of $47,245, which is $5,000 above that of the preceding year. The last three years show a gain of $41,919 over the three years preceding. Notwithstanding these gains, the Committee is still indebted in the sum of $12,000, which is an increase of $5,000 on the debt of a year ago; thus showing that the Church still furnishes work much faster than she supplies the means of doing it. Nor is it to any capitalists, but to the labourers themselves, that she is thus in arrears for their hire. The present number of missionaries is 126; not quite three years ago it was 83. Of the forenamed $47,245, $5,603 came in the way of legacies. The number of parishes that have contributed during the past year is 835; three years ago it was but 506; a gain of 329. Of the contributions, $12,428 were from the Diocese of New York, which is something over one-fourth of the whole receipts. The two parishes that have done mest towards this, are Ascension, New York, $1,750, and St. George's, New York, $1,000. Honour, to whom honour." On a comparative view of the Dioceses, we find a little falling off, during the past year, in New Jersey, Western New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Rhode Island; and a gratifying increase in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee; while the best is from Georgia and Illinois, which have increased three-fold; and the next best, from South Carolina and Ohio, which have doubled their contributions. We will add a brief extract from the Advent Statement and Appeal for 1856:

During the last year, quite a number of parishes have become self-supporting, an earnest of a growing number soon to follow, vigourous and fruitful. We are receiving more from Sunday Schools-a hopeful, fruitful source of regular and large supply, if parents, pastors, and teachers will only see that it is constant and perennial. From individual members of the Church we are receiving more. in offerings spontaneous and liberal, varying, with their ability, from hundreds to their tens and fives. The circulation of the Spirit of Missions, too, is steadily increasing, and we are receiving gratifying tokens that our efforts to improve it have made it to be more generally read, and more widely useful. In the enlargement of the Board of Missions, at its recent meeting, also, we hail a cheering omen of new recruits to share our burdens and to cheer our work. For every member of the Board, at least, should feel a high responsibility to aid our cause, by influence, prayer, and effort, everywhere and always. These are scattered now throughout our borders, far and wide, and from the North, the South, the East, and West, we trust, will give substantial tokens of their interest and aid.

Since the above was written, we learn that, by way of response to the forecited Appeal, a good round sum was contributed in this city, on the 4th Sunday in Advent, in aid of the Domestic Committee. Of this sum, $1,000 were from St. George's Church. There is a heap more coming. Let it come!

THE JOURNAL of the 73d Convention of the Diocese of New York, promptly and carefully issued by the Rev. Secretary, makes a handsome showing for the Diocese. The number of churches and chapels is 268; of clergymen canonically resident, 309; ordained during the year ending on the last Wednesday in September, 18; of candidates for orders, 35; of churches consecrated, 10. The same period records, of baptisms, 4,834; of persons confirmed, 2,496; catechumens, 19,356; catechists or Sunday-school teachers, 2,240; communicants, 22,711. As these latter statistics are derived from 207 reports, of course the whole number must be considerably more. The whole amount of contributions for Church purposes, as reported from 207 parishes, reaches the sum of $275,554; an increase of $67,470 over that of the previous year. Including the various private donations, legacies, bequests, &c., for the same objects, we may, on a rough estimate, set down the aggregate as not far from $350,000. During the previous year, the number confirmed was 1,855; thus giving an increase of 641. The number of confirmations in the last three years is 5,778; of baptisms reported in the same period, 13,805.

IN TRINITY CHURCH, New York, and her three chapels, St. Paul's, St. John's, and Trinity, the year ending September 24th, 1856, records 433 baptisms, 176 confirmed, 1,100 communicants, 901 Sunday scholars, and 100 teachers; also 50 scholars and 13 teachers in the Parish School at St. Paul's, 200 scholars and 26 teachers in the Industrial School at St. John's, and 17 scholars in the Parish School at Trinity Chapel. The contributions in the parish for canonical and other religious and charitable purposes, in the same time, amount to $16,431. In all these particulars, there is a very decided increase over previous years. The whole number of services in the parish, during the year, is about 2,000. Our statistics are from the published reports of the Rector and the several assistant ministers of the parish. The Rector further states, that notwithstanding so great a number of the parishioners have removed to the upper part of the city, the attendance at Trinity Church still continues to be large; it has materially improved at St. Paul's chapel; it is well sustained at St. John's; and Trinity chapel is very often filled to its utmost capacity. That Trinity church, though always well attended, and often overflowing, is, for the most part, occupied by strangers, drawn thither by convenience or attracted by curiosity, but who cannot be expected, in their promiscuous character, to feel any especial interest in the charitable objects which are set before them. The same remark may be applied, in no small degree, to St. Paul's, and in the changes which are constantly going on around us, in some measure, also to St. John's. It is, in fact, Missionary ground, which has more need of help for the supply of its own wants, than ability to supply the wants of others.

