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part of the beneficiaries of the American Education Society feel and will feel. They would be among the last, I verily believe, to propose the giving up of their obligations to the Society. And this applies to those who have gone out from Theological Seminaries, and have settled in parishes, and know by experience all the difficulties with which they must struggle, and to which the Reviewer adverts. Testimony from these is worth more than all the theory in the world. The gentleman, whose testimony is cited above, and who holds a conspicuous place among the labourers in the great Missionary cause, is one who has had difficulties to struggle with. Is such experience, now, to be regarded by the Directors of the American Education Society? Or are they to shape their measures, solely by principles deduced from reasoning a priori?

In regard to the allegation of the Reviewer, which stands connected with this part of our subject, viz. 'that the loan system will tend to create a calculating, craving disposition,' I have already remarked upon the subject above. I can only say again, that the cultivation of economical habits, of frugality, and industry, is one of the last things which can ever make misers and niggards. I must have overwhelming evidence to induce me to believe that the God of nature has so formed us, that the cultivation of virtues necessarily leads to vices.

As a test of the ability and willingness of the American Education Society's beneficiaries to repay the loan which they have contracted, I would add, that within little more than two years, (although the system has as yet begun only partially to operate), more than $2000 have been cheerfully repaid into the Treasury. So much for the practicability of the measure, adopted by the American Education Society.

The Reviewer has suggested, also, under his second objection, that Colleges and Theological Seminaries must likewise aid young men, who are indigent, in obtaining their education; and that, in case they do this, the young men will be utterly unable to discharge their obligations both to the American Education Society and to these Institutions.

Suppose this to be true; then it follows that the American Education Society must abandon their claim, according to the pledge which they have given to the young men and to the world. The Colleges and Theological Seminaries must do the same, in some cases of imperious necessity. But in ordinary cases, a young man of real industry and good talents, (no others ought to be educated by the funds of the Church) will find ways and means to help himself, so that he need not receive more aid than it will be safe for him to be obligated to pay. Experience abundantly testifies this. It is well known that some young men entirely destitute of property, get along without appealing to any society or individual for assistance; and surely it is practicable for young men situated as are the beneficiaries of the American Education Society to do what is required of them.

Besides, means are now used, and the prospect is now opening, for young men to aid themselves by manual labour; which is very useful to them both in a physical and intellectual respect. To this source the Directors of the American Education Society are anxiously di

recting young men. Between nine and ten thousand dollars have been earned in various ways the past year, by the beneficiaries of the Society. The Reviewer seems to be, and doubtless is, unacquainted with these and the like facts; otherwise he could not reason and assert as he does.

The American Education Society do not wish to conceal it from the public, that it is a favorite principle with them, to induce, so far as in them lies, all their young men to help themselves in every honest and becoming manner, and to the full extent of their ability. The enterprising and intelligent men of our country will certainly justify them in this.

But the Reviewer asks, "What becomes of the monies when refunded?" He then goes on to aver, that they are all returned to the treasury of the Parent Society; and that, in consequence of such an arrangement, this Society will finally have an unlimited capital at their exclusive control. Add all the loans returned, to the permanent funds and to the scholarships, and, he thinks, in half a century "a height of independence must be attained, sufficient to make even good men's heads turn giddy," p. 361. In particular, he suggests, that "if all the Presbyterian Churches in the United States were to become auxiliary to the American Education Society, the monies refunded by all their beneficiaries, as well as their annual surplus, must go to the Parent Board, and be entirely beyond the reach of the Branches," p. 361.

I shall not take the liberty to impute any special design to the writer in this appeal. The correctness of the principles and the assertions, on which it is grounded, are proper subjects of examination.

If there be any one thing, which the Directors of the American Education Society have particularly aimed to accomplish in all their measures with respect to the Society, it is this, viz. that it should be guarded as effectually as possible against a perversion, or monopoly, of the funds. In order to effect this, the ultimate responsibility, in all cases, is vested in the General Society. To them all questions may be referred; and before them, every alleged grievance or perversion be laid, for their final and irreversible decision.

