suspensions, and dismissions make our number forty-eight smaller than it was at the beginning of the year.

At the commencement of the year there were 150 members of this church whose place of abode was unknown to the session. The pastor has written to all the members who have left the city, whose residence he could ascertain, and requested them, if practicable, to take dismissions. This accounts, in part, for having ninety dismissed during the year. This part of the decrease has not weakened our actual strength. But sixty-four of this ninety were dismissed to be formed into a new 2d Church. The organization was consummated by the St. Louis Presbytery on the 10th of October, 1838. It to-day numbers eighty-two, all of whom would have been united with us, if we had not approved of their undertaking and cordially aided in the enterprise. If this colony had not left us, the additions to this church would have been greater the last year than in any that has passed except 1832.

Thirty-three children belonging to members of the church have been baptized during the last twelve months. Seventy-five baptized children and youth meet the pastor once in two months, to receive instruction in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, and to be reminded that the vows of God are upon them. In this meeting the church should feel deeply interested, and expect much.

A Maternal Association has been formed during the year, mainly from the members of the Presbyterian Churches, which numbers seventy-two members, and promises to be greatly useful, and soon to embrace most of our pious or serious mothers and female teachers. During the year now closed, our Female Sabbath School has contained from 16 to 20 teachers, and a list of 130 or 140 scholars. The average attendance of the children has been about 80. None of the scholars have united, with the church, and only one of the teachers on profession.

The Male School has been about the same in number with the female. None of the teachers have united with the church the last year, and only one scholar.

The German Sabbath School held in this house, and conducted by our denomination, numbers 27 teachers and 150 scholars. One teacher and one scholar have united with this church during the year.

There is also a Colored Sabbath School conducted by the members of this church, which numbers 10 or 12 teachers, and from 75 to 150 scholars.

Exclusive of the Sabbath School in the 2d Church, there are in connection with our denomination in the city, from 70 to 80 teachers, and between 500 and 500 scholars..

Last spring, the following plan for the benevolent action of this church was adopted, by which sonie one of the great benevolent objects is to receive the pecuniary aid of the congregation every two months, viz:

In Jan. or February, an effort is to be made for the Bible Society. In March or April, for the Education Society.

In May or June, for Foreign Missions.

In July or August, for Sabbath Schools.

In September or October, for the Tract Society.

In November or December, for Domestic Missions.

If an agent of either of these societies come among us at the time allotted his object, his labors will be gratefully received. Otherwise, the pastor is to call upon his people to contribute according as the Lord has prospered them..

In unison with this plan, we began in April with the cause of Education, to which we have given during the year, $676 69; to Foreign Missions, we have given $580 28; to Sabbath Schools, including the expenditures for libraries, $594 14; to the Tract Society, exclusive of what individuals have paid for the bound volumes, $200 75*;* to the the Missouri Presbyterian Domestic Mission, $820; † to a travelling agent engaged in the sale of Tracts, Sabbath School books and Bibles. $175.

For sacred music, in addition to what has been paid by the adult classes, we have expended $250; in the purchase of lamps for the church and session house, over $200; for the parsonage, about $4,500. Of this sum, $2,800 has been subscribed and mostly paid as a donation. The balance, if not otherwise provided for, will soon be paid by the rent of the house. For building the house which has the last year been erected for the 2d Church, and for the support of their minister, about $2,700 will be required. This was mostly subscribed before we colonized, and will all soon be paid.

Over $10,000 has been subscribed by the joint effort of the two congregations for the purpose, this year, of erecting a permanent, large house of worship for the 2d Church.

You have paid, the last year, for paving around this church, $259; for expenses of synodical meeting, $50; for pastor's salary, $2000; for sexton and incidental expenses, $200.

Exclusive of the subscription for the new church, none of which has been paid, the whole account will stand thus: For Education, Sabbath Schools, Tract, Foreign and Domestic Mission Societies,

* $95 75 of this was given by the 1st Church, and $105 by the 2d Church.

f $470 given by the 2d Church, and $350 by the 1st Church. Both churches will yet give more to this subject.

$3,046 86: For sacred music, lamps, personage, Missionary Church, paving, parson's salary, synod, sexton, &c. $10,159. Making an ag gregate of the expenditures of this church and congregation, during the year, (including most of the contributions of the 2d Church for the two months and a half it has been in existence,) of $13,205 86. Aside from the debt contracted for the parsonage, we have not increased our liabilities during the year. With the exception just named, our whole debt is only about $3,000.

In 1831, the debt of the church had been reduced to less than $1500. In 1832 and '33, over $1600 were expended for the session house, which swelled the debt to its present amount. The repairs and alterations made upon the church, with the purchase of stoves; &c., have kept the debt about the same up to this time. The prospect now is, that it will be annually diminished $500 or $600, till paid up.

During the year just closed, we have established a strong sister church, in some respects stronger than ourselves, and still our pews below are all rented which we do not expect to be free. The 2d Church will not commence building before both houses will be full. We shall in every respect be benefitted by the sacrifice we made in encouraging our brethren to leave us. Our contributions to religious objects will not be diminished by their departure. By their benevolent deeds, we shall probably learn that we too may abound still more in our liberality. By this division, many in our church will be obliged to sustain responsibilities which will make them more active, useful and holy. By this division, our influence in this city, and our ability to do good, has been more than doubled.

