In connection with the two first of these churches, are several valuable societies, viz: 1. THE AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION.-Missions are sustained in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. In EUROPE-France, Denmark, Prussia, Germany and Greece. In ASIA-Burmah, Siam, Assam, China and Hindostan. In AFRICA-Among the Bassas on the west coast. And in NORTH AMERICA-Among the Ojibwas, Ottawas, Tuscaroras, Shawsnes, Stockbridges, Delawares and Cherokees. SUMMARY--16 Missions, embracing 56 stations and $7 out-stations; 99 missionaries, of whom 42 are preachers; 155 native preachers; 82 churches and 50 schools. Receipts for the year ending 1st April, 1846, $112,619 94. 2. THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY-Organized 17th Feb., 1846-Receipts in 1845-6. $36.971 76c. Issued 10,413 Bibles and 25,314 Testaments. 3. THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY.-Organized 1832.-Receipts for the year ending April 1st, 1846, $40,588 Employed 106 missionaries, supplying 472 stations; churches organized, 33; ministers ordained, 15 Auxiliaries employ 241 missionaries, supplying 640 stations. Its missionaries have organized 564 churches, and ordained 430 ministers. 4. THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY.-Organized 1839.-Receipts for 1945-6, $22,728. This society has published 45 bound volumes and 171 tracts. 5. THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION.-Organized 1843.-The first triennial meeting was held at Richmond, Va., June 10, 1816. Receipts for Foreign Missions, $11.735, and Domestic Missions, $7,493. Foreign Stations-China and Africa. Domestic Sta. in 14 Southern States. 6. THE AMERICAN INDIAN MISSION ASSOCIATION.-Organized 1842. Receipts 1845-6, $4,769 Has 19 missionaries, of which 9 are ordained preachers laboring among the Pottawatamies, Weas, Shawnees, Tuscaroras, Delawares, Stockbridges, Choctaws and Creeks. Churches, 5; communicants, 300. t Communicated by Lucius C. Matlack, Publishing Agent for Methodist Connection. Communicated by Rev. J. J. Smith, of New-York. + Not reported. The whole number of Anti-Trinitarian Churches in the United States, including Hicksite Quakers or Friends; Campbellites, (Reformed Baptists ;) Universalists; Seventh Day Baptists, (in part ;) aud exceeds one million of persons. Rev. Frederick A. Farley. Estimated at about 300,000 This Church has two Theological Schools, one at Cambridge, Mass., and one at PROGRESS OF CONGREGATIONALISM. The churches planted by the Pilgrims, soon after their arrival at Plymouth, were all Congregational. When the Synod met at Cambridge, in 1648, there were thirty-nine Congregational Churches in Massachusetts. In 1767, they numbered two hundred and eighty. In 1790, they amounted to three hundred and thirty-two. In 1800, there were three hundred and fifty-two. The present number in Massachusetts is 478. In the other New-England states, the growth of Congregationalism has been nearly as follows: In 1648, there were four churches of this order in Connecticut, and three in NewHampshire. In 1695, there were thirty-six in Connecticut, five in New-Hampshire, and three in the Province of Maine. In 1760, there were in Connecticut, one hundred and fifty-three; in New-Hampshire, forty; in Maine, twenty; and in Rhode Island, ten. The present number in all the New-England States is one thousand three hundred and thirtythree. In this estimate, the Evangelical churches only are included. In the states out of New-England, Congregationalism, as a form of church polity separate from Presbyterianism, scarcely had an existence prior to the commencement of the present century. It is estimated, that there are now not less than five hundred and fourteen Evangelical Congregational churches in the Middle and Western States, besides many others in which there is a large infusion of the Congregational principles of church government. 6.-GERMAN AND DUTCH CHURCHES. The Reformed Dutch Church in North America derives its origin from the Reformed Church of Holland, which still preserves its doctrinal standards and form of church government. The first churches were planted during the Dutch Colonial government. Churches were afterwards formed in the range of the Dutch settlements on Long Island, along the Hudson River and the Mohawk, and in the northern and middle counties of New-Jersey. Of late the number of New-York... churches considerably increased, and a few churches have been organized through missionary effort in the states of Hartwick.... .N.Y. Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. These churches are under the care of a General Synod, the two particular Synods of Franckean New-York and Albany, and twenty-four classes, twelve of them attached to the particular Synod of New-York, and Pennsylvania.. twelve to the particular Synod of Albany. 1 ne statistical returns for 1847 show the following results : Numbers of Churches, 282; Ministers, 298; Families, 24,141; Congregation, 110,308; Communicants, 34,100. No returns were received from a few congregations, so that the full number would reach somewhat higher. Of the churches, 212 are in the state of New-York, 52 in New-Jersey, 6 in Pennsylvania, 7 in Illinois, and 5 in Michigan. Rutger's College, a literary institution, founded under the auspices of the Reformed Dutch Church, and the Theological Seminary, are both located at New-Brunswick, N. J. The German Reformed Church in the United States was formed among the first emigrants from Germany in Pennsylvania. A large proportion of these emigrants came in the early part of the last century from the Palatinate in Germany, where the German Reformed Church took its rise. The first ecclesiastical organization took place between 1730 and '40. The churches first planted were in Eastern Pennsylvania, though settlements were made at an early period in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, &c. It is now, in the extended growth of the German population, spread over the whole of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and over portions of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, &c. The church is divided into two bodies, which maintain a correspondence, but are independent of each other. The Eastern portion of the church is the original and parent body, and bears the title of "The Synod of the German Reformed Church of the United States." Its territory extends westward in Pennsylvania to the Alleghany Mountains, to portions of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and a few churches in New-York. It has under its jurisdiction eleven classes, seven of which are in Pennsylvania, one in Maryland, one in Virginia, one in North Carolina, and one in New-York. The statistical reports of the classes to the General Synod in 1847 exhibit:Numbers of Ministers, 163; Churches, 495; Members, or Communicants, about 37,000. A large number of churches failed to report the number of members, the aggregate must, therefore, be much larger. 1 have seen their numbers stated in a condensed statistical account of the various denominations, at 75,000. This, however, must be a vagué computation. The General Synod of the Western body is termed "The Synod of the German Reformed Church of Ohio and adjacent States." It is located principally in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio, but is extending into the adjoining States, and has for its field the whele Valley of the Mississippi. The minutes of their General Synod of last year exhibit:Numbers of Ministers, 63; Churches, 179; Members, 9,030. A few churches had not reported the number of members. There is a literary institution named Marshall College, under the auspices of the German Reformed Church, and a Theological Seminary located at Mercerburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and is in a very prosperous condition. 7-MISCELLANEOUS DENOMINATIONS. 6,000 preach the Gospel. Total........89 1097 123 708 708 From 150 to 180,000 Total........ There are a great number of other minor denominations, chiefly of local origin and influence, the proper names of which are indistinctly known to the general reader. These we must omit in detail. The most conspicuous among them are as follow: 1.-Disciples of Christ. 2.-Evangelical Asssociation. 3.-Latter Day Saints, or Mormons. 4.-Mennonite Society. 5.-Reformed Mennonite Society. 6.-Millenarians. 7.-New Jerusalem, or New Christian Church. 8.-Omish or Amesh Church. 9.-Restorationists. 10.-Shakers, or Shaking Quakers. 11.-Schwenkfelders. 12.-Second Advent Believers. 13.-United Brethren in Christ, and a number of others. Universalist Almanac. Rupp's Religious Denominations. Reichel's Hist. Sketch of the Church and Missions of the United Brethren. |