their similarity, in all essential features to those which have arose among ourselves. We cannot but hope that the leaven of evangelical piety is gradually extending itself, and although obstructed by a multitude of unfavorable influences, that it will ere long pervade all our churches. We have every desirable assurance from God's word that it shall be so; and we rejoice to be able to see as we think, the gradual, but sure advancement of a brighter day of religious prosperity in your once highly favored and still beautiful land. Permit us to add, according to a former opinion expressed by this Assembly, that the appropriate and indispensable means of effecting this auspicious change, is the Divinely appointed preaching, and reading of God's word, together with the administration of scriptural sacraments, and the general extension of literary education in all its grades. On this subject we rejoice to perceive that you think as we do. Your present efforts to secure the liberty of the Press-the coming forward of able defenders of religious truth-the establishment of religious periodicals-your attachment to the Theological School at Geneva, and your desire to effect a more perfect ecclesiastical organization, are pleasing evidences of such a state of mind, and a ground of hope that the renovation to which it looks is not very distant. May a gracious and all sufficient God add the influences of his Holy Spirit, without which all our labors to build up Zion, are in vain. Our own beloved portion of Israel continues to enjoy the smiles of Jehovah, although revivals of religion have not been as frequent, during the past year, as in some past seasons. We occasionally have afflictions also; but we rejoice to be able to say that there is at present peace in our churches, and a great degree of agreement in doctrinal views and practice. At the time of commencing this correspondence with our Protestant brethren in France, our number of Synods was reported as being 16, and that of our Presbyteries at 90. We are now increased to 22 Synods, and 111 Presbyteries-the whole number of our churches being 2500, and our communicants 233,580. Most of our other religious societies and benevolent institutions have increased in like proportion. For this we desire to be devoutly thankful. Considering the advantages we enjoy, however, we have far more reason for humiliation, than for self glorying. Our greatest danger probably lies in our external prosperity; the graces we most need are humility and faith. You will be glad to learn that the pledge to give the Holy Scriptures to all the destitute in the United States, which was mentioned in a former communication, has been essentially redeemed: and further, that the American Bible Society, did at their anniversary meeting, which has just been held, pass a similar resolution, on certain conditions, with regard to all the families of the earth. This indeed is a great enterprize, and will need much faith, together with extensive co-operation, to carry it into effect. We take the liberty to inform you also that the General Assembly have resolved, at their present sessions, to set apart the first Monday in January next, as a day of fasting and prayer, for the conversion of the whole world, and invite their brethren in other countries to join with them in this solemn act of devotion. And now, beloved brethren in Christ, we once more bid you an affectionate adieu. May you be greatly refreshed, and that soon, by the power of the Holy Spirit: and may the happy results be seen in the conversion of many precious souls to God-the order and advancement of your churches, and the extension and strengthening of Christian fellowship, with all the family of Christ. By order of the General Assembly, WILLIAM A. M'DOWELL, Moderator. A true copy from the files, Philadelphia, 23d May, 1833. EZRA STILES ELY, Stated Clerk. THE TRUSTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT PRELENT AHK, ROBERT RALSTON, ESQ. President. Rev. Ashbel Green, D. D., LL. D. Rev. George S. Woodhull, Rev. Ezra Stiles, Ely, D. D. Charles Chauncey, Esq, Mr. Ambrose White, PREFACE TO THE STATISTICAL TABLE. In the following table, the reader will please to take notice, that P. attached to a minister's name, denotes that he is Pastor of some church; and P. added to the name of a church, signifies that it has a Pastor. W C. stands for the words without charge; S. S. for stated supply; O. S. for occasional supply; V. for vacant; Presb. for Presbytery; Prest. for President of some college; Prof. for Professor in some college or theological seminary; Miss. for Missionary; Chap. for Chaplain to the United States Navy or some public station; Ch. for Church; Cong. for Congregational. The post office address of a minister or licentiate, is to be sought for in the right hand column, on the same line with the name at the left; and the reader is not to regard any intervening name of a church, which may, or may not be the one in which the preacher whose name is opposite to it, is the pastor or stated supply. A church which is vacant and marked V, will often be found in the same line with a minister W. C., without