twenty in the new States of the West, on whose ample domain a score of New Englands might be spread. Another year has been occupied in "thinking and consulting how to effect" the great work undertaken by the Society-and we are therefore naturally led in this Report to consider the measures which have been adopted-and how far it has pleased God to "stir up" the hearts of lovers of learning to contribute.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARGUMENT.

In an enterprise like this, it is especially true, that the heart must be reached through the understanding. There is very little chance for an appeal to the sympathies. We must produce an intelligent conviction of its scope and power as a part of the great system of means essential to the evangelization of the West. The problem so difficult of solution by the Society has ever been of a twofold character-viz: first, so to construct the great argument that it could be apprehended and appreciated; not simply by scholars, but by the great body of those who compose our churches-who pray "thy kingdom come," and whose united contributions, great and small, fill the channels of benevolence: and, second, to bring the argument when constructed, every where in contact with these minds. Such a construction is confessedly a matter of great difficulty. The interests involved are wide in their reach, and lie very much beyond the circle of common observation. They are found not so much upon the surface of society as in the deep interior-there linking themselves, with all the unseen and vital forces of the social system, and operating every where so noiselessly, that their presence and power would be unnoticed, except by the careful observer. It was this view of the case, that drew from the illustrious Dwight the declaration, that, he who would show to common minds the connection between colleges and the interests of the church, would be a benefactor of his species. During the last twelve years, a very large amount of earnest thought has been bestowed upon this subject by an extensive circle of the ablest thinkers, and the results have been brought to bear on the public mind through the pulpit, the platform, and the press. The effect of all this has been such, as to make that no extravagant eulogy, which an able advocate of the enterprise pronounced, when he said -"if the Society had raised no funds, it would still deserve the thanks of the nation, for having earnestly advocated the cause of sound learning before the people, and for having made a vigorous

and manly effort to call back the popular mind to those systems of social organization and improvement, to which our Fathers. adhered with so much tenacity, and by adhering to which, they have accomplished so much for the good of the nation and the world."

DIFFUSION OF THE ARGUMENT.

But how to secure an adequate diffusion of the argument, when constructed, has been more difficult of solution, than the construction itself. The practicability and expediency of establishing a Periodical, has, accordingly, at different times engaged the earnest attention of the Board. It is rare that a benevolent society attempts to prosecute its work without some organ-and each one multiplies rather than diminishes its issues, potwithstanding the prevalent feeling that this work is already overdone, and the repeated declaration, that such publications are not read. Sixteen thousand copies of the Home Missionary, are issued monthly, nearly eighty thousand copies of the three Periodicals of the American Board, and more than half a million copies monthly, of the American Messenger and the Child's Paper, published by the American Tract Society. These publications go every where and exert a powerful influence upon the public mind, and very largely swell the amount of funds contributed.

The publication of a periodical was one of the objects had in view, when the union with the American Education Society was proposed. It was believed that the objects prosecuted by the two societies, would afford ample scope for an elevated work of this description, and that the interests to be secured would be of sufficient magnitude to justify the expense of its publication. Although that union was not consummated, the idea of a periodical was not abandoned. It was felt that if such an instrumentality was found indispensable to the success of societies which had every where a recognized place in the systems of benevolence adopted by our churches, and whose claims at the appointed time, as a matter of course, would come before them-if societies which could cover the whole field with their agencies, and whose objects, moreover, combined popular elements, which made strong appeals to the great mass of Christians, needed periodicals,-much more was one needed by this Society, not only from its limited agencies, and means of reaching the public mind, but from the very nature of the subject with which it had to deal.

At a special meeting of the Board, held on the 5th of April

last, the subject was very fully discussed, and finally referred to a select committee. At an adjourned meeting held on the 8th of May, this Committee reported, and a series of resolutions was adopted, declaring, that in the judgment of the Board such a periodical was of great importance to the interests of the Society, and also to the cause of Collegiate Education generally, in our country-and empowering the Consulting Committee to commence its publication, whenever they should first have secured an adequate guaranty, in the shape of a special fund, or otherwise, against any encroachment upon the ordinary receipts of the Society. The Committee were also authorized to confer with the Rev. Dr. Peters in regard to taking the editorial charge of the work.

After considerable progress had been made, it was ascertained that the Hon. Henry Barnard, a member of the American Association for the advancement of Education, was about commencing the publication of a similar periodical. He afterwards proposed a union between the two-Dr. Peters to have special editorial charge of the department which related to the higher institutions of learning, and the work to be published upon their joint responsibility. It apppeared to the Committee that the essential object contemplated by the Board in recommending the publication of a Magazine as the organ of the Society would be secured under such an arrangement, and they therefore expressed their cordial approbation of the plan. The first number of the work has already been issued under the title of the "American Journal of Education and College Review."

