The Book of Religions Part 38

Friends.

The Friends are found in most of the states in the Union, and some in the British Provinces. They are most numerous in Pennsylvania, a state first settled by them, under their worthy head and father, in this country, WILLIAM PENN, in 1682.

In England and Ireland, they number about fifty thousand; and in America, about two hundred thousand, and are divided into four hundred and fifty congregations. About half are Orthodox, and the other half Hicksites, or followers of ELIAS HICKS, who died at Jericho, N. Y. in 1830, aged 76.

Jews.

The number of Jews in the United States is estimated at about four thousand. They have synagogues in Newport, R. I., the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, S. C., and in other parts of the country. Their mode of wors.h.i.+p is exceedingly interesting. With regard to the number of this people in the world, Blackwood's Magazine says:-

"The statistics of the Jewish population are among the most singular circ.u.mstances of this most singular of all people. Under all their calamities and dispersions, they seem to have remained at nearly the same amount as in the days of David and Solomon-never much more in prosperity, never much less after ages of suffering. Nothing like this has occurred in the history of any other race; Europe in general having doubled its population within the last hundred years, and England nearly tripled hers within the last half century; the proportion of America being still more rapid, and the world crowding in a constantly-increasing ratio. Yet the Jews seem to stand still in this vast and general movement. The population of Judea, in its most palmy days, probably did not exceed, if it reached, four millions. The numbers who entered Palestine from the wilderness, were evidently not much more than three; and their census, according to the German statists, who are generally considered to be exact, is now nearly the same as that of the people under Moses-about three millions."

On the above, Judge Noah, of New York, a learned Jew, remarks:-

"We apprehend there is some error in the above statistics, and that the number of Jews throughout the world may be estimated at nearer six millions than three. There are more than a million in Poland and Russia; in all Asia, there are full two millions; half a million in Austria; in the Barbary States and Africa, a million; in all Europe, two millions and a half. We do not think, during the most splendid periods of Jewish history, that they ever exceeded four millions; but then their colonies and countries held tributary in Europe and Asia, amounted to many millions more. For example, at one period all Spain paid tribute to King Solomon; and all Spain and Portugal, at this day, are descendants of the Jews and Moors; and there are many thousands of Jews, in both those countries, now adhering in secret to the ancient faith of their fathers, while outwardly professing the Catholic religion. All the familiar Spanish and Portuguese names-Lopez, Mendez, Carvalho, Fonseca, Rodrigues, Peirara, Azavedo, Montefiores, &c. &c.-are of Jewish origin. Their numbers, therefore, will never be accurately known until the restoration, when thousands who, from convenience and pride, and some from apprehension, conceal their religion, will be most eager to avow it when their nation takes rank among the governments of the earth."

Lutherans.

The government of the Lutherans is somewhat singular. Where it is established by law, the supreme head of the state is also supreme head of the church. They have bishops, but no diocesan episcopacy, except in Denmark and Sweden. These are called _superintendents_ in Germany, and _presidents_ in the United States. There is but _one_ archbishop, and he is the primate of Sweden.

They have in the United States about one thousand churches, four hundred ministers, seventy thousand communing members, and about one hundred and forty thousand which do not commune.

EDUCATION, &c.-They have a college, located at Gettysburg, Pa., and several academies in different parts of the country; also four theological seminaries, located at Gettysburg, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; Lexington, S. C.; Hartwich, N. Y., a fifth is contemplated in Indiana. Their different education societies support about eighty beneficiaries, preparing for the ministry, at an expense of one hundred dollars each, annually. The _Lutheran Observer_ is published weekly, at Baltimore.

The Lutherans are one of the most numerous sects of Christians in the world. The whole number in Europe is estimated at twenty-seven millions, embracing seventeen reigning sovereigns. This estimate, of course, includes the Moravians.

Protestant Methodists.

This infant church is rapidly increasing, especially in the middle States.

Its population in the United States exceeds one hundred and fifty thousand.

This cla.s.s of Christians have twenty-one annual conferences in as many states; nearly four hundred travelling, and a large number of unstationed ministers. They have a general conference, which meets once in four years, consisting of two delegates from every thousand communicants, one a minister, the other a layman: this is their legislative body. The number of communicants is about sixty-five thousand.

PUBLICATIONS. The Protestant Methodists support four religious papers:-the _Olive Branch_, Boston, Ma.s.s.; the _New York Luminary_, New York, the _Methodist Protestant_, Baltimore, Md., and the _Western Recorder_, Zanesville, Ohio.

Methodists.

The population of all denominations of Methodists in the United States exceeds three millions.