CHEERING REPORTS are brought from divers quarters touching the charitable institutions of the Church. Of these, one of the latest is the Fifth Annual Report of St. Luke's Home for Indigent Christian Females. The Home was opened in 1852. The receipts, for the past year, in donations and subscriptions, amount to $7,514. Of this sum, $4,699 are towards the Building Fund, which has a further increase of $1,400 from the Accumulating Fund. Application has been made to Trinity Church for ground to erect a building upon, and has been met in the noble manner usual with that ancient Corporation. Before the end of another year, the managers hope to have a building of their own, which, besides yielding more and better accommodation will save the expense of rent.

The Rev. Dr. Wells also sends us a cheering account of the doings and prospects of the Mission to the Poor, in St. Stephen's chapel, Boston. This institution, too, works upon the principle that it is of no use to offer the bread of life to those who are starving for want of the bread that perisheth. The chapel was chiefly built and partly endowed, some ten years ago, by the Hon. William Appleton, one of the princely merchants of that noble-souled city. In connection with it, are St. Stephen's House, giving food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, and lodgings to the weary; St. Stephen's School, furnishing instruction to the dark, and discipline to the wayward; Free Baths, supplying water, warm or cold, to such as need it; Free Reading-Room, that those who already know something may get to know more. The charities of the House during the past year are reckoned thus: 18,507 meals; 1,238 large and small loaves, given to families; 3,969 lodgings; 1,176 parcels of tea and sugar; 512 pairs of shoes, stockings, and other new clothing; 115 weeks' nursing and provision for the sick; 250 weeks' rent; 132 parcels of fuel; 685 days' work for poor people; besides burials, bedding, Sunday-schools, books, moving, &c. The sum of money received, and spent in this work, is $3,848. They, too, are wanting more room, and are preparing to have it. May they have all they want, and keep wanting more than they have!

The corner-stone of Christ Church Hospital, Philadelphia, was laid, Nov.

25, by the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese. Of this noble foundation we learn the following particulars from the Banner of the Cross: It was founded in 1772 by Dr. John Kearsley, who was a vestryman of Christ Church for more than 50 years. At his death, he left a large part of his estate to that purpose. In 1789, Joseph Dobbins, of South Carolina, gave the institution £500 and two lots of ground. He died in 1804, and by his will left "all his estate, real and personal, consisting of 176 shares in the bank of South Carolina, together with other property amounting to $6,000, to the poor and distressed widows supported by the bounty of Dr. Kearsley in Christ Church Hospital." The real estate given by Mr. Dobbins has since become very valuable, one lot comprising an entire square between Spruce and Pine, and . between 16th and 17th streets, having been recently sold for about $180,000. It is principally from this source that funds have been obtained for erecting the new building. The charity is under the control and management of six trustees,-three selected by Christ Church, and three by St. Peter's. The Banner supplies the following account of what the building is to be:

Notice was taken some months since, in the Banner, of the intention to move this Institution from Cherry street to a high and commanding situation in the Twenty-fourth Ward, on Belmont Avenue. The Corporation are owners of one hundred and forty acres of ground, situated about four miles West of Market street bridge, in the central part of which the new hospital is to be built. The building, according to the plan shown upon the ground, will be both convenient and highly ornamental. It is to be of stone, in the Tudor style, three stories in height, with three projecting gables, having octagonal buttresses on the corners. Over the main entrance is a large triple window, and above all, in the centre, is a tower, terminating with a spire of forty feet above the ridge of the roof, which makes the entire height from the ground one hundred feet. The building was designed by Mr. John Gries, who has already contributed so much to the architectural beauty of Philadelphia. Mr. Gries is a young man, but we know of no one rising more rapidly in his profession, and we believe that Christ Church Hospital will still add to his reputation.

ONE of the choicest bits of news that we have heard for many a day, came from Boston last week. On the 3d Sunday in Advent, the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Massachusetts visited the parish of the Advent, and confirmed 61 persons, of all ages, sexes, and colours. This is the first time for 11 years that that heroic parish have been comforted by the presence of their Diocesan. We learn that he bore himself, on the occasion, in all respects as became a Christian gentleman: we presumed it would be so, and are right glad that so it was. We trust that the breach which has been so long in healing, is now at length entirely healed; and that as the past is dead, so all parties will agree to let it be buried.

THE BISHOP Of New Jersey has expressly authorized the use of the Nune Dimittis and the Magnificat in the second evening service. We can never have done regretting that these glorions hymns were purged out of our American Prayer-Book.

CONSECRATIONS.-Dec. 2, the Church of St. John the Baptist, in New York, by the Rt. Rev. the Provisional Bishop. The edifice has about 800 sittings, and is a substantial acquisition of Church strength in the city.-Oct. 12, Calvary Church, Philadelphia, intended as a monument to Bishop White. -Nov. 7, Mapisco Church, Charles City, Virginia; also, Nov. 8, Brandon Church, Prince George.-Nov. 19, St. Paul's Church, Durant, Cedar County, Iowa.

