting themselves to the work of the ministry.

The charge of instruction and government is committed to a Principal; but the general arrangements not otherwise provided for by the Trustees, in respect to classes, recitations, &c. the particular books to be used from time to time, and the preparatory course of each student, is to be at the discretion of the theological Professors and the Principal.

Special attention is to be paid to the English language and literature; and, as may be found expedient, instruction is to be given in the most necessary branches of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, in Geography, History, Rhetoric, Logic, and the Philosophy of the Human Mind, as well as in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.

In many instances, students who are preparing for a shorter course in theology, will be expected, at the discretion of the Profes. sors, to attend lectures and exercises on such portions of that course as they may be prepared for.

As in the Institution, so in the Preparatory Department, no student is to be required to pay for tuition, room-rent and furniture, or use of library

The Principal is to communicate to the Trustees at their annual meeting, a Report, fully exhibiting the state of the Department.

ADDRESS TO A CLASS, BY THE SENIOR PROFESSOR, AT THE

ANNIVERSARY, sept, 9, 1830,

My young Brethren,

The long expected, the desired and yet dreaded hour has arrived. It now devolves on me to present to you the certificate, testifying that, having completed the regular course of studies in this Institution, you are honorably dismissed.

How short the course that seemed to you so long when it was commenced! It has been like an eagle's flight; or like the passing away of a swift ship. Thus far, as to the outermost point of the harbor, we have accompanied you; for it was the dictate of affection; and we have felt a deep interest in the perilous enterprise on which you are embarked. But the signal is now given for our parting. We can only say a few words, and bid you adieu. Tomorrow's dawn will find you on the broad ocean of public life.

Well may we, at a moment like this, lift up our souls to God, and fervently pray, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Many an anxious eye is fixed upon you. Here you are surrounded by the friends of this Institution, who, amidst many discouragements, have laid its foundations in faith and hope, and have consecrated it to Christ and the churches, with much trembling and many prayers. They look on you this day with an emotion of which few but parents can conceive; and parents, too, who have sent forth their beloved sons to some station of peculiar difficulty, where untried temptations would be presented, and where imminent dangers to character and to life would be multiplied. I may even venture to affirm that there are, in this assembly, persons conscious of more, if possible, than parental solicitude on this occasion. They are aware that more is at stake than the reputation and welfare of a few endeared individuals, or of a few families. They contemplate your movements as connected with the honor or the reproach of Christianity itself, and of the whole family of God, with the dearest interests of a multitude that no man can number, and with the glory or the blaspheming of Him who is worthy of the homage and praise of all the millions that he has created.

No man, nor woman, nor child, can live in this world a single day, without exerting upon others an influence either good or bad. How emphatically is this the case with the professed minister of Christ! He cannot avoid it. Whether he speak or be silent; whether he be idle or be active; whatever he may do, or refrain from doing, there is constantly going forth from him a power either to heal or to destroy, either to do good or to do evil. And this good or this evil may extend far beyond the utmost reach of our imagination.

Suppose his conduct or his teaching exert a bad religious influence on an individual. Who can compute the extent to which the evil may go ? It is an injury done to-an immortal. But the evil stops not with that individual. He communicates it to twenty or a hundred others; and these to a thousand or to ten thousand; and these again to thousands of thousands. And all these are immortals.

But, on the other hand, suppose the influence exerted to be a good one. What tongue of man or of angel can tell the amount of good that may follow? It spreads from individual to individual, from family to family, from church to church, from one wide region of the earth to another, and from age to age, greatly benefiting this disordered world, and continuing to be felt

forever by happy myriads in heaven.