grace, you will cleave to him as your chief good; | with authority to enjoin upon all the subjects an atthat you will give diligent attention to his word, and tendance upon the instructions of the public teachers worship, and ordinances; that you will seek the aforesaid, at stated times and seasons, if there be honor of his name, and the interests of his king- any on whose instructions they can conscientiously dom; and that henceforth, denying all ungodliness and conveniently attend:-Provided, notwithstandand every worldly lust, you will live soberly, anding, that the several towns, parishes, precincts, and righteously, and godly in the world. other bodies politic or religious societies, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance. And all moneys paid by the subject to the support of public worship, and of the public teachers aforesaid, shall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the support of the public teacher or teachers of his own religious sect or denomination, provided there be any on whose instructions he attends; otherwise, it may be paid towards the support of the teacher or teachers of the parish or precinct in which the said moneys are raised. And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law.

You do now cordially join yourself to this as a Church of Christ, engaging to submit to its discipline, so far as conformable to the rules of the gospel; and solemnly covenanting to strive, as far as in you lies, for its gospel peace, edification, and purity; and to walk with its members in all memberlike love, faithfulness, circumspection, meekness, and sobriety. Thus you covenant and promise. We then, the members of this Church of Christ, do now receive you into our communion, and promise to watch over you with Christian affection and tenderness, ever treating you in love as a member of the body of Christ, who is head over all things to the Church.

This we do, imploring the Great Shepherd of Israel, our Lord and Redeemer, that both we and you may have wisdom and grace to be faithful in his covenant, and to glorify him with the holiness which becomes his house for ever.

And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be deeply impressed upon your minds, that you have entered into new and solemn obligations. Henceforward, you can never be as you have been. The vows which, in presence of God, angels, and men, you have now assumed, will follow you through life to the judgment-seat of Christ; and in whatever state your final destiny be fixed, they will for ever abide upon you. If you walk worthily of your profession, you will be to us an ornament and a delight; but if otherwise, a shame, a grief of heart, and a vexation. And if a wo be pronounced against him who of fends one of Christ's little ones, wo, wo be to him who offends a whole church! But, beloved, be not overwhelmed by these considerations; for we are persuaded better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. May the Lord guide you by his counsel; and, when the trials of this short warfare shall have been ended, receive you and us to the church triumphant in glory, where our love shall be for ever perfect, and our joy for ever full!

VI.

The Law on Religion.

THE LAW AS IT WAS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 1820.

As the happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil government, essentially depend upon piety, religion, and morality; and as these cannot be generally diffused through a community but by the public worship of God; and as the public worship of God will be best promoted by recognising the unalienable right of every man to render that worship in the mode most consistent with the dictates of his own conscience; therefore, no person shall by law be compelled to join, or sup port, or be classed with, or associated to, any congregation or religious society whatever; but every person now belonging to any religious society, whether incorporated or unincorporated, shall be considered a member thereof, until he shall have separated himself therefrom, in the manner hereinafter provided. And each and every society, or denomination of Christians, in this State, shall have and enjoy the same and equal power, rights, and privileges, and shall have power and authority to raise money, for the support and maintenance of religious teachers of their respective denominations, and to build and repair houses of public worship, by a tax on the members by any such society only, to be laid by a major vote of the legal voters assembled at any society meeting, warned and held according to law.

And every denomination of Christians demean ing themselves peaceably and as good citizens of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law, and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law.

Provided nevertheless, that if any person shall choose to separate himself from the society or denoAs the happiness of the people, and the good or- mination to which he may belong, and shall leave a der and preservation of civil government, essen-written notice thereof with the clerk of such socitially depend upon piety, religion, and morality; ety, he shall thereupon be no longer liable for any and as these cannot be generally diffused through future expenses which may be incurred by said soa community but by the institution of the public ciety. worship of God, and of public instructions in piety, religion, and morality:-therefore, to promote their happiness, and to secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, and religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the in- As the happiness of the people, and the good orstitution of the public worship of God, and for the der, and preservation of civil government, essensupport and maintenance of public Protestant | tially depend upon piety, religion, and morality; teachers of piety, religion, and morality, in all and as these cannot be generally diffused through a cases where such provision shall not be made vo- community, but by the institution of the public worluntarily. And the people of this commonwealth ship of God, and of public instructions in piety, relihave also a right to, and do, invest their legislaturegion, and morality; therefore, to promote their hap

THE LAW AS IT IS IN MASSACHUSETTS, PASSED IN JUNE, 1833.

