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 modes of worship, church government, and discipline which they had cherished in the lands that had given them birth, and persecution for their adherence to which had led, in many instances, to their having emigra 4. The members in full communion with the churches enumerated exceed 2,864,848 in number. Now, although it be very certain that all these do not live up to their profession, yet as they belong for the most part to churches that endeavour to main-ted. Hence we find, in the United States, tain discipline, we may fairly presume that they comprehend at least as large a proportion of consistent Christians as any equal number of professors in other parts of Christendom. counterparts not only to the Episcopalian, Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist churches of England, and to the Presbyterian churches of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, but likewise to the Dutch and Ger 5. The last column of the summary as-man Reformed churches, the German Lusumes 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. theran 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. In fact, if we take all the evangelical communions that have fallen under review, and contemplate the confessedly fundamental doctrines maintained by each, it is surprising to observe how nearly they are agreed. It may, we believe, be demon MUCH has been said in Europe about the multiplicity of sects in the United States, and many seem of opinion that the religious 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. 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 respecting doctrine and church order, and it is to be expected that such differences will result in the formation of distinct ecclesiastical communions. In the absence of religious liberty matters may be much otherwise, but how far for the better a little consideration will show. People in that case may be constrained to acquiesce, ostensibly 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. 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 grouping the former in families, according to their great distinctive features, we at once reduce them to four, or at most five. Thus the Presbyterians, commonly so called, of the Old and New Schools, the Congregationalists, the Dutch and German Reformed, the Scotch Secession churches,* and, we may add, the Lutherans and Cumberland Presbyterians, form but one great 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. 66 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." ency, 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, gregations increase in numbers and consistDutch 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. 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 IT has been often and widely stated in brigade, and even each regiment, may have Europe, on the authority of a certain class its own banner, and its own part of the field of visitants from the Old World who have to occupy. And although to the inexperi- published their Travels, Tours, &c., that enced eye such an army as it moves on-there is much unseemly strife among our ward 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, 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 doctrines and ecclesiastical economy, they | must naturally exercise, on the one hand, the utmost watchfulness with respect to each other, and, on the other, employ all the legitimate means in their power to augment their own numbers. The result of such mutual provocation to good works is eminently happy. There may, indeed, be temporary cases of disagreeable collision and unbrotherly jealousy, but ordinarily these are of short duration. The best of men are, after all, but men. Hence even a devoted Gospel minister, after having long had some particular neighbourhood all to himself, may dread the opening of a new place of worship of a different communion in the vicinity of his own, lest some of his hearers should thereby be drawn away; and such an apprehension may, for a time, excite some not very kind feelings in his breast. But universal experience shows that such feelings are usually groundless, and soon cease to be indulged by any but the most narrow-minded persons. State in the American Confederacy, and while on this mission he preached in the pulpits of no less than ten evangelical communions, including all the leading ones. This brotherly feeling widely prevails among the laity also. In all parts of the country they scruple not, when there is no service in their own places of worship, to attend others, though of another communion; and, indeed, in our cities and large towns, not a few Christians regularly attend the lectures of pastors not of their own communion, when these fall on different evenings from those of their own pastors. Not only so, but as there is no bar to intercommunion, except in the case of the Baptists, whose views respecting baptism in all but a few instances prevent it, and in that of the small Scottish Covenanting churches, the members of one evangelical communion often join with those of another in receiving the Lord's Supper in the same church. In this respect, a very catholic spirit happily prevails. The answer of the Rev. Mr. Johnes, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Morristown, New-Jersey, to General Washington, who, on one occasion during the war of the Revolution, desired to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper with Mr Johnes's congregation, but stated that he was an Episcopalian, is just what a thousand ministers of the Gospel would make in like circumstances: "Sir, it is not a Presbyterian or an Episcopalian table, but the Lord's table, and you as well as every other Christian Sometimes, too, a zealous, and in most cases vain and ignorant preacher, will show | himself in a neighbourhood where the churches all belong to communions different from his, and there, in his self-sufficiency, begin to denounce and attempt to proselytize. Such men, however, soon create disgust rather than any other feeling; for with us most of those who join this or that church, do so after examination