tioned for-the admission of lay represent- | first preacher, George Fox, visited several atives and of the local preachers to the of the Southern provinces, and announced government of the church. They have his message, as he himself relates, to a also ceased to have bishops, all ordination" willing people." But the proselytes to among them being now confined to the im- his peaceful doctrines, especially if they position of hands by presbyters. Their attempted to propagate them, encountered General Conference meets once in four violent persecution almost everywhere, and years, like that from which they seceded. although they were from the first protected This body has one general and twenty-in Rhode Island, and did at length obtain two yearly conferences, 1200 travelling toleration in the South, they never made and local preachers, 60,000 communicants, much progress until, through the influence and 500 places of worship. Its General and exertions of William Penn, they obConference has instituted à Board of Do- tained an asylum, first in New-Jersey, and mestic and Foreign Missions, as also a afterward in Pennsylvania, towards the Book Concern, which has its headquar- close of that century, ters in Baltimore. There are four religious newspapers, also, published under its auspices. Its churches are to be found in all parts of the country, but particularly in the Middle, Northern, and Western States.

CALVINISTIC METHODISTS-a small Welsh communion, consisting of twenty churches and as many pastors. They are an evangelical and zealous body, and as it is only a few years since the greater part of them came to America, they still use the Welsh language in their public worship and in their families. Though found in several states, they are most numerous, I believe, in New-York.*

CHAPTER XVI.

THE FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS.

THIS religious community first appeared in England towards the middle of the seventeenth century, and had an early share in the colonization of the United States. We have seen that its reputed founder and

*The number of national churches among the Welsh emigrants and their descendants in the United States is far greater than is commonly supposed. From a statement which has been kindly furnished me while this work has been going through the press, by the Rev. Jonathan J. Jones, pastor of a Welsh Presbyterian church in the city of New-York, I learn that there are, besides the Calvinistic Methodist churches mentioned above, no less than 38 Congregational churches, 12 Baptist, 2 Presbyterian, 3 Episcopal, and 3 Wesleyan Methodist. The statistics of twenty of these churches show about 2640 communicants, 8050 members of congregations, and from 630 to 1030 dollars contributed annually to spread the knowledge of the Gospel. With the exception of the Calvinistic Methodists and the Presbyterians, the Welsh churches are included in the

estimate which is made of the denominations whose name they bear. For instance, the Welsh Baptists come in under the head of the Regular Baptists; the Welsh Congregationalists are included in the statement which I have made respecting the Congregational body. Of the names of forty-one of the pastors of the churches mentioned in the statement furnished by Mr. Jones, seven are Jones, seven are Williams, three are Powells, three are Evans; and among the others we find those of Griffiths, Roberts, Lewis, Morris, Edwards, Richards, Powell, Davis, Morgan, Owen, Philips, Jenkins, and others which are purely Welsh.

They are now supposed to have about 500 congregations in the United States, and are chiefly settled in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, in New-Jersey, NewYork, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Virginia, though some may be found in all the States. In Philadelphia alone they have six or eight large congregations or meetings."

It is far from easy to make out what were the doctrines really held by George Fox, and some of the other early Friends, or Quakers, as they are more commonly called. They spoke so much about the "light within," and the "Christ in the heart," and so little about the proper divinity of Jesus Christ, the inspiration and divine authority of the Scriptures, &c., that good men of that day much doubted how far they held the saving truths of the Gospel. But the subsequent writings of Penn, Barclay, and others, to whom may be added many excellent authors of the present day, make it certain that a decided majority of well-informed Friends have been sound in "the faith that saves.

But within the last fifteen years a deplorable schism has taken place. Doctrines of the most dangerous character, imbodying, in fact, a kind of fanatical deism, having been widely disseminated by the preaching and writings of the late Elias Hicks, of Long Island, New-York, who was one of their ministers, they separated into two quite distinct bodies, each maintaining that it held the doctrines of the original Quakers.* One party is called the Orthodox, the other the Hicksites, from the name of their leader, or, rather, founder. Their relative numbers are not exactly known, but the Orthodox are supposed to be fully three

* The highest law court in New-Jersey decided a few years ago, in a suit respecting property held by one of the "Quarterly Meetings" in that state, that the so-called Orthodox Quakers are the true successors of the founders of the denomination; in other words, hold the true doctrines of the people called Friends. This decision was formed after a long and very thorough investigation of the subject, conducted by a master in chancery, who was employed during several months in taking the testimony of distinguished Friends as to what were the doctrines of the society.

