There are, at present 20 Congregational churches on the island, (the most of them strictly independent) containing an aggregate of 1589 communicants. These are supplied by about 15 ministers, the most of whom are only temporary supplies.

II. PRESBYTERIANS.

The first date of Presbyterianism, in its distinctive form, on the island, is about the year 1712. The original "Presbytery of Long Island" was set off from the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1716, and organised at Southampton April 17th, 1717. This was the first Presbytery constituted in the state of New-York. It was united May 24th, 1738, with the eastern part of Jersey, under the name of the "Presbytery of New-York."

The "Presbytery of Suffolk" was organised April 9th, 1747, and continued till it was reorganised in Oct. 1790, by the Synod of New-York, under the original name of the "Presbytery of Long Island."

In 1809, this Presbytery was divided into two bodies, which were reunited in 1840. But the schism, which took place in the Presbyterian church in 1838, has been followed with corresponding separations and associations on the island; so that there are now two entire Presbyteries, both bearing the same name, besides parts of two others, which, for convenience, are connected with the cities.

The following is a summary of these several bodies.

The Presbytery of Long Island, (O. S.) 15 Ministers-17 Congregations-2,620 Communicants.

Belonging to the Presbytery of New-York: 7 Ministers6 Congregations-1,485 Communicants.

The Presbytery of Long Island, (N. S.)-9 Ministers-5 Congregations-471 Communicants.

Belonging to the Presbytery of Brooklyn-7 Ministers-5 Congregations-1,703 Communicants.

Total, 37 Ministers-33 Congregations-6,284 Communi

cants.

III. THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.

The churches of the New Netherlands were founded, and for a long period, were under the government of the Classis of Amsterdam, whence they received their ministerial supplies.

The first minister sent over to the Dutch colony, was the Rev. Edverardus Bogardus, who commenced his ministry in New Amsterdam (New-York) in 1638. The earliest ev

dence of the organization of a church in that city, is in the following year. The first house of worship erected there, was that which was commenced in the fort in 1642, and finished in 1647. It has been supposed that this was a second erection, but there is abundant evidence, that this was the first. The testimony of DE VRIEZ, contained in MOULTON'S "View of New Orange, 1673," appears conclusive on this point, though other evidence is not wanting.

For many years the scattered settlements on the west end of Long Island were dependent on the city for all their civil and ecclesiastical privileges. And it was not till 1654, that they enjoyed the services of a minister of their own. It was about this time, that the church of Flatbush was organised, which was the first of this denomination on the island. Other organizations were afterwards formed, which were supplied by collegiate pastors till after the commencement of the present century.

The "Classis of Long Island" was formed June 1st, 1813, which was divided into two Classes in May, 1843.

The following abstract from their last reports, furnishes their relative numbers.

The South Classis of L. I. comprehends 9 ministers-9 congregations, and 1,036 communicants. The congregations consist of 775 families, including 4,475 individuals.

The North Classis (with Bushwick) comprehends 8 minis. ters-8 congregations, and 856 communicants-710 families -3,640 individuals.

Total, 17 ministers-17 congregations-1892 communicants.

IV. EPISCOPALIANS.

Episcopacy was first introduced upon Long Island, in 1702, by missionaries sent out by the " Society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts." These were introduced and forced upon several towns, much against the wishes of the people, by the infamous Cornbury, then recently appointed to the government of the Province; some of whose acts will necessarily be noticed in the annals of the towns. The churches of this denomination are principally established in the western coun

ties.

The Journal of the Convention for 1844, gives the following as the aggregate of their numbers on the island, viz.: 24 Rectors-25 parishes, and 2,249 communicants. Three or four new parishes have been recognised the present year, which would somewhat enlarge the amount.

V. METHODISTS.

The commencement of Methodist preaching on the island, is nearly coeval with its introduction into the city of NewYork, which was in 1766. And though these efforts were interrupted by the war of the revolution, they were renewed, at an early date, after the return of peace, and gradually extended, till this denomination have one or more organised societies in almost every town; and their aggregate numbers exceed that of any other distinct communion. By their reports of the present year, the whole number of preachers employed on the island is 36, and the aggregate number of members 6,619.

Other Methodist Organizations.

