Or the one hundred and nine Presbyteries, eighty-six have sent to the Assembly their annual Narratives. These Narratives are, with few exceptions, adapted to make glad the heart of every one who loves the Church of God. They afford cheering evidence of growing compactness and unity, growing liberality, growing piety, growing numbers, growing prosperity and power. They prove that, while corruptions have abounded in society, and the prevailing worldly spirit has been everywhere working out its results, and the wicked have done wickedly, growing worse and worse, the Church has been kept by the power of God, has been accomplishing its work, and giving, in its life, on the whole, a continually higher and purer illustration of the religion of Christ. Above all, they prove the presence of God with us, and his approbation of our efforts to promote his kingdom.

ADVANCEMENT IN PIETY AND CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY,

on the part of churches not blessed with powerful revivals, is one fact brought to view in the Narratives. Many churches, though not perhaps growing rapidly in numbers, have been growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus, the Presbytery of Chemung reports "no general and powerful revivals, but precious spiritual refreshings of several churches." The Presbytery of Catskill "finds comfort and encouragement in the healthy, vigorous growth of all our churches which enjoy the regular ministrations of the Gospel." The Presbytery of Harrisburgh says, that "a healthy and steady increase of the number and Christian activity of our communicants is very evident in all our congregations." The Presbytery of Genesee says, that "the last year, though

not largely a year of numerical and spiritual increase, has been one of substantial progress and comparative revival." The Presbytery of Delaware reports no revivals, but "a larger increase of members added on examination than during the three years past.' The Presbytery of Dayton reports no revivals, but its "churches are stronger and more vigorous in material and spiritual life than a year ago." The Presbytery of Saginaw, without powerful revivals, reports an almost universal advance in numbers." The Presbytery of Illinois reports "no general awakening, but a prevailing spiritual activity and healthfulness, attended with accessions to the communion, and increasing congregations."

Another thing noticeable in many reports is

THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,

with special power in many congregations. The Fourth Presbytery of New-York, after speaking of unusually large "accessions to its churches," says that, though there is not a so-called revival, yet a communion never passes without more or less appearing to confess Christ for the first time. Some of our churches live constantly in this state of spiritual activity, and rejoice in the evidence that the Holy Spirit is ever present with them to bless and to save." The fruits of the revivals reported a year since remain, and the reviving influence is continued in many churches. The Presbytery of Cortland reports "a sustained interest following the revivals of a year ago." The Presbytery of Lyons says that some churches continue to reap happy fruits from the revivals enjoyed last year." The Presbytery of Montrose says: "Tokens of the Spirit's presence are perpetuated in many of our churches. The fruits of the last year's revivals are still apparent in the 'burning and shining light' of many churches and individuals." The Presbytery of the District of Columbia says: "The revival spirit of last year, so largely shared by several of our churches, has perpetuated its happy influences through the present, and still promises blessed and cheering results in the future." The Presbytery of Cleveland and Portage says: "The year opened from revivals of great and lasting power, and the ingathering still continues."

The Narratives mention also many

NEW MANIFESTATIONS OF THE POWER AND GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

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The last year was, like the previous one, though perhaps not so remarkably and extensively, a year of the right hand of the Most High-a year of revivals. In the East, and in the furthest West, where of late some of our brethren have had a new song put into their mouths, the Holy Spirit has been present to bless his people; coming down, in some cases, as rain upon the mown grass," in others with almost Pentecostal energy; wonderfully lifting up and spiritually enriching old and established churches, and greatly reviving and strengthening those that were ready to die. One hundred and eighty-one revivals are particularly mentioned, not including many seasons of special interest," marked not so much by conversions as by the spiritual improvement of Christians. The Presbyteries, specially favored in respect of the extent and power of the reviving influence, were, so far as reported, those of Watertown, Utica, Cayuga, Geneva, Erie, Alton, Schuyler, and Galena and Belvidere. Many of these revivals date from "the week of prayer," which was very extensively observed. Among those converted were representatives of all ages and conditions; the majority, in some instances, being children and youth gathered in from the SabbathSchools; in others, a large proportion being adults and heads of families." In respect of mode, there seems to have been no uniformity. In some cases