VII.

Welsh Settlements.

piness and secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this commonwealth have a right to make suitable provision at their own expense for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance thereof. Provided, that all religious societies shall, at all times, have the exclusive right of electing their public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance, and, provided also, that the obligations of no existing con-derable number of Welsh families emigrated from tract shall be hereby impaired.

And all religious sects and denominations, demeaning themselves peaceably and as good citizens of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law.

THE LAW IN VIRGINIA.

Be it therefore enacted, by the General Assembly, "That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capa-tered the Supper in the same church in August.

cities."

Act for the establishing of Religious Freedom, passed in the Assembly of Virginia, A. D. 1786.

THE LAW IN NEW JERSEY AND GEORGIA.

No person shall ever, within this colony, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor, under any pretence whatever, be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his own faith and judgment; nor shall any person within this colony ever be obliged to pay tithes, taxes, or any other rates, for the purpose of building or repairing any other church or churches, place or places of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes to be right, or has deliberately and voluntarily engaged himself to per

form.

Ebensburgh, July 20, 1834. REV. AND DEAR SIR-Agreeably to my promise, I shall endeavor to give you a brief sketch of the history of the society denominated Independents in this place. In the years 1794, 1795, and 1796, a consiWales to this country. The Rev. Morgan J. Rhees, an educated and respectable Baptist minister, was among the first of them. They came with the intention of forming a Welsh settlement in some convenient place, and Mr. Rhees, acting as their leader, applied to Congress to grant a tract of land for this purpose. In this he did not succeed, and many other attempts to obtain a suitable spot were equally unsuccessful. It appeared as if Providence shut and bolted every door against us, only the one on the top of the Allegany mountain. Mr. Rhees formed forty or fifty of the Welsh people, who found a temporary residence in and about Philadelphia, into a church; containing nearly an equal number of Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists. Mr. Rhees administered the Lord's Supper for the first time, I think, in July, 1796. I still think that we enjoyed a very precious and refreshing season. Mr. Rees Lloyd, an Independent minister, adminisIn the fall or that year, and the spring of 1797, a number of families arrived at this place, and in April the Independent Church was formed, consisting of twenty-four members; of these, twelve had belonged to the Calvinistic Methodists. The Rev. Rees Lloyd, who had been ordained in Wales, drew up a confession of his faith, which agreed in substance with the Assembly's Catechism; and a church covenant, consisting of ten particulars, all of which were adopted by the church; and at that time they chose Mr. Lloyd to be their pastor, and your humble servant to be deacon. The church progressed perhaps as might be expected, laboring for many years under many disadvantages, the country being new. The Lord's Supper was administered once every four weeks, except in some instances, when wine could not be had. Once a fortnight, on a Wednesday, we met for devotional exercises and conversation on religious subjects, doctrinal and experimental. Mr. Lloyd preached generally twice every Sabbath. Our toil and difficulties in the wil

THE LAW IN NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT, CAROLINA, AND derness were great. We were much scattered, and

THE LAW OF PENNSYLVANIA, KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE,
OHIO, INDIANA, AND ILLINOIS.

All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; and no man can, of right, be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent; that no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and that no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishments or modes of worship.

had no roads; but we often found it good to draw near to God, in attending to the means above mentioned. By the best accounts we have, we received

ten persons by letter, before the close of the year 1801; and from that time till the close of 1809, we received by letter nineteen, and by examination twenty-nine. It ought to be recorded with gratitude, that in the year 1804, the Lord in a very gra cious manner visited the settlement with a precious

revival.

