Next Meeting of the Synod at Hagerstown, Md. on the last Sabbath in Sept. 1831. Delegates to other Bodies.

To the Ref. Dutch Synod.

J. W. Dechant, primarii.

G. Wack,

I. C. Becker,

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Historical Sketch.

The name Lutheran is derived from the great Reformer. It is said that the term Evangelical was given to his followers by Luther. It is still preferred to that of Lutheran by some of the denomination. They settled in Pennsylvania and the adjoining States on their arrival in this country. The churches were for a considerable time supplied with ministers from Germany, some of whom were eminent men.* They are now found in Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Maryland, and in other States. The Augsburg Confession, consisting of 21 articles, is the acknowledged standard of faith for the Lutherans. Among the American Lutherans are three Judicatories-1, the Vestry of the Congregation; 2, the District Conference; 3, the General Synod, from which there is no appeal. The Lutherans have manifested much interest in the promotion of the various benevolent objects of the present day. They have flourishing Seminaries at Hartwick, N. Y. and Gettysburg, Pa.

We regret that we are not able to furnish a complete view of this Church. The General Synod contained, in 1828, about 200 Ministers, and 800 Congregations. At the last Meeting of the Synod, it was stated that considerable additions had been made to the churches during the last year. Four students from Gettysburg were licensed to preach the gospel. An Education Society for the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania was formed; also a Sabbath School Union, Auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union. The next Synod is to meet at Greencastle, Franklin co. Penn., on the first Sabbath in Oct., 1830.

* Rev. H. M. Muhlenburg, the first Lutheran preacher in this country, was sent from London, in 1743.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Historical Sketch.

This denomination was formed in the 1729, by Mr. John Wesley. Mr. Wesley was, at that time, a fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. In connexion with Mr. Charles Wesley, Mr. George Whitefield, and others, amounting in all to about fourteen, he commenced holding religious meetings for mutual improvement. They also visited the sick and afflicted with much assiduity. They obtained the name Methodist, from the exact regularity of their lives; an allusion being made to an ancient sect of physicians, who reduced the healing art to a few common principles. In 1735, the Wesleys visited Georgia. They remained but a short time, and were succeeded by Mr. Whitefield. A separation was made in 1741 between Mr. Whitefield and the Wesleys; the former declaring himself a Calvinist, the latter professing the doctrines of Arminius.

Under the management of Mr. John Wesley, the Methodists were organized into a complete system of church government, unequalled in any other denomination. The first Methodist Society in the United States was formed in the city of New York, in 1766, by some emigrants from Ireland. In 1768, a meeting house was erected in John

street. During the war of the Revolution all the preachers, except Mr. Asbury, returned to their native land. In 1784, Dr. Thomas Coke came to America, with powers to constitute the Methodist Societies into an independent Church. Before, the preachers were considered only as laymen, and did not administer the ordinances. Mr. Asbury was ordained Bishop by Dr. Coke, in 1784. The number of members at this time was 14,988, and of preachers 83.

The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church consists of Bishops, Presiding Elders, Elders, Deacons, and an unordained order of licensed Preachers. The ministry is divided into itinerant and local. The former are constantly engaged in preaching and pastoral labor, under the direction of the Bishops and Conferences; the latter perform these offices only as opportunity offers. The highest authority of the Methodist Episcopal Church is the General Conference, which meets once in four years, and consists of delegates from the Annual Conferences, in the ratio of one delegate for every seven itinerant preachers. The Annual Conferences are 17 in number, dividing the whole territory of the United States. These Conferences consist of all the travelling preachers in the connexion.

Bishops. William M'Kendree, Robert R. Roberts, Joshua Soule, Elijah Hedding.

Corrected total of last year, (See M. Mag. Dec. 1828,) 418,438 Sup'd 120

Increase this year, 29,305 1,817

BAPTISTS.

Historical Sketch.