of its doctrines, government, and discipline, and when once satisfied on these points, above all, after finding its services edify-are welcome to it." ing, they are not disposed to allow themselves to be disturbed by every bigoted and noisy brawler that may seek to gain them over to his creed and church, which, after all, may not essentially differ from their own. Numerous occasions, moreover, bring all evangelical Christians together. The Bible, Temperance, Colonization, Sundayschool, and Tract Societies, not to mention such as are formed from time to time for particular and perhaps local objects, Sabbath Observance, Education, and the like, all bring Christians of different denominations into better acquaintance with each other, and tend to promote mutual Notwithstanding such cases, I hesitate not to affirm that, taking the evangelical churches in the mass, their intercourse, in all parts of the country, manifests a remarkable degree of mutual respect and frater-respect and affection. nal affection. While earnest in maintain- Within the last few years Professor ing, alike from the pulpit and the press, Schmucker, already mentioned, has protheir own views of Truth and church or- posed a plan of union for all the evangelder, there is rarely anything like denunci-ical Protestant churches, which has met ation and unchurching other orthodox com- with much favour, so that a society has been munions, but every readiness, on the con- formed for promoting it. Dr. Schmucker, trary, to offer help when needed. Thus, who, I may remark, is much beloved among among all but the Episcopalians, whose Christians of all denominations, as well as peculiar views of ordination stand in the extensively known by his writings, does not way, there is a frequent exchanging of propose any amalgamation or fusion of the pulpits. I have known the pulpit of an ex- churches, but the adoption merely of cercellent Baptist minister in Philadelphia, tain fixed principles, upon which all the when he was laid aside by ill health, to be evangelical churches shall acknowledge supplied during two years by other minis- the ecclesiastical acts of each other, and ters, and by those of Pædobaptist churches maintain a fraternal intercommunion. for much of that time. During more than seven years the author of this work was engaged in benevolent efforts in America, which led him repeatedly to visit every Another proposal of like tendency will,. I trust, ere long, be carried into effect. It is that there should be a yearly meeting of the friends of foreign missions, held in one or other of the principal cities, for receiv-ment, leave each to his own conclusions. ing summary statements from each of the It is delightful to see that in this way men missionary societies of its operations and of different sects can unite together for the success. Such a meeting, if well conduct-prosecution of their projects for the ameed, might do much substantial good, both by diffusing important information as to the progress of the kingdom of Christ, and also by promoting brotherly love among Christians of different churches. lioration of human society. When I thus unite with persons of a different persuasion from myself, it affords me an augmented degree of pleasure; I rise into a higher nature, into a purer air; I feel that fetters which before bound me are dissolved, and I delight in that blessed liberty of love which carries all other blessings with it." Taking all the professed Christians, amounting, it has been seen, to more than 2,500,000, in our evangelical churches, I hesitate not to say that far more mutual respect and brotherly love prevail among Still, the question remains, Whence have them than would were they all coerced foreigners, while visiting the United States, into one denomination. The world has al- received the impression, which, by being ready seen what sort of union and brother- promulgated in their writings, has led me hood can be produced by all being brought to write this chapter. The answer is easy. into one immense Church, that admits of While such is the prevailing respect and no deviation from the decrees of its coun-regard for each other among the members cils and conclaves. There may, indeed, be of our evangelical churches, they all unite external agreement, yet beneath this appa-in opposing, on the one hand, the errors rent unanimity there may be internal di- of Rome, and, on the other, the heresy visions and heartburnings in abundance. that denies the proper divinity and atoneThere may be union against all who dare ment of Christ, together with those other to impugn her dogmas, but who can tell aberrations from the true Gospel which the almost infernal hatred with which her that heresy involves. Now, it is this reReligious Orders have been found to re-fusal to hold fellowship with errors of vital gard each other? Compared with this, all the temporary attritions, together with all the controversies and exacerbations of feeling that accompany them, that take place in our evangelical Protestant denominations, are as nothing. moment, it is this earnest contending for saving truth, that leads tourists in the United States, whom chance or choice has thrown into the society of persons opposed in their religious tenets to the evangelical churches, to charge us with uncharitableness. Hinc illæ lachrymæ. Common civility, on the contrary, concurs with Christian charity to make the en- We deny not that in some of the divislightened members of one denomination ions of Churches that have taken place respect and esteem those of another, and in the United States, men have at times to appreciate the beautiful sentiment re- permitted themselves to speak and write cently attributed by the chancellor of the with an acrimony unbecoming the Gosexchequer, in the British Parliament, to the | pel, and, by so doing, may have made an late Mr. Wilberforce: "I experience," said unfavourable impression on foreigners. that distinguished philanthropist, "a feel- But such cases have been local and exing of triumph when I can get the better of ceptional rather than general and ordina.these little distinctions which keep Chris-ry, and never could justify any sweeping tians asunder. I would not that any one charge against the evangelical denominashould sacrifice his principles; but, exerci- tions as a body. sing the Protestant right of private judg 66 BOOK VII. UNEVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS IN AMERICA. