enced by a bias, natural to many, to present the "Beauties of his own Faith" in glowing colours; and where this may appear to have been attempted, it is left to the reader to make all due allowance. In the history, and especially in the creed of the different denominations, the unprejudiced reader has a subject for candid investigation, and will be able to draw his own conclusions from authentic data. Though truth and error may be commingled, still the lover of free inquiry will have nothing to fear. It must be admitted, that many opinions are presented which cannot be maintained by "Thus saith the Lord;" but as the projector has done his part in giving each sect an opportunity of telling its own story, and in its own way he thus leaves it to a liberal and discerning public. Lancaster, Pa., April, 1844. CONTENT S. Associate Presbyterian Church in North America. BY THE REV. W. I. Associate Reformed Church. BY THE REV. John Forsyth, D. D. 9 21 42 Freewill Baptists. BY THE REV. PORTER S. BURBANK, A. M. Seventh Day Baptists. BY THE REV. W. B. GILLETT. Baptists or Brethren, German. BY THE REV. PHILIP BOYLE. 58 70 92 Baptists, Seventh Day, German. BY WILLIAM M. FAHNESTOCK, M. D. Cumberland Presbyterians. By The Rev. RICHARD BEARD, D. D. 212 220 Protestant Episcopal Church. BY THE REV. R. C. SHIMEALL. German Reformed Church. BY THE REV. LEWIS MAYER, D. D. 337 The Jews and their Religion. BY THE REV. ISAAC LEESER. 350 Evangelical Lutheran Church. BY THE REV. S. S. SCHMUCKER, D. D. 370 Latter Day Saints. BY JOSEPH SMITH. 404 Moravians, or more properly, Unitas Fratrum, or United Brethren's Church. 411 The Methodist Society. BY THE REV. W. M. STILWELL. 423 Methodist Episcopal Church. BY THE REV. NATHAN BANGS, D. D. Reformed Mennonite Society. BY THE REV. JOHNn Herr. 502 BY SHEM ZOOK. Millenarianism. BY THE REV. JOHN S. EBAUGH. New Jerusalem, or New Christian Church. By a Layman of that denomi- - 511 520 Presbyterian Church. BY THE REV. JOEL PARKER, D. D. - Reformed Presbyterian Church. BY THE REV. JOHN N. M'LEOD, D. D. United Brethren in Christ. BY THE REV. WILLIAM HANBY. 703 719 ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA. BY THE REV. W. I. CLELAND AND THE REV. JAMES P. MILLER, N. Y. PRESENT CONDITION. THIS association of professing Christians consists (1844) of one hundred and six ministers, settled and itinerating; and of two hundred and ten organized congregations; and, as nearly as can be ascertained from the statistical tables of the different Presbyteries, which are, however, somewhat defective, there are about 15,000 communicants. Allowing four to each communicant for children and other adherents, it will make about 75,000 persons as connected with this society. The number of students in attendance at the Theological Seminary during the last term, was twenty-nine; but as for several years there has been a gradual increase, their number may be estimated at thirty for the ensuing term,-of which number, one-fourth is usually added every year to the list of ministers. LOCATION. This society is found chiefly in the Middle and Western States. Prior to the year 1832, there was a Presbytery in the Southern States called the Presbytery of the Carolinas, consisting of eight ministers, most of whom had large congregations. But in that year by an act of the supreme judicatory of that body, all slaveholders were excluded from the fellowship of the church; since that time all those ministers and most of the people, have either removed to the non-slaveholding States, or connected themselves with other societies. In the State of Vermont there are two small congregations, but none in any of the other New England States. There are three ministers and a few vacant congregations in Canada. The judicatories of this body now consist of a Synod and thirteen Presbyteries. The following summary of the statistical table will present some idea of the present condition of this society. The names of the Presbyteries generally indicate their locality. The Synod, which is composed of all the ministers and one ruling elder from each congregation, meets annually on its own adjournment. Each Presbytery meets on its own adjournment, and as often as circumstances require. The Theological Seminary is located at Cannonsburg, Pa. It has two professorships-one of didactic theology and Hebrew, at present filled by James Martin, D. D.; the other of church history, pastoral theology and biblical literature, at present filled by Thomas Beveridge, D. D. At this institution there is but one term each year, which continues from the first Monday of November until the last of March. The students are required to attend four terms to complete their course of study. The professors give lectures on their respective subjects. The text-book which is used in didactic theology is "JOHANNIS MARKII CHRISTIANE THEOLOGIE MEDULLA." DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE. The Associate Presbyterian Church of North America, is a branch of the Church of Scotland; and holds the doctrines of the Reforma * Those marked thus are incomplete, there being no returns from several congrega. tions, and some of these the largest in the Presbytery: 15,000 is the estimated number of communicants. Several Presbyteries, though marked as located in a particular state, include also the care of congregations in neighbouring states, e. g. the Presbytery of Cambridge, New York, includes the congregations in Vermont and Canada East. |