ORDINATIONS.-Oct. 26, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, West Chester, Penn., Mr. Thomas Drumm and Mr. W. R. Carroll were made deacons.Nov. 19, in St. Paul's Church, Durant, Iowa, Mr. D. F. Hutchinson. late a Methodist minister, was admitted deacon.-Nov. 11, in Trinity Church, Mar

shall, Michigan, Mr. Edward McClure was ordained deacon.-Nov. 25th, in St. Stephen's Chapel, Charleston, S. C., the Rev. L. C. Lance was made priest, and Mr. H. L. Phillips deacon.-Dec. 14, 3d Sunday in Advent, in Christ Church, Hartford, Conn., Mr. John C. Jacobi, a native of Poland and descendant of Abraham, was ordained deacon.-Dec. 21, 4th Sunday in Advent, in the Church of the Transfiguration, New York City, the Rev. W. G. Farrington was admitted to the Priesthood, and Mr. J. L. Burrows, late a Methodist minister, to the order of deacons.-The same day, in St. Mary's Church, Burlington, New Jersey, Wellington Forgus, Robert G. Chase, and Edwin B. Chase, all of Burlington College, were ordained deacons.

THE CHURCH ABROAD.

In England, at our latest accounts, the public mind was still agog with the case of Archdeacon Denison. Most of our readers are probably aware that the Archdeacon, as examining chaplain to one of the Bishops, undertook to force upon candidates for orders certain inferential propositions of his own; a thing which, even granting the truth of his inferences, he had no right to do, and which, had his right been ever so clear, it was very unwise to attempt. That he was honest, may be safely presumed, since, otherwise, he would scarcely have been so imprudent and head-strong. Howbeit, the thing has involved him and others in a long course of trouble. With, perhaps, equal imprudence and perversity on the other side, the case has been forced to a judicial issue in an ecclesiastical court, and, as might be expected in the present administration of Church and State, judgment has been rendered against him. From this judgment he has appealed to the Queen in Council, and the validity of his appeal is now the matter in agitation. Strong protests against the judgment have been made, and are still forthcoming; though but few of the protesters undertake to justify the Archdeacon. As matters have been pushed to an extreme against him, a strong reaction of public sentiment is going on in his favour, as having been very hardly and unfairly dealt with. Still the High. Churchmen are showing a wise determination not to make themselves responsible for his doctrinal positions. The great Henry of Exeter is out with one of his mighty pamphlets on the subject. We shall see.

Notwithstanding these controversial distractions, the course of the Church is still onward. Almost every mail reports the consecration of new churches, some of them being of a very beautiful and costly structure.

Drs. A C. Tait and Henry Cotterell, the new Bishops of London and Grahamstown, were consecrated by the Primate, Nov. 23, in the Chapel Royal. The Rev. Robert Bickersteth, rector of St. Giles and canon of Salisbury, has been nominated to the See of Ripon, made vacant by the transfer of Bishop Langley to the See of Durham. The nomination is such as might be expected from the reigning dynasty. The Bishop of Asaph has written to the Marquess of Westminster, the richest subject of the kingdom, on the inadequate support of the clergy. He takes the ground that their only sure reliance is in the voluntary aids of the wealthy.

THREE NEW CHURCHES were lately consecrated in Ireland. One of them was mainly built by a lady; towards the other, the Primate contributed £200.

The Dublin Parochial Visitors Society reports about 10,000 visits paid during the past year, by 26 visitors. This Society has been twice noticed by the Romish Archbishop Cullen, as one of the bulwarks of the Church in Dublin.

Ir is a happy distinction of the science of Theology into two divisions, of which one, Dogmatic Theology, relates to things to be believed, and the other, Moral Theology, to things to be done. Moral Theology is probably so called because it regulates, or ought to regulate the manners, moves, of men-that is, their modes of action. It is the science of the Will of GOD with relation to the conduct of men. As a regulator of that conduct it has, nevertheless, a rival called Moral Philosophy. The conclusions to which these two rival sciences conduct their respective votaries are to a very great extent the same, although they are not so invariably. The reason for their similitude or identity, is that modern Moral Philosophy, not unfrequently, borrows from Moral Theology the conclusions at which she professes to have arrived, by following out her own premises through her own processes of reasoning. The reason that they do not agree entirely is, that although they may set out from the same first principle, they soon come to different conclusions, because the principles which they combine with that first principle are obtained by very different processes. The immediate premises from which they reason are thus diverse from each other.

Both set out with a belief in the existence of GOD, and both accept, as their first principle, the idea that human actions should be conformed to His Will. All modern systems of