The peculiarities of the Friends, in respect to plainness of dress, refusing to un-loving people are the same in the United cover the head as a mark of respect to their fellow-men, whatever be their station, rank, or office, the use of the singular thou and thee instead of the plural you in all cases where custom has sanctioned the superseding of the former by the latter, their refusing to take an oath, and to bear arms, are too well known to require remark.

* See remarks in chapter iv. of this book for the grounds on which the ordained ministers in the Regular Baptist com-munion are estimated at 4036.

By uniting the Congregationalists with the Presbyterians, which, as they are in all important respects the same, is perfectly proper, we reduce the evangelical denominations in the United States to four great families, and, thus arranged, they present the following summary :

200
300

at which the Gospel is preached, in most cases once a week at least, and in others once a fortnight, seldom less often, these will be found to amount to 49,424. And even to these there ought to be added a part, at least, of the Campbellite, Mennonist, and Winebrennarian places of worship, Population. and those of some of the smaller Methodist 812,000 sects, before we can arrive at a full enu5,500,000 meration of all the churches and other 5,052,500 places in which salvation by a crucified 15,364,000 Saviour is proclaimed to sinners.

4,000,000

49,424 16,682 2,864,848 This synopsis suggests a few observations.

3. The summary gives 16,682 as the number of ministers who devote them1. We have left out the Campbellites, selves entirely to the work. Adding the both because we have no correct informa- 8980 Methodist local preachers, we have tion as to their statistics, and because 25,662 as the number of actual preachers though some of them are, no doubt, sound of the Gospel. Even this is exclusive of on all essential points, yet, not knowing those of the omitted denominations, and of how many, we cannot place them with en- the licentiates in the Baptist and Presbytire confidence among the evangelical de- terian churches, who cannot well be estinominations. Neither have we included mated at less than 1300, and who may the Mennonists, the German United Breth-fairly be set against the deduction to be ren, the Winebrennarians, the Orthodox made on account of ordained ministers Friends, nor some of the smaller seces-employed as professors and missionaries. sions from the Methodist Episcopal Church. But taking the above 16,682 as the number, Had all these been included, the number of churches, ministers, and members, together with the amount of the general population under the moral influence of the churches included in this category, would have been much greater.

2. It is impossible to state the number of churches or congregations, properly so called. Those of the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Baptists, taken together, amount to 19,395. But those belonging to the different Methodist communions it is impossible to ascertain, no return of them having been made. There can be no doubt that, of the places of worship which I have given on President Durbin's authority, more than 10,000 are churches properly so called. This, then, would make the entire number of the churches of the evangelical denominations, without counting the Campbellites, Mennonists, &c., exceed 29,000; and supposing these to contain upon an average 500 people each, they would accommodate more than 14,500,000 of the 18,500,000 of inhabitants. But if we take in all the places, whether churches or not,

* Travelling ministers.

all things considered, of ministers that are
evangelical on all the saving doctrines of
the Gospel, and divide the population of
the United States, which, in the beginning
of the year 1844, was about 18,500,000, by
this number, the result will be one such
minister for less than 1110 souls. Now,
although figures cannot express moral in-
fluences, such calculations are neverthe-
less not without their use.
which has an evangelical preacher on an
average for every 1110 souls, may be
considered as pretty well supplied, if they
be well distributed and faithful. A perfect
distribution is, indeed, altogether impos-
sible with a population rapidly diffusing it-
self over immense, half-cultivated regions,
yet much is done to obviate the disadvan-
tages of such a state of things. The aid