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preaching was the prominent instrumentality; in others, and perhaps most, prayer-meetings were chiefly relied on; such meetings being, in some instances, held from house to house, or in school-houses. In reference to the revivals within its bounds, the Presbytery of Erie says, that there was "less formal and regular preaching than has been usual at such times; more prayer and direct personal effort," on the part of Christians. It is worthy of notice that, in some instances, the earnest prayer and effort were grounded in the expectation of a great and general outpouring of the Spirit. Thus, the Presbytery of Cayuga says: "There is, we believe, a general and growing anticipation that revivals, here and throughout the land and throughout the world, are to become more frequent and more powerful." It is hardly strange that a Presbytery, animated by such an expectant faith, should be able to report an accession of two hundred and fifty-seven to fourteen of its churches, as the fruit of revivals, which, the Presbytery says, “have added more to the strength and spirituality of our churches than to their numbers."

The glorious work of God in the Allen Street church, New-York, deserves to be particularly noticed, because of its wonderful power and rich harvest of souls, two hundred having been hopefully converted; also because of its peculiar "features." "So deep," says the Third Presbytery of New-York," and all-pervading has been this work, that it must take a prominent place in the history of revivals in our country." The "leading features" are indicated as follows:

"First. The male members of the congregation were the first to be interested in personal religion. Instead of wives leading their husbands to Christ, as is usually the case, husbands were converted, and then persuaded their wives to believe on the Lord.

"Second. The work was carried forward mainly by prayer-meetings. Preaching services were held only once each week, aside from the Sabbath.

"Third. The relating of individual experience proved, under God, a most powerful agency in deepening religious impressions and thus promoting the revival."

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SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

The interest in Sunday-Schools is deep, wide, and increasing. For example: the Presbytery of Catskill reports "increased energy;" the Presbytery of Cayuga, "general enlargement and improvement; the Presbytery of Rochester, a much increased and increasing interest;" the Presbytery of Buffalo, "a manifestly growing interest;" the Presbytery of Grand River Valley, never so great an interest" in Sunday-Schools and the religious instruction of the young. The Narratives indicate that this increasing interest is well-nigh universal in the Church. It is, to some extent, manifested in the formation of County Sunday-School Associations," "Sunday-School Institutes," and "Teachers' Training Classes;" also in the increasing self-denial and energy of the efforts to reach the poor and neglected classes of society, by the agency of mission Sunday-Schools. Much is done through this agency, especially in the great cities. For example, five churches of the Fourth Presbytery of New-York sustain eight mission schools, in which are taught two thousand five hundred children. A nearly equal number are taught in the mission schools of Chicago.

That the Sunday-School is regarded as an evangelizing agency of the highest importance appears from the following considerations, brought to view in the Narratives:

First. It is an agency by which the latent forces of the Church may be

brought into most effective exercise, and thus the Church built up in character as well as in numbers. "There is a growing opinion," says the Presbytery of Cortland, "that in the Sunday-School the power of the lay element in our churches is to be most efficiently exerted."

Second. It is an agency which operates upon those who yield most readily to gracious influences, and among whom consequently we are to expect the greatest number of conversions. "It is increasingly felt," says the Presbytery of Illinois, "that children are the most hopeful subjects of Divine grace.' "We must," says the Presbytery of Genesee, “gather the children in, or few of the next generation will be saved."

Third. It is an agency by which, through the blessing of God, many are converted. The Presbytery of Montrose speaks of the "Divine approbation in the saving grace imparted to many taught" in Sunday-Schools. The Presbytery of Erie says, "God is evidently making the Sunday-Schools more and more a source of blessing to the churches." The Presbytery of St. Joseph says, "God has showered down His blessings upon them.' The Presbytery of Cortland uses the following language: "Conversions among youth and even little children are frequent, and want of confidence in their genuineness is fast being removed. And such is the faith in God's covenanted and gracious promises, and in the Saviour's care for the lambs of his flock-for of such is the kingdom of heaven-that the feeling is becoming general that the young should be reached as early as possible. The results of recent revivals of religion have generated and confirmed this sentiment."

Fourth. It is an agency which often does excellent service in clearing and breaking ground, and thus preparing the way for the Church with its ordinances. Much of the pioneer missionary work," says the Presbytery of Alton, "is done by the agency of the Sunday-School."

