The General Assembly [pp. 521-553]

Board of Education.
operate with the Board of Education in sustaining them during
the interval for which they may need aid.
6. Resolved, That this General Assembly has a deep sense
of the importance of giving to its youth a Christian education
in academies and colleges on a more extensive scale than has
yet been practiced within our bounds, and that for the purpose of contributing to some extent in bringing forward promising young men of suitable character, other than candidates for
the ministry, the Board of Education are hereby authorized to
apply to this subject whatever funds may be thus specifically
appropriated by the donors.
7. Resolved, That in collecting funds for the purposes of
education, the Board shall, in all cases, keep the specific contributions for candidates, for schools, academies, and colleges,
distinct from each other; but, if no special direction is indicated, then the funds shall be appropriated to the education of
candidates for the ministry.
8. Resolved, That the Board of Education, on account of its
responsible work and the increased pecuniary liabilities attending it, be commended to the liberality of all our churches, and
that the Presbyteries are invited to secure collections for the
cause of education, either general or ministerial as may be preferred by the churches.
9. Resolved, That the last Thursday of February be observed
as a day of special prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit of
God upon the youth of our land, who are pursuing their studies
in the ministry, and especially that many of them may be
called and qualified by Divine grace for the work of the ministry.
These resolutions are of special interest, as they give the
sanction of the Assembly to several principles of great importance. One of these is, that it is unwise to exact a pledge of
youth in the early stages of their education that they will enter
into the ministry. This has been found to be a hurtful snare.
There should be no bias on the candidate's mind leading him to
decide in favour of the ministry, other than the influence of the
Spirit and providence of God.
Another important principle which we rejoice to see sanctioned is, that the benefactions of the Board are not hereafter
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