Who then are the men, that constitute this General Society? They consist of evangelical clergymen and laymen, throughout the United States. The whole number of members entitled to vote, is, at present, about 350. These belong to at least 20 States of the Union; and 111 of these are either clergymen or laymen of the Presbyterian church. This church would have had a much greater proportion still, had the American Education Society originally set out on the same ground on which it now stands. The Society originated in the heart of New England. For many years, (down so late as 1826), a certain sum of money, given by way of donation, entitled any one to the privilege of voting. The Society was thus at the mercy of any party, whether evangelical or not, that might choose to create members enough at any time, to come in and take entire possession of all its funds. In 1826, the Constitution was changed, and only members elected were in future admitted to the privilege of voting; although a donation to a certain extent still constitutes honorary membership. None

originally entitled to vote, were excluded from this privilege, by the new arrangement. And as to the future, the Society, (not the Directors, as the Reviewer seems to understand it), elect by ballot, those who are to be members.

Before 1826, when this important change was made, there had been, as will naturally be supposed, many more donations in New England which entitled to membership, than elsewhere. In fact, during the first ten years of the existence of the Society, out of $100,000 contributed, $70,000 were given in Massachusetts. This accounts for it, why the number of members of the Society, belonging to the Congregational is greater than that of any other denomination. And this is the only reason; for since the change in question, 94 members have been elected; and of these, 74 are out of New England, and only two belong to Massachusetts. Fifty of the newly elected members belong to the States of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Does this look like sectional partiality? Or is there any party ambition or purposes, discoverable in this?

I repeat it, in order that neither the Reviewer nor his friends may overlook it, The Directors neither nominate nor choose any of the elected members of the Society.

From these plain facts, it is very obvious, that the time is not far distant, when the Presbyterian church may have, and in all probability will have, a controlling influence, in the American Education Society. Every act of the Board of Directors is subject to revision, directly or indirectly, by the General Society. Every choice of members, and every choice of officers, (who, let it be noted, are elected only for one year at a time) is by the same Society. How then can its funds be perverted, or applied to party purposes? Never-until all branches of the General Society, including evangelical men of at least five denominations, become corrupt throughout; and when such a universal corruption takes place, the American Education Society will at least be as safe as any other Society, whether Presbyterian or not.

Let us now, for a moment, examine in another point of view the power of the Directors of the Parent Society, which is an object of so much dread. We have seen how entirely their doings are subject to revision by the General Society. Another check is imposed upon them by means of Branch Societies.

All applications for aid, within the limits of Branch Societies, must first be made to the Branch Societies. The Directors of these appoint a majority of the examiners of such applicants; on whose certificate depends the success of the application. When a favourable certificate is obtained from these examiners, it is remitted to the Board of the Branch Society first, who receive or reject the applicant, and if the former, they make an appropriation. The application is then forwarded to the Board of the Parent Society for their concurrence. If they think it their duty to reject the application; they remit the case back to the Branch Society, with their objections. Should a final disagreement take place between the two Boards, the case may come before the General Society at their annual meeting, at which are present mem

bers from all parts of the United States. This has an ultimate jurisdiction over every question of this, or of the like nature.

It is true that the two Boards in question serve as a check upon each other; and the General Society has a supervision and ultimate control of the whole? In addition to this, there is an article of the Constitution, which expressly provides, that Presidents of Branch Societies shall be, ex officio, voting members of the General Society, and also honorary members of the Board of Directors; thereby giving to each Branch Society a perpetual representation, of its own selection, in the councils both of the Society and of the Board. Is this aiming at the concentration of power in the hands of the Directors of the Parent Society; or does it look like a most guarded distribution of power, and a cautious check upon it, not unlike what the structure of our national government exhibits?