A country

probable number of places, including churches,
* I am indebted for the above estimate of the
schoolhouses, and private houses, in which the
Methodist itinerant and local ministers preach, to my
friend President Durbin. It has been made with
much care, and, I doubt not, is considerably within
the truth. President Durbin has a wide and accu-

rate acquaintance with the country, as well as with
the entire economy of the church to which he belongs.
+ Travelling ministers.
Local ministers

rendered by the Methodist local preachers bers, and sometimes in compact bodies, must be regarded as an important auxiliary to the more regular ministry. The general faithfulness of this ministry has already been fully discussed.

from different parts of the Old World, nothing was more natural than the desire of establishing for themselves and their posterity the same religious formularies and 4. The members in full communion with modes of worship, church government, and the churches enumerated exceed 2,864,848 discipline which they had cherished in the in number. Now, although it be very cer- lands that had given them birth, and persetain that all these do not live up to their cution for their adherence to which had led, profession, yet as they belong for the most in many instances, to their having emigrapart to churches that endeavour to main-ted. Hence we find, in the United States, tain discipline, we may fairly presume that counterparts not only to the Episcopalian, they comprehend at least as large a pro- Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist portion of consistent Christians as any churches of England, and to the Presbyteequal number of professors in other parts rian churches of Scotland, Ireland, and of Christendom. Wales, but likewise to the Dutch and German Reformed churches, the German Lutheran Church, the Moravians, Mennonists, &c. Indeed, there is scarcely an evangelical communion in America which is not the mere extension by immigration of a similar body in Europe. The exceptions hardly can be reckoned such, for they consist for the most part of separations from the larger bodies, not because of differences with regard to essential doctrines and forms of church government, but on points of such inferior consequence that they can scarcely be regarded as new sects at all.

5. The last column of the summary assumes 15,364,000 of the whole population as more or less under the influence of the evangelical denominations. Accuracy in such a calculation is hardly to be expected, but I have taken the best data I could find, and doubt not that the estimate I have made is not much wide of the truth. Including all the denominations that claim to be evangelical, this estimate would exceed 15,500,000.

CHAPTER XVIII.

NUMBER OF EVANGELICAL SECTS.

In fact, if we take all the evangelical communions that have fallen under review, and contemplate the confessedly fundaMUCH has been said in Europe about the mental doctrines maintained by each, it is multiplicity of sects in the United States, surprising to observe how nearly they are and many seem of opinion that the reli- agreed. It may, we believe, be demongious liberty enjoyed there has led to the al-strated that among the evangelical commost indefinite creation of different religious communions. This requires a little examination.

munions in the United States, numerous as they are, there is as much real harmony of doctrine, if not of church economy, as could be found in the evangelical churches of the first three centuries.

Indeed, as we before remarked, by group

No doubt absolute religious liberty will ever be attended with a considerable subdivision of the religious world into sects. Men will ever differ in their views respect-ing the former in families, according to ing doctrine and church order, and it is to their great distinctive features, we at once be expected that such differences will re- reduce them to four, or at most five. Thus sult in the formation of distinct ecclesias- the Presbyterians, commonly so called, of tical communions. In the absence of re- the Old and New Schools, the Congregaligious liberty matters may be much other- tionalists, the Dutch and German Reformwise, but how far for the better a little con-ed, the Scotch Secession churches,* and, sideration will show. People in that case we may add, the Lutherans and Cumbermay be constrained to acquiesce, ostensi-land Presbyterians, form but one great bly at least, in one certain ecclesiastical organization, and in certain modes of faith and worship sanctioned and established by law. But such acquiescence, it is well known, instead of being real and cordial, is often merely external and constrained; and if so, its worthlessness is certain and palpable.

Presbyterian family, composed of elder and younger members, all of them essentially Presbyterian in church polity, and very nearly coinciding, at bottom, in their doctrinal views. Between several of these communions there subsists a most intimate fraternal intercourse, and the ministers of one find no difficulty in entering the service of another without being re-ordained.

Again, between the different evangelical Baptist sects there is no really essential or

But as respects the evangelical communions in the United States, it must have struck the reader that this multiplicity has mainly arisen, not so much from the abuse of religious liberty by the indulgence of a capricious and sectarian spirit, as from the successful, to unite all the Scottish Secession churches in one body. This coalescence of churches holdvarious quarters from which the country ing similar doctrines and maintaining similar orgahas been colonized. Coming in large num-nizations may be expected to occur often.

