defrayed by subscription. And as this subscription was taken up at a period peculiarly inauspicious for raising money, a more than common share of address, patience, and perseverance, was necessary for prosecuting it with success. Dr. Rodgers, as usual, shrunk from no task that was assigned him. He went from door to door, for a number of weeks, begging for the church; and chiefly to his exertions, under God, may the speedy and happy accomplishment of the undertaking be ascribed.

Toward the close of the year 1784, Mr. James Wilson, a licensed candidate for the gospel ministry, arrived in New-York from Scotland. It was perceived that when the Wall-street church, which was then repairing, should be completed, a second minister would be absolutely necessary for the maintenance of regular service in both churches. Mr. Wilson having preached for several months, on probation, to the acceptance of the people, it was determined to call him to be one of their pastors. This was done, unanimously, on the twenty-ninth day of April, 1785. Mr. Wilson accepted the call, and was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and installed collegiate pastor, with Dr. Rodgers, of the United

churches of New-York, on the tenth day of August following.

Soon after the close of the revolutionary war, the Legislature of New-York passed an act, establishing a board, styled, "The Regents of the "University of New-York." The powers and duties of this board are highly important. To them it belongs to grant charters of incorporation to all seminaries of learning; to visit and inspect colleges and other seminaries; and in general, to watch over the interests of literature throughout the state. Of this University Doctor Rodgers was chosen Vice-Chancellor, which place he continued to occupy until his death.

In the month of May, in the year 1785, the Synod of New-York and Philadelphia, then the supreme judicatory of the Presbyterian church in the United States, began to take those steps for revising the public standards of the church, which issued in their adoption and establishment on the present plan. Every step in this system of measures, affords evidence of the respect in which the subject of these memoirs was held, and the confidence reposed in his wisdom and fidelity. He was a member of almost every committee ap

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A to conduct the business. On the 23d day of May, in the year just mentioned, the Synod being convened in Philadelphia, it was on motion resolved,-"That Dr. Witherspoon, Dr. Rodgers, Dr. Robert Smith*, Dr. Patrick Alli"son, Dr. Samuel S. Smith, Mr. John Woodhull, "Mr. Cooper, Mr. Latta ‡, Dr. Duffield, and "Mr. Matthew Wilson, be a committee to take "into consideration the constitution of the church "of Scotland, and other protestant churches; "and agreeably to the general principles of pres

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byterian government, complete a system of ge

* The Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, of Pequea, Pennsylvania, a gentleman of respectable talents and learning, and of eminent piety. His most important publication consists of three sermons on Faith, in the fourth volume of the American Preacher. He died about twelve years before Dr. Rodgers.

The Rev. Robert Cooper, of Shippensburgh, Pennsylvania, afterwards Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Cooper had a remarkably strong, sound mind; and though late in acquiring an education, and entering the ministry, he was a divine of great judiciousness, piety, and worth.

The Rev. James Latta, of Chesnut Level, Pennsylva nia, afterwards Doctor of Divinity. Doctor Latta, for talents and learning, as well as piety, held a high place among the clergy of his day. He died at an advanced age, a few years before Dr. Rodgers. He published a Discourse on Psalmody, which does honour to his memory.

"neral rules for the government of the Synod, " and the several Presbyteries under their inspec❝tion, and the people in their communion; and "to make report of their proceedings herein at "the next meeting of synod."

The same afternoon, an overture was brought into synod, "That, for the better management of "the churches under our care, this Synod be di"vided into three synods; and that a general Synod, or Assembly, be constituted out of the "whole." The consideration of this overture

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was postponed till the next year.

On the 17th of May, 1786, on resuming the consideration of this overture, the following motion was introduced into the synod, and carried in the affirmative, viz. “ Resolved, that this Synod "will establish, out of its own body, three or "more subordinate synods, out of which shall "be composed a General Assembly, Synod, or "Council, agreeably to a system hereafter to be adopted." In pursuance of this resolution, the Rev. Doctors Rodgers, Smith, Duffield*, and

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*The Rev. George Duffield, D. D. Pastor of the church in Pine-street, Philadelphia. This gentleman was distin

Allison*; and the Rev. Messrs. Latta, Martin, Matthew Wilson, Graham, Houston, James Finley, and Hall, were appointed "a committee "to prepare and report a plan for the division of "the synod into three or more synods."

On the 22d day of May, in this year, the committee appointed in 1785, to mature a system of discipline and government for the church, made their report, which was referred to another committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, viz. the reverend Doctors Witherspoon, Rodgers,

guished for the fervour of his piety, his intimate acquaintance with the constitution of the Presbyterian church, and his excellent powers as an extemporary preacher.

The Rev. Patrick Allison, D. D. was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1740. He received his education in the College of Philadelphia; was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and installed Pastor of the Presbyterian church in Baltimore, in the year 1762; where he remained honoured and useful until his death, which took place in 1802, in the 62d year of his age. Dr. Allison undoubtedly held a place in the very first rank of American clergy. He shone with distinguished lustre in the judicatories of the church. For the perspicuity, the correctness, the sound reasoning, and the masculine eloquence of his speeches, in ecclesiastical assemblies, he was long admired, and had scarcely an equal.