CONNECTICUT. Each congregational church in this state is a separate jurisdiction, and claims autho rity to chuse its own minister, to exercise government, and enjoy gospel ordinances within itself. The churches, however, are not independent of each other; they are associated for mutual benefit and convenience. The associations have power to license candidates for the ministry, to consult for the general welfare, and to recommend measures to be adopted by the churches; but have no authority to enforce them. When disputes arise in churches, councils are called by the parties to settle them; but their power is only advisory. There are eleven associations in the state, and they meet twice in a year. These are all combined in one general association, formed in 1709, consisting of delegates from the general associations, which meet annually. congregational pastors, and about ninety churches. There are twenty Episcopalian ministers, sixteen pluralities, and seventeen vacancies, comprising in the whole fifty-two congregations. The Baptists have twenty-five ministers, and several vacancies. The pastors have formed themselves into two associations, by the name of "The Stonington Association," and "The Danbury Association."+ Those who embrace Hopkinsian sentiments are numerous among the Congregationalists. There was formerly a society of Sandemanians at New Haven, but they are now reduced to a very small number. The Episcopal churches are respectable, and are under the superintendance of a bishop.‡ Within this century a general union hath been effected between the general assembly of the Presbyterian churches in the United States, and the general association in Connecticut. A similar union hath also been formed between the general associations of Connecticut, and the general convention of ministers in the seventy-eight state of New York.§ All religions which are consistent with the peace of society are tolerated in Connecticut, and a spirit of liberality and catholicism is increasing.* There are in this state one hundred, and *Morse's Geography, vol. i. p. 454. ‡ The Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, who was consecrated by the Scotch respective states, whence they take their names; and once a year, by their commissioners, in general council at Philadel phia. The general association of the state of Connecticut have formed a missionary society, in order to christianize the heathen in North America, and to support and promote There are a number of Preschristian knowledge in the byterian churches, commonly new settlements within the called Seceders, who have a United States. separate ecclesiastical jurisdiction. These, as well as the other Presbyterians, and the Dutch reformed churches, hold the Calvinistic doctrines, without any essential difference. NEW YORK. The constitution of this state provides for the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference within this state, for all mankind; provided the liberty of conscience hereby granted shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state. The various religious denominations in this state, are the following English Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Baptists, Episcopalians, Quakers, or Friends, German Lutherans, Moravians, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Jews, Shakers, and a few of the followers of Jemima Wilkinson. The synods of the Presbyterian churches in New York and Philadelphia, during their session at Philadelphia in May, 1788, resolved themselves into four synods; those of New York, Philadelphia, Virginia, and Carolina. These synods are to meet annually in their The Dutch reformed churches in this state are divided into five classes; three in New York, and two in New Jersey. From their first planting in New York and New Jersey, they have, under the direction of the classes of Amsterdam, been formed exactly upon the plan of the established church of Holland, as far as that is ecclesiastical. There is a strictcorrespondence between the Dutch reformed synod of New York and New Jersey, and the synod of North Holland and the classes of Amsterdam. The acts of their synods are mutually exchang ed every year, and mutual advice is given and received in disputes respecting doctrinal points and church discipline. The episcopal churches hold the same principles, have the same mode of worship and church government, and are in every other respect constituted on the same plan with the church of the same denomination in England.* The Methodist interest, though small in this state, has greatly increased in the southern states since the revolution. They have estimated their number at thirty-seven thousand eight hundred. But their numbers are so various in different places at different times, that it would be a matter of no small difficulty to find out their exact amount. Their churches are supplied by their preachers in rotation. The ministers of every denomination in the state are supported by the voluntary contributions of the people, raised generally by subscription, or by a tax on the pews, except the Dutch churches in New York, Albany, Schenectady, and Kingston; which have, except the two last, large estates confirmed by a charter. The episcopal church also in New York possesses a very large estate in and near the city. The interest of the Shakers in this state is now fast declining.