Fifth. It not only substitutes the formal stated preaching of the Gospel, but also keeps alive the feeble, vacant church. One church is mentioned which owes its continued existence to a Sunday-School. A weak church, with a flourishing Sunday-School, is regarded as "master of the situation." The Presbytery of Union says, "In many of our feeble churches Sunday-Schools have been organized and maintained with a commendable degree of activity and perseverance. In the absence of the living ministry, we rejoice to know that the Sunday-School is doing a good work."

It is thought by some of our brethren that this agency may be improved and rendered more effective. The Presbytery of Lyons expresses the "conviction that the idea of what the Sunday-School should be, and what is positive prosperity in this work needs to be corrected and greatly elevated." And the Presbytery of Marshall says, "A growing desire is felt to know more perfectly the way of carrying on most effectively this enterprise of our Church." The Assembly's Committee are anxiously looked to for light on the subject.

Most of the Presbyteries report an increase of

BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS.

The increase is an index of the growing consecration and the deepening spiritual life of the Church, and is most gratifying, not only because of its amount, but also because of its direction. The Presbytery of Watertown says, "The benevolence of the Church is becoming gradually more systematic, and directed more to the objects recommended by the Assembly.' The Presbytery of Marshall says: "The principle of loyalty to the Assembly in carrying out the full scheme of benevolent effort is being insisted upon." The Presbytery of Indianapolis says: "Our churches appreciate

more and more the importance of contributing to our regular benevolent objects." What is true of these Presbyteries is true also, to a great extent, of the others, as is indicated by the actual increase of contributions. It is a most cheering fact that, in these times when taxation is so heavy and the cost of living so great, our Secretaries are able to report an increase of over sixty thousand dollars in the contributions to the benevolent funds of the Church. It deserves to be recorded also as a sign of progress, and an example of commendable liberality worthy of imitation, that, in the words of the Fourth Presbytery of New-York, "by one of our churches but little short of one hundred thousand dollars has been given during the year past to advance the kingdom of Christ."

This increase of liberality is cheering as indicating advancement; but it is not to be forgotten that we have not yet attained to the Gospel standard of benevolence, and that, without doubt, the material resources of the Church have not been as yet deeply drawn upon.

EDUCATION, HOME MISSIONS, AND CHURCH ERECTION.

Only the Divine Spirit can work out the solution of the above questions as to money and men. The great need, the fundamental need, is the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, imparting to Christians in a higher degree the mind which was also in Christ." All that is necessary to secure money in any amount, and men in any number, for the Lord's service is a far deeper, more powerful, more extensive work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The increased liberality is a fruit of revivals, a fruit of the Spirit; and the same spirit, which takes form in gifts of money, takes form also in men giving themselves to the work of God. In proportion, therefore, as the unworldly, self-denying spirit expressed in gifts and sacrifices deepens and strengthens in the Church, it may be expected that young men in increasing numbers will offer themselves for the work of the Gospel ministry. Accordingly, it is very gratifying to be able to see in this increasing liberality an evidence of increasing love to the cause of Christ, and of growing interest in the work of evangelizing the destitute portions of our country; also a ground of hope and confidence that the means will not be wanting, nor long wanting the men, for the prosecution of this work. The need of its energetic prosecution is very apparent from the narratives. For example, while the Presbytery of Watertown is earnestly endeavoring to solve the problem of preserving the existence of its weakened churches, the Presbytery of Northern Missouri, with only three ministers for its nine churches, asks anxiously, "Are there no men so consecrated to the Lord as to come over and help us?" And the Presbytery of Union, with only seven ministers for its twenty-six churches, says with emphasis, "We need and must have more men."

The Presbytery of St. Louis, within whose bounds the Home Missionary Committee the last year expended $6000, affords an example of the need of a greatly increased outlay in the work of Church Erection. Of the thirteen churches of this Presbytery seven have no houses of worship. The Presbytery says: "There is little doubt that five of them would become almost immediately self-sustaining if furnished with church edifices." Without being thus furnished, however, there is little reason to hope that the large expenditure of the Home Missionary Committee will lead to any permanent results.

MISSIONS TO THE FREEDMEN.

While there is felt to be a want of men, it is, perhaps, not sufficiently considered, that many earnest and faithful men are in want of prosperous