charge; for by this arrangement, the table is brought within a narrower compass than it could otherwise be. The stated clerks of Presbyteries are earnestly requested to make their future returns in the form of the printed report forwarded to them as one sheet of this pamphlet, and chargeable only as one sheet of a periodical. Particularly they are requested not to introduce into the tabular part of the Report, any extraneous matter, but to obey strictly the regulations of the Assembly; for, new columns, and explanations not required, cost the Stated Clerk of the Assembly no little time in expunging them, before the reports can be sent to the printer. Each Stated Clerk of Presbytery is also respectfully reminded, that it is his duty to give the TOTALS of the columns in their proper places; and that the writer of this Preface is not answerable for all the arithmetical calculations of his brethren. Funds collected for different missionary purposes in any congregation, should be returned in one sum, in the column for missionary funds, instead of being distinguished by the different objects for which they were collected. All money collected for the charitable education of youth, in infant, Sabbath, and other schools, academies, and seminaries, and especially in those of a theological character, should be named in one sum, under the heading of "Education Funds." When additional columns of figures are returned, they are worse than useless. STATISTICAL REPORT Of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States of America, Prepared by Ezra Stiles Ely, D. D. Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, has under its care TWENTYTHREE SYNODS, comprising one hundred and eighteen Presbyteries, viz: I. The Synod of ALBANY, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Londonderry, 2. Newburyport, 3. Champlain, 4. Troy, 5. Albany, 6. Columbia. II. The Synod of UTICA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. St. Lawrence, 2. Watertown, 3. Oswego, 4. Oneida, 5. Otsego. III. The Synod of GENEVA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Geneva, 2. Chenango, 3. Onondaga, 4. Cayuga, 5. Tioga, 6. Cortland, 7. Bath, 8. Delaware. IV. The Synod of GENESEE, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Genesee, 2, Ontario, 3. Rochester, 4. Niagara, 5 Buffalo, 6. Angelica. V. The Synod of NEW YORK, containing the Presbyteries of 1. New York, 2. New York Second, 3. New York Third, 4. Hudson, 5. North River, 6. Bedford, 7. Long Island, 8. Long Island Second. VI. The Synod of NEW JERSEY, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Newark, 2. Elizabethtown, 3. New Brunswick, 4. Newton, 5. Susquehanna, 6. Montrose. VII. The Synod of PHILADELPHIA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Philadelphia, 2. Philadelphia Second, (Synodical,) 3. New Castle, 4. Baltimore, 5. Carlisle, 6. Huntingdon, 7. Northumberland, 8. District of Columbia. VIII. The Synod of DELAWARE, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Philadelphia Second, 2. Wilmington, 3. Lewes. IX. The Synod of PITTSBURG, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Allegheny, 2. Redstone, 3. Ohio, 4. Steubenville, 5. Erie, 6. Washington, 7. Beaver, 8. Blairsville. X. The Synod of the WESTERN RESERVE, containing the Presbyteries of 1, Grand River, 2. Portage, 3. Huron, 4. Trumbull, 5. Cleaveland. XI. The Synod of OHIO, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Columbus, 2. Richland, 3. Lancaster, 4. Athens. XII. The Synod of CINCINNATI, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Chillicothe, 2. Miami, 3. Cincinnati, 4. Oxford, XIII. The Synod of INDIANA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Salem, 2. Madison, 3. Vincennes, 4. Crawfordsville, 5. Indianapolis, XIV. The Synod of ILLINOIS, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Illinois, 2. Kaskaskias, 3. Sangamon, 4. Schuyler, 5. Palestine. XV. The Synod of MISSOURI, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Missouri, 2. St. Louis, 3. St. Charles. XVI. The Synod of KENTUCKY, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Louisville, 2. Muhlenburgh, 3. Transylvania, 4. West Lexington, 5. Ebenezer, 6. Tabor. XVII. The Synod of VIRGINIA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Winchester, 2. West Hanover, 3. Lexington, 4. East Hanover. XVIII. The Synod of NORTH CAROLINA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Orange, 2. Fayetteville, 3. Concord. XIX. The Synod of TENNESSEE, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Abingdon, 2. Union, 3. Holston, 4. French Broad. XX. The Synod of WEST TENNESSEE, containing the Presbyteries of 1. West Tennessee, 2. Shiloh, 3. North Alabama, 4. Western District. XXI. The Synod of SOUTH CAROLINA and GEORGIA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. South Carolina, 2. Bethel, 3. Hopewell, 4. Charleston Union, 5. Harmony, 6. Georgia, 7. Good Hope. XXII. The Synod of MISSISSIPPI and SOUTH ALABAMA, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Mississippi, 2. South Alabama, 3. Tombigbee, 4. Clinton. XXIII. The Synod of MICHIGAN, containing the Presbyteries of 1. Detroit, 2. St. Joseph, 3. Monroe. |