It is generally known, that since the independent organiza. tion of the Methodist church in America, there has been occasional dissatisfaction manifested towards some of its distinguishing features. These are principally two: viz., its episcopacy, and the concentration of power in the travelling preachers. These and other grounds of dissatisfaction, have produced multiplied secessions, from time to time, which are so numerous that they can only be named; the most of which have distinct organizations on the island.

1. The Reformed Methodist Church, which was organised in 1814.

2. The Methodist Society (generally known as Stilwellites) in 1820. There have been several societies of these on the island, but there are very few remaining.

3. The Protestant Methodists, organised in 1824. They have 5 organised societies here, with an aggregate of 301 members, besides several other places and circuits for preaching.

4. The Wesleyan Methodist Church, constituted in May, 1843, which seceded principally on the slavery question. It claims an aggregate of 40,000; is said to be rapidly increasing, and bids fair to swallow up many of the other sections. It has one infant society of 30 members on the island.

5. The Primitive Methodists originated in England. They have one society here.

Besides these, there are nearly as many distinct organizations of coloured Methodists; the most of which have societies among us.

1. The African Methodist Episcopal Church formed by se

cession in Philadelphia in 1816. They have 9 societies on the island, containing 553 members.

2. The African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) Church, which seceded, in 1820, in the city of New-York. They number 10 societies, in as many towns, with 387 members.

Besides these, there are two other separate organizations of coloured people which will be noticed where they occur.

VI. THE BAPTISTS.

This denomination have 10 churches and about 1,600 members.

VII. THE FRIENDS,

(Including both sections) have 12 Meeting houses. Besides these, there are 8 Roman Catholic Churches-4 Universalists-1 Unitarian, and 2 small Swedenborgian's societies. These, it is believed, constitute all the associations on the island claiming to be religious societies.

This township formerly occupied the entire northern branch of Long Island, including the present territory of the town of Riverhead; and, of course, extending west to the line of Brookhaven. By an act of the Legislature in 1792, its western boundary was fixed, at about 8 miles east of the head of Peconick Bay, running in a northerly direction from the Bay to the Sound; a little west of the village of Franklinville. At that point the island is about 4 miles wide, and gradually diminishes, the most of the way, to Oysterpond Point, a distance of twenty-two miles. The township includes Robbin's Island, in the Peconick Bay, also Plum Island, the Gulls, and Fisher's

*These numbers are taken from the last revision of Burr's Statistical Atlas. The returns of the late Census were not received in time to make a comparison. Hence there may be some variation at the present time.

Island, which extend in a direct line from Oysterponds, to within three or four miles of the Connecticut shore; a distance of eighteen miles. Thus the whole length of the township is about forty miles.

The old parish, where the first settlement was made, is nearly half way from the present western boundary of the town, to the Point; and has heretofore been the largest village on the territory. The Indian name, of this part of the Island, was Yinnicock. Besides this, there are several other collections of houses, familiarly called villages, in most of which, one or more distinct religious societies exist. Those to the eastward, are Stirling or Greenport-Rocky Point, and Oyster ponds, or Orient; and to the west, Cutchogue, Mattituck and Franklinville. Each of these will be noticed in their proper place.

Southold was the first town settled on Long Island. The first company established themselves here in 1640, and consisted principally of English emigrants, from Norfolkshire, • who had spent a short time in the Newhaven colony. There, by the advice and aid of Gov. Eaton, and the Rev. John Davenport, they were organized into a regular church, under a pastor, who accompanied them in their undertaking. Coming over to the island, under the patronage of that colony, their municipal regulations were, of course, formed on the principles of that government, and in subjection to their au thority. The title to the land had been procured, by the magistrates of Newhaven, and was held by them, for a number of years, before it was transferred to the actual settlers. The fundamental principle of that colony, by which church membership was made essential to the exercise of freemen's rights, was, of course, established here; and their early political institutions were formed on that basis. Among the first things, provision was made, for the support of the gospel, the education of the children, and the preservation of the public morals. And to preserve the infant settlement from the intrusion of unwholesome immigrants, a committee was appointed to regulate the admission of settlers; without whose consent no new inhabitant could be admitted, nor any one dispose of his possessions. On this principle, the most of the eastern towns were regulated, from the outset. Those sagacious pioneers were fully convinced, that it was far better and much easier to prevent the ingress of undesirable citizens, than to correct and reform them, after they had come in. And being the lords of the soil, they did, as they had