PUBLICATIONS.-The _Christian Advocate and Journal_, New York city; _Zion's Herald and Wesleyan Journal_, Boston, Ma.s.s.; _Northern Advocate_, Auburn, N. Y.; _Christian Repository_, Philadelphia, Pa.; _Richmond Christian Advocate_, Richmond, Va.; _Southern Christian Advocate_, Charleston, S.

C.; _South-Western Christian Advocate_, Nashville, Tenn.; _Pittsburg Christian Advocate_, Pittsburg, Pa.; _Western Christian Advocate_, and the _Christian Apologist_, a German paper, Cincinnati, Ohio.

There is also published by this denomination, the _Methodist Quarterly Review_, New York city; _Ladies' Repository_, (monthly,) Cincinnati, Ohio; _Guide to Christian Perfection_, (monthly,) Boston, Ma.s.s., _Sunday School Advocate_, (semi-monthly,) New York city; _Sabbath School Messenger_, (semi-monthly,) Boston, Ma.s.s. The Methodists have ten colleges, and thirty academies.

In the Methodist church in Canada, are two weekly newspapers viz., _Christian Guardian_, Toronto, U. C.; _The Wesleyan_, Montreal, L. C.

From the "Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the Year 1840," we copy the following table:-

Conferences, Ministers, &c.

Conferences. Whites. Colored. Indians. Total Com. Trav. Prs.

Troy 24,488 78 24,566 144 New England 22,319 235 22,554 157 New 20,084 20,084 151 Hamps.h.i.+re Pittsburg 35,276 474 35,750 136 Maine 22,359 22,359 145 Black River 15,908 27 15,935 96 Erie 17,860 50 17,910 107 Oneida 22,909 65 22,974 142 Michigan 11,308 12 87 11,407 74 Rock River 6,519 21 45 6,585 75 Genesee 27,931 50 27,981 162 North Ohio 23,594 91 213 23,898 95 Ohio 53,621 662 54,283 168 Illinois 24,607 80 24,687 103 Missouri 12,386 1,224 382 13,992 66 Kentucky 30,679 6,321 37,000 114 Tennessee 21,675 4,405 26,080 95 Indiana 52,208 407 52,615 156 Memphis 12,497 1,995 14,492 69 Arkansas 4,228 725 1,524 6,479 41 Holston 25,902 2,420 28,322 68 Mississippi 8,433 4,178 67 12,678 81 North 15,983 4,480 20,463 61 Carolina Texas 1,623 230 1,853 19 Alabama 19,491 5,821 25,312 87 South 26,945 30,481 57,426 102 Carolina Virginia 21,841 3,086 24,927 94 Georgia 28,868 9,989 38,857 127 Baltimore 42,789 13,904 56,693 182 Philadelphia 35,094 8,778 43,872 128 New Jersey 22,733 542 23,275 108 New York 36,284 405 36,689 215 Liberia 922 922 19 Mission Total, 1840 748,442 102,158 2,318 852,918 3,587 Total, 1842 796,495 107,251 2,617 906,363 3,846

Presbyterians.

The Protestant faith was introduced into Scotland about 1527; and about 1592 Andrew Melville effected the introduction of the Presbyterian form of church polity. This form, through much persecution, and even bloodshed, has been maintained ever since. Its creed is Calvinistic. This church has nearly a thousand ministers, and about one million five hundred thousand church members. It is the established religion of Scotland, sustained by law. There are also several bodies of dissenting Presbyterians in Scotland.

Presbyterianism was first introduced into England by those Christians who returned from Frankfort, after the death of Queen Mary. For a time, it flourished, but at length lapsed into Socinianism. There are, however, a few churches in England still pure, which are in fellows.h.i.+p with the Scotch Presbyterians.

This denomination began its organized existence in America about the year 1700, and is the offspring of the church of Scotland. Its first ministers were Rev. Francis McKemie, and the Rev. John Hampton, who labored in Virginia.

The first church of this order was organized in Philadelphia, 1703, the first presbytery, 1704, and the first synod in 1716. Since that time, they have steadily increased, and their number in 1840 was ninety-six presbyteries, twelve hundred and thirty-two ministers, eighteen hundred and twenty-three churches, and one hundred and fifty-two thousand four hundred and fifty-one communicants.

The Presbyterians are found chiefly in the Middle, Western, and Southern States. The number of people attached to this form of church government in the United States, is supposed to exceed two millions.

EDUCATION.-Within the bounds of the church there are thirteen theological seminaries, three of which are under the care of the General a.s.sembly.

They have a board of education, which has about four hundred young men in training for the ministry.

The Calvinistic publications announce their sentiments.