Such is a brief history of our origin and growth, and of our labors as a church and congregation during the past year.

Abroad in our city and State, there are a few things claiming a passing notice here. Unusual and successful efforts have been made to promote the cause of Temperance in our city and State the last year. Over 100 additions have been made to our Total Abstinence Society.* Through the efforts of this society, the grog shop system has been closely and faithfully investigated throughout the city. By this examination the community has been aroused. Our Grand Jury have presented the system as an evil calling for an efficient remedy. Over 1000 signatures, mostly of legal voters in St. Louis, have been attached to a petition, praying our Legislature to enact laws, which will aid at least in diminishing the evils of this abominable system.

A like petition, with about the same number of signatures, is now to be laid before our City Council. Several of our daily papers have

* Out of 280 members, 152 belong to our denomination.

heartily enlisted in this good cause, and done much to create a correct public sentiment. It becomes every friend of Temperance to see to it that these papers lose nothing by the stand they have taken, and that those do not relatively gain who have cowardly, or from opposition, remained silent on the subject. An agent for the state, will be employed as soon as a suitable man can be obtained. The friends of Temperance never had such bright prospects to cheer them in their labors as at this moment.

During the past year, the Missouri Sabbath School Union, Tract, and Bible Societies, have each engaged to employ an agent for the state the coming year. The Bible and Tract Societies have each appointed a gentleman that will soon commence operations. The S. S. Union will not rest till they have an agent in the field. In October last, a Missouri Presbyterian Domestic Mission Society was formed for the purpose of doing more, if possible, to supply the state with ministers of the Gospel. The society resolved to try and raise $3000 for that object this year. One gentleman pledged $150. This city will raise over $1000. We ought to raise $1500 of the sum. We have about 25 Presbyterian ministers engaged in their appropriate work in this state. They are in 16 different counties. Forty-two counties are entirely destitute. If suitable men can be obtained, we will see that at least twelve more ministers are this year sustained in the work of preaching the Gospel in this State.

As a church, in this State, we are at peace among ourselves, and in the exercise of mutual confidence and Christian love. Probably in no portion of the land, can as many Presbyterian churches and ministers be found who are so perfectly united as in Missouri. This fact should encourage us to hope for a greater supply of ministers and those from among the most pious and laborious men in the land. Some, tired of the agitations and strifes of other sections of the country, will most certainly be ready to seek an asylum among us, where they may be allowed to devote their whole time and strength to the work of winning souls to Christ.

The short review of the past we have taken, suggests many interesting and profitable reflections. Most of them must be reserved for another occasion. * Time will now allow me to make only a few.

1. The friends of missions should not be discouraged by a small beginning or slow progress at the commencement of their labors. Our days are so few, and we pass so rapidly to eternity, we should not despond if no fruits of our labors appear to us on earth. Our la

*They were made in the afternoon of the same day, in a sermon preached from Isaiah v. 4: "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it ?"

bors in the Lord will not be lost. While time shall last, we may be in the eternal world, rejoicing in what the Lord enabled us to do here on earth.

Twenty-three years ago, we see a solitary Christian pleading with the friends of Christ in New England to send the bread of life to the 25,000 famishing souls in this state; or, if this could not be done, at least to unite in pleading with the Lord of the harvest to send supplies. Soon one missionary came. After nearly twelve years toil, discouragement, and frequent despondency, he sunk into the grave, worn out in his Maker's service: leaving, in this State and Illinois, not more than ten or twelve ordained Presbyterian ministers. Ten years more have passed, and we see over one hundred ordained Presbyterian ministers in these two States, who have led multitudes, instrumentally, to the Lamb of God. Who, that looks at these results, will ever say that praying breath is spent in vain? What richer reward can the patrons of the Connecticut Mission Society desire, than to stand where we do now, or around the throne above, and contemplate the fruit of their benefactions? Who will doubt but that Giddings and Hempstead and Shackford and Oakley and Kerr, fill heaven's arches with louder and sweeter notes of praise, as they behold the current of their good influence growing broader, deeper, and stronger, while it bears on its bosom redeemed souls home to glory?

Amid such circumstances and reflections, what Christian will wish to forget that multitudes in our State, still destitute and in like condition with the father of this church, are now pleading for the aid we can give, or for an interest in our prayers?

Who will not rejoice that the Lord is now opening to us, as a church and people, an opportunity to aid in furnishing the means of grace to those as needy as were the inhabitants of this city twenty-three years ago? None, I am sure, who can claim kindred with the Christian or philanthropist.

2. The results of the revival of 1832, should afford practical instruction to all of us.

The session should learn to use great caution in the reception of members during a general excitement. A longer time should be allowed to elapse after a person professes to be born again, before he is received into the church in time of what is here called a revival, than at other seasons. We should not be hasty in forming an opinion of any set of religious measures, from the immediate apparent results.

If the impenitent would make their calling and election sure, they should not wait until they are brought under the influence of extraordinary means or excitements. So far as this church is concerned,