"The Lord did for us at this time great things; our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing." The greater part of the number last mentioned, as received by examination, may be considered as the fruit of this revival; and these, with few exceptions, have held on their way. In the year 1805, I was called by the church to speak publicly, by way of trial; and in June, 1806, was ordained by Mr. Lloyd, and called by the church to officiate as co-pastor with him. Mr. William Tibbot, who had preached for many years in Wales, was ordained at the same time; and coming to live at the settlement, he was shortly after called by the church to be co-pastor with Mr. Lloyd and myself. In the fall of 1817, Mr. Lloyd left us on the most friendly terms, and went to serve a vacart churoh

composed chiefly of Welsh people, within twenty- |casionally in need of some addition to their supplies, three miles of Cincinnati. He is yet living, but is such as fuel, flannels, hose, &c. A Benevolent As now superannuated. In January, 1822, Mr. Tib-sociation of Ladies explores the several wards of the bot's connection with the church was dissolved un-city, and furnishes what may be needed. Orphans der very unpleasant circumstances; and in 1827 he may be accommodated by the city, at the asylum died. He was an excellent preacher; I have no for the poor. But the ladies of the different relidoubt that his ministry had been owned and blessed gious denominations have formed themselves into in a special manner. In the summer of 1822, Mr. one benevolent association for the more complete Morris Jones arrived here from Wales. In the fol- supervision of this interesting class of sufferers.-lowing winter he was called by the church to exer- The society has obtained "incorporation," and obcise his gifts as a speaker; and in April, 1827, he tained adequate funds for their institution from priaccepted a unanimous call to serve them as co-pas-vate contributions. We have also for the improvetor with myself. In August, 1826, it pleased the ment of morals, besides the ordinary religious inLord to cause somewhat of a shaking among the dry fluence of the sanctuary, the Bible, and Tract, and bones; and in a few months about twenty persons Sunday-school Associations, which severally exwere admitted as members, whom we consider as plore every corner of the city. The Temperance the fruits of this excitement. We enjoyed at that Society, and a very large and influential "Society time some sweet and precious seasons. The church, of Young Men," (under thirty years of age,) unite since Mr. Tibbot left us, has progressed with a good to promote the general interests of morality and degree of unanimity, and contains at this time up- knowledge. They publish a weekly paper called wards of two hundred members in full communion," The Friend," have founded a public library,and living within four or five miles of our meeting- and are extending branches through the neighborhouse. Our meetings, and our Sunday-school ing districts. The influence of all these associations (which commenced in 1819,) have been, and conti- is decided and manifest, but they are not so efficient nue to be, well attended. We have been for some and complete as their evident advance gives proyears in a very lukewarm state, yet not without oc- mise that they will be. Our city is recent, composcasional additions. We can say with good John ed of individuals from all nations, who have not got Newton, that we are not what we ought to be, what rid of all those peculiarities and prejudices which we would be, or what we hope to be; yet Í trust are partial impediments to combination and suffithat we are not what we once were; and that it is cient action. But associated action is daily improvby the grace of God we are what we are. We should ing; suppleness, mutual confidence, and success, are not forget the goodness of God, among many other redeeming previous defect. You are aware we have things, in giving us a convenient house in which to a double task to perform; to amend the obliquities worship him. It is a good strong building of brick, and perfect the characters of our settled population, forty feet square, with galleries on three sides. It and properly dispose of a host of emigrants, concost us about one thousand four hundred dollars; sisting of the more neglected population of Europe. the money was nearly all collected among us, without any serious difficulty, and paid according to con

tract.

Hoping that you and your Rev. colleague may return to your families and charges very much animated, that your visit may be a great blessing to both countries, and that you may be very useful till death,

I remain, with Christian affection,

GEORGE ROBERTS.

REMARKS.-The Common Schools are numerous and sufficient; all the voluntary provision of the instructers and the neighborhood. Classical education is also supplied to all who choose to pay the price of tuition, by teachers who depend on their reputation and skill for support. It is rarely found that any citizen (unless from Europe) is unable to read or write; the freedom of the press, the elective franchise, the absence of monopolies and all restraints upon industry and ascent, together with the diffusion of moral influence from the different religious societies, are found to produce excitement enough to secure a practical and universal education.

