The Presbyterian Historical Almanac and Annual Remembrancer of the Church

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INTRODUCTION.

THE PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL ALMANAC for 1865, containing the Annual Chronicles of the Presbyterian Church for the year ending with the sessions of the Assemblies and Synods of 1864, is submitted to the consideration of its friends, and I feel warranted in pressing its claims upon their attention in order to enlarge its usefulness, for it must not be forgotten that the object of the Almanac is to save the History of the Church, and this is done by arranging its annual proceedings in such a manner that they are easy of access, convenient, and permanent; it also gathers up the past and secures everything having a direct or remote tendency to develop the power and importance of THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. In such a labor, there ought to be a fair co-operation on the part of the Ministers and Elders, those called and appointed guardians of the people; and I feel the more disposed to claim. for the Almanac that degree of favor at the hands of the Church, from the fact that it is especially devoted to the illustration of Presbyterianism, and that I have no more interest in the main object of the work than any other Presbyterian, being only a voluntary servant, giving the results of my observation and experience and ready to incorporate any suggestion that may tend to increase the value of the enterprise, thereby rendering it more useful and acceptable to its subscribers.

Those friends who have received it from the beginning, in 1859, when the first volume was issued, will see that the range of the work is extending and has included much that is useful in addition to the current history of the Church. The earlier volumes contained an Alphabetical list of all the Presbyterian Ministers throughout the world, with the Presbyteries to which they belonged and their post-office address. These were continued until the subscribers were familiar with their names and locations. In the

places of those Lists of Ministers will appear "The Clerical Record of the Brethren," the second list appearing in the volume for 1864, (pp. 375, 376, 377.) As soon as replies are received from the Ministers similar lists will appear of the other branches of the Church. An examination of said Record is all that is required to illustrate its value.

The Histories of Theological Seminaries are being prepared. Two have already been published, viz.: Princeton, New Jersey, and Union, New York. The others will appear in due time.

The Biographical Department contains the Memoirs of those who have died during the year, to which are added the Biographies of relatives who have been Presbyterian Ministers, but who have died at a previous date. Efforts are in progress to secure a Memoir of every Presbyterian Minister who has died in the United States and British Provinces of North America. The result of these efforts will, of course, appear in the Almanac.

The Histories of Churches, one of which appears in this volume, are giving place to Histories of Churches by Presbyteries and Synods. These histories, minute in details, will be published with Ecclesiastical Maps of the Synods showing the location of each Church, the boundary of each Presbytery, with such other facts and illustrations as will render them acceptable to the friends of the Almanac.

The MANSE question, to which has very naturally been added Libraries, is continued and with an indication of increasing interest on the part of the people, showing a very remarkable change for the better. There can be no doubt of this fact, that just as soon as the people thoroughly understand the necessity and importance of providing a Comfortable Home for their Minister, Manses will arise all over our land, and even now signs are visible that in some Presbyteries they will try to have a Manse for every congregation within their bounds; and another encouraging fact is the readiness with which the people will co-operate with the Minister or Elder, or any member of any given congregation, who will take up and urge the subject publicly.

As far as Libraries are concerned they will increase with the general enlightenment and intelligence of the congregations. Ignorant piety may be excused in some portions of the earth, but most cer

tainly not in the Presbyterian Church. That it does exist there, however, "is most true; and pity 'tis, 'tis true." But as excuses can be found for every neglect of duty, it will not help the case to canvass the Church at this time, to discover the various reasons why Christians should be so forgetful of their privileges.

In the Article on Manses, in this volume, will be found especial reference to a number of publishers who are ready to co-operate with any congregation to provide a Library for their Minister.

It thus appears that the field of the Almanac's operation is wide, but not wider than is necessary to take in the idea; to illustrate which, it is published, viz.: to develop the power and importance of the Presbyterian Church. To aid me in this labor I respectfully ask the friends of the enterprise to come forward at this time and identify themselves with its career. This can be done by their suggesting some way to increase its usefulness by their responding to my letters and circulars issued from time to time, soliciting information, and by their taking the Almanac and commending it to their people and friends-for if the Almanac is a work worthy of the attention of the highly educated and refined, and as such it has been commended by the General Assemblies, and Synods, and Presbyteries of our own country, of the British Provinces in North America and in Great Britain and Ireland, it is assuredly worthy of the attention of the intelligent families of the Church.

The Illustrations are in accordance with the high character of the work, engraved by John Sartain, Samuel Sartain, Emily Sartain, and A. H. Ritchie, and by their excellence sustain the reputations that the artists so deservedly possess.

In sending forth the seventh volume, I feel more than usually anxious that it may find favor in the eyes of its friends. To those who sympathize with me in this labor of love for the Church, I confidently expect that degree of active co-operation they would naturally expect were our relative positions changed.

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