† In the autumn of 1796, a number of ministers in the city of New York, being informed of the exertions which were then, and had for some time been making in Great Britain, to spread the knowledge of the gospel among the heathen, became impressed with the duty of making a similar attempt in America. For this purpose, a general meeting of clerical brethren in the vicinity, and private christians in the city, of different denominations, took place 'the above mentioned year. At this meeting a handsome collection was made, and the gentlemen present agreed to form themselves into a society for sending the gospel to the frontier settlements, and among the Indian tribes in the United States. This is styled "The New York Missionary. Society." We are informed that the missionary principle has penetrated to the distant parts of the state, and produced another society on the same plan, by the style of the "New York Northern Missionary Society." Their design is to establish an evangelical mis *Drs. White and Provost, the former elected for Philadelphia, the latter for New York, were both consecrated by the English bishops. See Skin er's History of Scotland. ↑ Morse's American Geography, pp. 267–270. ‡ New York Missionary Magazine, sion among the northern and The Moravians have a flou western savages." NEW JERSEY. There are in this state about fifty "Presbyterian congregations, subject to the care of three presbyteries; viz. those of New York, New Brunswick, and Philadelphia. A part of the charge of New York and Philadelphia presbyteries lies in New Jersey, and part in their own respective states. To supply these congregations, there are at present about twenty-five ministers.-There are upwards of forty congregations of Friends, commonly called Quakers, who are, in general, sober, plain, industrious, good citizens. There are thirty associated congregations of Baptists in New Jersey, which maintain Calvinistic doctrines. -The Episcopalian interest consists of twenty-five congregations. There are in this state two classes belonging to the Dutch reformed synod of New York and New Jersey. The classes of Hakkensak, to which belong thirteen congre gations; and the classes of New Brunswick, to which belong fifteen congregations. rishing settlement at Hope, in Sussex county. This settlement was begun in 1771, and now consists of upwards of a thousand souls. The Methodist interest is small in this state. The Swedes have a church in Gloucester county; and there are three congregations of Seventh-Day Baptists.--All these religious denominations live together in peace and harmony, and are allowed by the constitution of the state to worship God agreeably to the dictates of their own consciences; and are not compelled to attend or support any worship contrary to their own faith and judgment. All protestant inhabitants of peaceable behaviour are eligible to the civil offices of the state.† *From intelligence received February 2, 1800, we are informed, that the Rev. Mr. Bushnell lately returned from a mission to the western countries of the state of New York. He spent the last year in those countries, and in many places his labours were crowned with success. See Evangelical Magazine, February, 1801. ↑ Morse's American Geography, pp. 292, 293. foundation of all his institutions. Christians of all denominations might not only live unmolested, but have a share in the government of the colony. During the late war some of this denomination thought it their duty to take up arms in defence of their country. This laid the foundation of a secession from their brethren; and they now form a separate congregation in Philadelphia, by the name of resisting, or fighting Qua kers. similar to those of the New England Baptists.‡ The freedom and toleration of the government has produced a great variety of sects among the German inhabitants of Pennsylvania. The Lutherans compose a great proportion of the German citizens of the state. Many of their churches are large and splendid. The German Presbyterians are the next to them in numbers. Their churches are likewise large, and furnished in many places In 1796, the Friends, or with organs. The clergy Quakers, had five places of belonging to these churches public worship in Philadel- have moderate salaries, but phia; Presbyterians and Se- they are punctually and justly ceders six; the Episcopalians paid. The German Lutherans three; the Roman Catholics and Presbyterians live in great three; the German Lutherans harmony with each other, intwo; the German Calvinists, somuch that they often preach Swedish Lutherans, Mora- in each other's churches; and vians, Methodists, Baptists, in some instances unite in Universal Baptists,† Jews, Universalists, and Africans, had each one place for public worship. The Friends and Episcopalians compose about one third of the inhabitants of this state. There are in Pennsylvania sixteen congregations of English Baptists. Their doctrine, worship, and discipline, are building a church, in which they both worship at different times. The harmony between two denominations once so much opposed to each other, is owing to the relaxation of the Presbyterians in some of the peculiar doctrines of Calvinism. They are called Presbyterians, because most of them object to being desig * Guthrie, p. 808. †There is a church of Universal Baptists in Philadelphia, who embrace the sentiments of the late Mr. Winchester. Nnn Morse's American Geography, p. 320. |