* An effort is now making, which promises to be

important difference; and the same may be said of the Methodists. Indeed, the evangelical Christians of the United States exhibit a most remarkable coincidence of views on all important points. On all doctrines necessary to salvation-the sum of which is "repentance towards God," and "faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ"there is really no diversity of opinion at all. Of this I may now give a most decisive proof.

and directs their movements, all is systematic order where the uninitiated sees nothing but confusion. Momentary collisions, it is true, may sometimes happenthere may be jostling and irritation occasionally-yet they all fulfil their appointed parts and discharge their appropriate duties. So is it with the "sacramental host of God's elect."

gregations increase in numbers and consistency, and though weak ones are occasionally dissolved, the persons who composed them either going into other evangelical churches, or emigrating to other parts of the country, such as maintain their ground become only the stronger; and it often happens, particularly in the rural districts, that the number of sects diminishes while the population increases.

No doubt this multiplication of sects is attended with serious evils, especially in the I have already spoken of the American new and thinly-peopled settlements. It oftSunday-school Union. Among the lay- en renders the churches small and feeble. men who compose its Board of Directors, But this is an evil that diminishes with the are to be found members of all the main increase of the population. With a zealous branches of the evangelical Protestant and capable ministry the truth gains ground, Church-Episcopalians, Congregational- the people are gathered into churches, conists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Dutch and German Reformed, Methodists, Quakers, and Moravians. It publishes a great many books for Sunday-school libraries every year, none, of course, being admitted the contents of which are likely to give offence to any member of the Board, or repugnant to the peculiarities of any of the religious bodies represented at it. In the summer of 1841 the Rev. Dr. Hodge, a professor in the Princeton theological sem- Great, however, as may be the disadvaninary, was requested by its committee of tages resulting from this multiplicity of publications to write a book exhibiting the different communions, were they all regreat doctrines of the Gospel as held by all duced to one or two, we apprehend still evangelical Christians. This he did to the worse evils would follow. Diversity on entire satisfaction, not only of the Board, non-essential points among the churches but I believe I may say of all evangelical and ministers of a neighbourhood often Christians throughout the land that have gives opportunity to those who reside in it read his work. It is appropriately entitled to attend the services and ministrations "The Way of Life;" the subjects are the which each finds most edifying, instead of Scriptures; sin; justification; faith; repent- being reduced to the sad alternative of ance; profession of religion; and holy liv- either joining in forms of worship which ing; under which several heads the funda- they conscientiously disapprove, and of mental doctrines of the Gospel are present- listening to a minister whom they find uned in an able and yet most simple and famil- edifying, or of abstaining from public woriar manner. It is a work, in short, which ship altogether. Rather than this, it is surenone can read without surprise and delightly far better to bear the expense of having at observing the vast extent and fulness of the system of Truth, in which all evangelical communions are agreed.

two or three churches in a community, for which, looking only at the mere amount of population, one might suffice.

CHAPTER XIX.

GELICAL CHRISTIANS OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT has been often and widely stated in Europe, on the authority of a certain class of visitants from the Old World who have

These communions, as they exist in the United States, ought to be viewed as branches of one great body, even the entire visible Church of Christ in this land. Whatever may have been the circumstances out of which they arose, they are but ALLEGED WANT OF HARMONY AMONG THE EVANconstituent parts of one great whole-divisions of one vast army-though each brigade, and even each regiment, may have its own banner, and its own part of the field to occupy. And although to the inexperi-published their Travels, Tours, &c., that enced eye such an army as it moves onward against the enemy may have a confused appearance, the different divisions of infantry being arranged separately, the artillery interspersed, and the cavalry sometimes in the front, sometimes in the rear, and sometimes between the columns, yet all are in their proper places; and to the mind of him who assigns them their places,

there is much unseemly strife among our various religious denominations. Here, I hesitate not to say, there has been much gross misrepresentation. No doubt our evangelical churches feel the influence of mutual emulation. Placed on the same great field, coming into contact with each other at many points, and all deeply and conscientiously attached to their peculiar