ESSAY ON PRAYER FOR COLLEGES.

One of the most important events of the year has been the publication of Prof. Tyler's Essay on Prayer for Colleges. It marks an era in the history of the Society, and perhaps it is not too much to say, in the religious history of American Colleges. More than 3,000 copies have already been put in circulation. Of these some 600 were ordered by Institutions aided by the Society. The work has also been extensively circulated in Eastern colleges, Theological schools, and Academies. Through the benevolence of a few individuals a copy was furnished to each student connected with Amherst College. Another individual purchased 150 copies for gratuitous distribution. Some forty copies have been circulated in a single parish in Massachusetts.

The Author in his preface says:-"If the Essay has any merit, it consists in the simplicity, directness, and earnestness

with which it labors to show to "common minds" 1st, the duty and the power of believing prayer, and the peculiar necessity of more faith and prayer in our day; 2d, the indissoluble connection between colleges and all the great interests of the church, the country, and mankind; and 3d, the sacred obligations, primarily, of the officers and students and those immediately concerned; but secondarily, of all who have an interest at the throne of grace, to bring this great power to bear on this most important point." The press has uttered but one voice in reference to this admirable and timely Essay-and but one feeling has been expressed by those who have perused it. Many an individual has been led as never before to realize "the duty and power of believing prayer;" and in the light of the indissoluble connection between colleges and all the great interests of the church, the country and mankind, as there set forth, together with the encouragement to prayer furnished by the history of college revivals, has been brought to plead before the throne of grace with an earnestness and hope before unknown. An extensive perusal of the Essay gave an increased interest to the last concert of prayer for colleges, and in not a few institutions it was largely influential in promoting the revivals with which they were blest. The happiest results might be anticipated from its general circulation. It ought to be in the hands of every college officer and trustee, of every teacher and student in the nation, and of all who have an interest at the throne of grace.

It becomes our painful duty here to state, that the REV. J. M. ELLIS, through whose liberality the Society was enabled to offer the premium for the above-named Essay, is no more. He died at his residence in Nashua, N. H., in August last. His relations to Western colleges were somewhat peculiar, and seem to deserve a distinct and honorable notice in this Report.

As a Home Missionary, he was one of the most active agents in all the incipient movements for the establishment of Illinois College. He was also one of the projectors of Wabash College, and one of the little company who in the dead of winter, in the primeval forest of Northern Indiana, kneeled in the snow and dedicated the site of that Institution to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. For several years he acted as agent of this Society, and to the last with a zeal that knew no abatement. During a long course of years his mind had been intensely excited in view of the dangers to our country from Romanism, and especially so from the educational schemes of the Jesuits, The conception of the Essay on the Educational

Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits written for the Society by Prof. Porter, originated with him, and it was through his liberality that the premium for it was offered. He also felt an absorbing interest in the education of young men for the gospel ministry, and in the endowment of permanent scholarships in our Institutions of learning, as the best method of accomplishing this object. But his work is done. When asked just before he expired whether Christ was precious, he replied, “All in all-all in all-all in all."

Western Reserve College.

At the close of 1849 the Society ceased to grant aid to this College. The Trustees had succeeded in securing $100,000 for its endowment-of which sum $25,000 were raised on the field of the Society and under its direction, but on the condition that the institution should relinquish all further claim to its aid, and leave the Eastern field. But difficulties arose at the College in the administration of its affairs, which ultimately increased to such a degree as to threaten its vital interests. In process of time, also, the operations of the Society began to be unfavorably affected by rumors of these difficulties which went abroad, and tended strongly to impair public confidence, not only in that particular institution, but in Colleges generally at the West.

Consequently, at the Annual Meeting of the Board in 1852, a Committee of Inquiry was appointed, simply with a view of eliciting reliable information for the satisfaction of those whose fears had been awakened, and who pressed their inquiries upon the Society. At the next Annual Meeting of the Board, this Committee reported. The principal result of their investigations was that the difficulties were of a very serious character, and so complicated that "nothing short of an extended and careful comparison of testimony, furnished by both parties, could enable any one to judge correctly, either as to the number and relative influence of the causes which had led to them, or as to the particulars of an adjustment which would be just to the individuals concerned, and at the same time calculated to promote the best interests of the College.

In view of this Report, and of the whole case as it then appeared to the Directors, the Corresponding Secretary was "directed to write to the Board of Trustees" of theCollege, "earnestly recommending to them the appointment by themselves of a Mediating Committee, to whom existing difficulties shall be re