This denomination is distinguished from others by their opinions respecting the mode and subjects of baptism. They administer baptism only by immersion; and to none but adults. They claim an immediate descent from the apostles, and assert that the constitution of their churches is derived immediately from Jesus Christ. Others affirm that they had their origin at a much later day, even as late as the 16th century. The following are the principal sects of Baptists: 1. Particular Baptists of England and Wales; 2. General Baptists of England and Wales; 3. Mennonites of Holland and other countries; 4. the Scotch, or Weekly Communion Baptists; 5. Associated or Calvinistic Baptists of the United States; 6. Seventh Day Baptists; 7. Six Principle Baptists; 8. Mennonites of America; 9. Tunker Baptists; 10. Free Will Baptists ; 11. Christian Society; 12. Emancipators; 13. Free Communion Baptists.

ASSOCIATED, OR CALVINISTIC BAPTISTS OF AMERICA.

This is the largest body of Baptists in the world, in point of numbers and influence. It is stated that the additions to their churches, during the last year, amounted to a greater number than the whole of the Baptist denominations in England and Ireland. Their oldest church in this country is that called the first in Providence, formed in 1639. The first Association was formed at Philadelphia in 1707.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THE BRITISH POSSESSIONS.

The preceding Table has been prepared from the Philadelphia Baptist Tract Magazine, Jan. 1830. In regard to most of the Associations, the statements were prepared from the last Minutes, or those of 1829. In reference to others, necessity obliged the Editor of the Magazine to use the Minutes of 1828, 1827, and in a few cases of a still more distant period. The grand total is taken from the Magazine. It does not correspond exactly with the sum total as made out in our Table, being somewhat larger. We judged it proper, however, to put down the greater numbers, as they will fall short, unquestionably, of the actual strength of the Baptist denomination.

We should have stated before, that the Baptists are organized into a General Convention, which meets triennially. The next Meeting is to be held at New York, in April, 1832.

SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS.

They differ from the Baptists generally, in no respect, except in regard to the Sabbath, believing that the seventh, and not the first day of the week, is the day which ought to be religiously observed. In 1668, there were a few churches of this connexion in England. The first Sabbatarian Church in America was formed in Newport, R. I. in 1671. They are confined principally to that State. A few years since, they numbered about 1,000 communicants. In the United States there are about 2,000 members united together in an Annual Conference. Population, 10,000. 24

VOL. II.

SIX PRINCIPLE BAPTISTS.

So called, from their belief that the custom recognized in Heb. vi. 1, 2, of the imposition of hands is still binding, as a prerequisite to church communion. As these two verses contain six distinct propositions, these Baptists have acquired the name of Six Principle Baptists, to distinguish them from others, sometimes called Five Principle. They reside mostly in Rhode Island and New York, and in 1828 consisted of about 20 churches, and from 1,500 to 1,800 members.

MENNONITES.

So called from Menno, a distinguished member of the sect. They are said to be descendants of the Waldenses. They are a simple, harmless people, and make it an article of their faith never to bear arms. In the latter part of the 17th century, they settled in Pennsylvania. According to Benedict, there were, in 1824, 200 Mennonite churches in America.

TUNKERS.

They have acquired this name from the manner in which they perform the rite of baptism, the word Tunker being a corruption of Tumbler. They first appeared in America in 1719. They hold the doctrine of universal salvation, with some peculiar qualifications. They have probably 40 or 50 churches, principally in the Western States.

FREE WILL BAPTISTS.

The first church of this sect was gathered in New Durham, N. H. in 1780, by Benjamin Randall. They soon after received considerable additions from those "who saw the beauties of a free salvation." In 1783, they held a General Meeting at Phippsburg, Me.; at which time they agreed to hold a similar Meeting four times a year. The number of Ministers probably amounts to 300; Churches, 370; Communicants, 16,000.

CHRISTIAN SOCIETY.

In defence of the name which they have assumed, they quote Acts xi. 26, xxvi. 28, 1 Peter iv. 16, regarding all others as the invention of men. They baptize only by immersion. The first society of this kind was formed in Portsmouth, N. H. in 1803. They have spread extensively in all parts of the United States. They are anti-calvinistic, and anti-trinitarian. They profess to receive the Scriptures as the only rule of faith and practice. They have not far from 1,000 congregations.