In the statistical table furnished above, we have not found ourselves at liberty, or inclined to make any alterations, as the information was furnished by the several denominations, and is, we believe, substantially correct, with the exception of No. 13, which, although believed by the reporter, we are confident is overdrawn, as is the estimate of their force through the nation at large. We might add, that in the circle contemplated by this report, are seated the Theological Schools of the Associated Reformed Church, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, both of which have received considerable donations from the vicinity.

VIII.

LUTHER STALSEY.
A. L. CAMPBELL.

History of the Free Churches in the City of
New York.

TO REV. ANDREW REED, LONDON.

New York, February 1, 1835. REV. AND DEAR SIR-Our mutual friend, Rev. William Patton, having communicated to me your Objects, benevolent and moral, are found to be at- desire to receive information concerning the Free tained by voluntary exertion. We have one asylum Churches in this city, I will very cheerfully give for the poor, which is provided by the city. But as you such facts in my possession as may be interesta result of the popular nature of our political or- ing and useful to you or others on this subject. It ganization, and the general diffusion of knowledge, would have given much pleasure to any of the a spirit of independence is generated among the brethren, conversant with the facts, to have commupoor, which makes them averse to their being with-nicated them to you when you were in this city, if drawn from the mass of citizens. Our public pau- they had enjoyed the opportunity. And as other pers are therefore few. Our churches, generally, persons have made similar inquiries, it may not be have a stated collection, at the season of administer-improper to publish this letter for their information ing the "Lord's Supper," which sum is applied to the occasional and partial needs of the poor of the congregations, by the pastor and other church offiOur winters are long, and in this season, the females and children of the laboring families are oc

cers.

also.

In the month of May, 1830, two individuals (the one a member of the Reformed Dutch, and the other of the Presbyterian Church) who had frequently mourned together over the desolations of Zion, in:

vited a meeting of three or four Christian friends | doubts were expressed as to the ability of the perto deliberate upon the subject of commencing a new sons engaged in the enterprise to sustain it. At church. Rev. Joel Parker, then pastor of a Presby-length a commission was appointed to organize the terian Church in Rochester, New York, (being pro-church; and this solemnity, together with the ordividentially in the city,) was invited to attend the nation of two elders, took place on the 22d Septemmeeting. The brethren interchanged their feelings ber, 1830. The church consisted of sixteen memand opinions with respect to the state of religion in bers, seven male and nine female. the city; the almost total exclusion of the poor from the Presbyterian and Dutch Churches; the great neglect of the careless and impenitent on the part of professing Christians; and the importance of more direct and faithful efforts for their conversion. The result of this conference was a pledge on the part of the five individuals referred to, to take prompt measures for the commencement of a new congregation; a guarantee of a sufficient sum to defray the expenses of public worship; and an engagement on the part of Mr. Parker to be the minister, provided his own church and presbytery would consent to his removal.

Real estate is extravagantly high in the lower part of the city, and the congregation did not possess the means of purchasing lots and building a house for public worship. Four substantial brick stores, occupied by grocers, at the corner of Dey and Application was made to the American Home Washington-streets, forming an area of seventy feet Missionary Society to take this infant congregation by eighty, being offered at auction, it was ascertainunder its charge; but on account of the unpopulari- ed that the upper lofts could be converted into a ty of the undertaking, the Executive Committee chapel, while the first story could be let for enough thought it prudent to decline the overture. Appli- to cover the interest of the purchase money, and cation was next made to the First Presbytery of part of the expense of fitting up a place for public New York, to organize the church under the name worship. After seeking divine direction, the estate of the First Free Church of the city of New York. was purchased. Money was hired on a long term Great opposition was made in this ecclesiastical of years for a large part of the cost, and a bond and body. The name (Free Church) was objected to, mortgage given as security; a part of the balance and the necessity of a new church in the lower part was hired on the personal security of a few memof the city was denied. It was also said that a new bers of the church, while the expense of fitting up church and Sabbath school could not be built up the house was raised by subscription, chiefly among without subtracting the members and scholars from the congregation. The chambers were thrown into existing churches and Sabbath schools; and strong | a hall, the walls were raised, and the place prepared