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. HAVING thus reviewed, as far as the compass of our work will permit, the Evangelical Churches or Denominations in the United States of America, we come now to speak of those that are considered as unevangelical by Orthodox Protestants; and under this head we shall, for convenience' sake, range all those sects that either renounce, or fail faithfully to exhibit, the fundamental and saving truths of the Gospel. Here, however, let us not be misunderstood. When we put Roman Catholics in the same category with Unitarians, we would not for a moment be supposed as placing them on the same footing. The former, doubtless, as a Church, hold those doctrines on which true believers in all ages have placed their hopes for eternal life, yet these have been so buried CHAPTER II. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. amid the rubbish of multiplied human traditions and inventions, as to remain hid from the great mass of the people. Still, as in their doctrinal formularies they have not denied "the Lord that bought them," MARYLAND, we have seen, was originalhowever much they may have multipliedly a Roman Catholic colony, founded on other "saviours," they must not be con-most liberal principles, under the auspifounded with those who have openly rejected that "sure foundation which is laid in Zion." While, therefore, we must deplore "their holding the truth in unrighteousness," and instead of presenting through their numerous priesthood the simple and fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, their supplanting these, in a great measure, by introducing "another Gospel," we would not say that an enlightened mind may not find in their church the way of life, obstructed though it be by innumerable obstacles. Neither would we be thought to put the Unitarians on the same footing with the Universalists. The moral influence of the preaching of the former, and their standing in society, make them far more valuable than the latter as a component part of the general population. Nor would we put the Jews, or even the more serious part of the Universalists, on the same level with "Socialists," "Shakers," and "Mor mons." All that we mean by putting these various bodies in one category is, that they can none of them be associated with the evangelical Protestant Churches-with churches whose religion is the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible nor, indeed, do we suppose that, however much they may dislike being all reviewed in one and the same section of this work, they would any of them choose to be associated with the evangelical Protestant communions, or challenge for themselves that appellation. The doctrines and economy of the Roman Catholics being well known almost everywhere, a very general account of that Church may suffice, though it is by far the most important of all the bodies that are to be noticed in this section of our work. As the appearance, and the spread of Unitarianism in "the land of the Pilgrims," on the other hand, has been matter of much surprise and curiosity in Europe, as full an account of its rise, progress, and present prospects in the United States will be given as our plan will permit. Of the other bodies that find a place here, we shall take such a notice, at least, as will enable the reader to form a correct idea of their true character and present condition. ces and through the exertions of Lord Bal- Except in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, I am not aware that the Roman Catholics anywhere enjoyed their fair share of political rights at the commencement of the war of the Revolution, but now, I believe, they are everywhere upon the same footing with others, and enjoy all the political privileges that our Constitution affords.* * I have often heard Roman Catholics in Europe reproach the Protestants of the United States with intolerance; and in proof of this, they have chiefly urged the burning by the populace of a convent at Charlestown, near Boston, in 1834. That, indeed, is the only case, I believe, which even they themselves can possibly urge as amounting to persecution; and as, in the notoriety that it has obtained, it has been sadly misrepresented, especially by the late Bishop England, in his letters to the Propaganda Society, I need make no apology for taking some notice of it. The convent in question, which was one of Ursu line Sisters, and was founded in 1820, was rather a boarding-school for girls than anything else. The number of nuns varied from eight to ten, and that of the pupils from twenty to sixty. The buildings, furniture, and grounds were ample and valuable. The occasion of its being destroyed was as follows: One of the nuns, a Miss Harrison, who taught music. while suffering from temporary derangement caused by excitement, left the establishment for a short which soon spread through the adjacent borough of time. Hence a report that she had been ill treated, Charlestown, and then through Boston, which is within two miles' distance. Strong suspicions having tion I know not, of highly improper conduct on the been entertained for several years, on what foundapart of some of the nuns, Miss Harrison's case inflamed the minds of the populace, and led to a riot on the night of August 11th, 1834, ending in the entire destruction of the convent with all its furniture, the actors being for the most part young men and was condemned in the strongest terms by all respectboys from Charlestown and Boston. This outrage able people, and an able report was published a few days afterward, and subscribed by thirty-seven Boston Protestants, all of the highest moral respectability, in which the reputation of the convent was decidedly, and I dare say justly, vindicated. Some of the rioters were identified and punished, and a considerable portion of the public demanded that the |