Are not the Branch Societies, however, dependent on the Parent Society? They must, of course, conform all their proceedings to its Constitution and fundamental Rules. But they elect their own officers, from the least to the greatest, and as often as they please; they vote their own appropriations, and dispose of their own funds; they recommend and receive their own candidates. The Parent Board has, indeed, the power of nominating a part of the Examining Committees; but it is a minority of them: and this right is retained only for security in regard to the Constitution and Rules which they are bound to see observed. The Parent Society, except in an extreme case which is provided for, cannot take up a single candidate within the limits of a Branch Society, without its consent and approbation; while, on the other hand, the concurrence of the Parent Society is necessary, in order that the appropriation may be actually made; unless, indeed, in a case of appeal, the General Society revoke their decision where they may have refused aid.

But what control have the Branch Societies over the monies given? I answer, that all monies raised within the limits of a Branch Society are paid into its own treasury. If permanent scholarships are endowed, the property vests in the Parent Society, because it is an incorporated body; but the income of the said Scholarships stands pledg ed to the Branch Societies, within whose limits they have been raised, and is subject to their disposal as stated above. Can the Parent Society adopt a more impartial method of proceeding than this?

Look, moreover, at the operation of this principle. When a Branch Society has more monies in its treasury than is needed for beneficiaries within its own limits, it remits the overplus to the treasury of the Parent Society. But, on the other hand, if it have less in its treasury than is needed, (an occurrence that frequently happens), then it is entitled to draw out of the treasury of the Parent Society, just as though the money were in its own. If this be not generous impartiality, it would be difficult to say what is so in the management of such matters.

In regard to the Examining Committees, whose peculiar province it is to recommend beneficiaries to the American Education Society, I would state, that at present there are 41 of them in the United States; of these, 14 only are in New-England, and 27 out of it. And when

we call to mind, that a majority of each of these committees, on whom the appropriation of all monies to beneficiaries depends, are appointed by the respective Branch Societies, in all cases where such Societies exist, this must be proof satisfactory enough to every candid mind, that the Parent Society is not aiming at power and control.

While I am on the subject of the organization and powers of the American Education Society and its respective Branches, I would state, that the General Society, constituted as above, has recently held its annual meetings, alternately in Boston and New York during the week of their respective anniversaries. This arrangement will probably continue-and by means of it the Society will be brought into the vicinity of a very large part of all the voting members. Should the next meeting be held in the city of New York, more members will probably be in the city having a right to vote in the meeting of the American Education Society than will compose the next General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The meeting for the choice of officers, and for the transaction of special business, is distinct from, and antecedent to, the general meeting, when addresses, etc. are made, as is customary in other Societies.

At this previous meeting, any business whatever may be taken up; all proceedings of the Directors may be examined and canvassed; any objections can be raised, which any member of the Society chooses to raise either against any part of its proceedings, cr of its principles. No officer whatever is chosen for a longer period than one year at a time; and, if the Society see fit, every Director, Secretary, Treasurer, or other officer previously appointed, may be displaced, and others substituted in their room. If there be any aim in all this at dictatorship, it is not, at least, to be perpetual dictators.

From a review of the Constitution and principles of the Parent and Branch Societies, it seems to me quite impossible, that any partial or party appropriations of monies should be made by the Directors of the Parent Society, without a speedy and adequate accountableness and punishment for so doing. The General Society, at its annual meeting, coming from all parts of the United States, must be an impartial body; and in their hands are Directors, Secretaries, Treasurers, Examiners, funds, and every thing else. Can an imagination which is not heated, see any phantoms of a frightful aspect rising up out of such ground as this?

To the important question, "What becomes of the monies refunded?" we may answer, then, that they go into the treasury of the Parent Society for the present, and are paid out from this to all the Branch Societies in the United States, according to their respective wants. They must ever continue to be so appropriated, until the General Society cease to do their duty at their annual meeting; and until all parts of our country become heretical or corrupt.

If, for the sake of convenience, however, the General Society should adopt a plan, which would allow the monies returned within the limits of each Branch Society, to be paid into the treasury of such Society, this measure would remove even the semblance of the difficulty which the Reviewer suggests. The Directors, I have no doubt, will be en

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