EMANCIPATORS.

In 1805, a number of ministers and churches in Kentucky took a decided stand against slavery, in principle and practice. In no other respect do they differ from the Calvinistic Baptists. Their number is constantly increasing.

FREE COMMUNION BAPTISTS.

This name is given to about 30 Ministers and Churches, who reside west of Albany, in the State of New York. Except on the subject of communion, they do not differ from other Baptists.

UNITED BRETHREN.

According to their own accounts, this Society derive their origin from the Greek Church in the 9th century. In 1523, they commenced a friendly correspondence with Luther, and afterwards with Calvin. On account of a civil war and a persecution, they were driven from Bohemia in 1621. One colony settled in Upper Lusatia, under the protection of Count Zinzendorf, a distinguished nobleman, who soon after became a convert to their doctrines. Their form of Church Government is Episcopal, though they give to their Bishops no preeminent authority or rank. The Church is governed by Synods, consisting of deputies from all the Congregations, and by subordinate bodies, which they call Conferences. They adopt the Augsburg Confession as the rule of faith, which leaves undecided the points of controversy between the Lutherans and Calvinists. Their liturgy and all their rites and customs are simple. They labored more abundantly than all other denominations, for many years, in the glorious work of evangelizing the heathen. They have settlements in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Great Britain, Russia, United States, and in many heathen countries. In this country their principal settlements are in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

SUMMARY IN 1828. Ministers, 23; Cong. 23; Comm. 2,000; Members, 6,000.

QUAKERS, OR FRIENDS.

This class of Christians took their rise in England about 1650. George Fox is considered the founder. He was brought before two justices in Derbyshire, one of whom reviled him, and bade him tremble at the word of the Lord. From this circumstance they are denominated Quakers. They call themselves Friends, from the scriptural appellation, as "Our friends salute thee." In 1656, they came to America, and settled principally in Pennsylvania. They are opposed to the practice of taking oaths, and to war, in all its forms. They agree with the Baptists in denying the validity of infant baptism. They extend the privilege of preaching the gospel to females, as well as to males. They have also peculiar notions in regard to dress, plainness and simplicity in language, &c.

Within a few years past, in this country, there has been a serious schism among the Quakers; a part professing the doctrines of Unitarianism, and called Hicksites, from their leader, Elias Hicks; the other portion adhering to the orthodox doctrines. It having been made a question, which of them ought to be considered as seceding from the doctrines of the original sect, the Yearly Meeting of Friends in London, May 20, 1829, sent forth an Epistle, containing a statement of their belief; from which it appears that they fully believe in the Inspiration of the Scriptures, the Supreme Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Atonement by his sufferings and death, &c.

By a table published in a paper printed in Wheeling, Va. in 1829, it appears that there are in the United States,-150,000 members of this Society; of whom 56,026 are Hicksites; 28,904 are orthodox; the others not known.

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS.

In February, 1810, the Cumberland Presbytery was formed in Tennessee, without any connexion with the Presbyterian Church, principally because the Synod of Kentucky refused to license ministers to preach the gospel without a classical education. It was at a period of considerable religious excitement, when the labors of clergymen were in great demand. They dissented in some respects from the Confession of Faith of the General Assembly, particularly in regard to the doctrines of reprobation, limited atonement, &c. At first there were but nine preachers in the connexion, four only of whom were ordained. They have now a Synod consisting of several Presbyteries. The additions to the Churches in this Synod, during the last year, were nearly 3,500, about 1,000 of whom received baptism. The number of preachers is much smaller than the wants of the denomination require. They have a flourishing College at Princeton, Ky., containing, we believe, nearly 100 students, under the care of the Rev. President Cossit.

UNITARIANS.

The number of Churches belonging to the Unitarians is not definitely known. Six or eight are found in Maine, four or five in New Hampshire, one in Vermont, one hundred and thirty or forty in Massachusetts, two in New York city, and a few in other