The whole present number (1878-79) of Congregational churches in Pennsylvania is seventysix; the number of ministers, fifty-one; and of church members, five thousand one hundred and ninety-four.* This, to be sure, is not a very brilliant exhibit of our denominational strength in one of the very largest and most populous States in the Union. But it must not be forgotten that the original elements of this great State, generally, were not only heterogeneous to an uncommon extent-Swedes, Dutch, Irish and Germans very largely — but so far as they were English and American, except along the northern frontier, they were unfriendly to New England institutions; and, furthermore, that very much of the religious work done by New England men in Pennsylvania has been for the Presbyterian church rather than for the advancement of Congregationalism. When all these things are considered, our present denominational standing there need not surprise any one. Congregationalism, however, is steadily gaining in the State; as may be seen by a retrospect of a few years. *Twenty-four of the Welsh churches reported in 1877-78 twenty-one hundred and sixty-three members, while fifteen made no report. I have been unsuccessful in my applications for particular information about these churches. Some reference to the old church at Ebensburgh will be found in the notice of the Con gregational church at Paddy's Run, Ohio. CHAP. 11.] A RETROSPECT OF PROGRESS. 103 In 1830-31 those careful collectors of statistical information, the editors of the American Quarterly Register, in reporting the state of the "Religious Denominations in Pennsylvania," do not even mention the existence of a single Congregational church in the State!* There were, to be sure, some Congregational churches and ministers then in Pennsylvania; but they were so few in number, and so little known, as to escape entirely the observation of men so careful in gathering information as were the editors of the Register. Sixteen years later, in 1846, a careful inquirer, and one of the best-informed men in this country on denominational topics, could find but nine Congregational ministers in all Pennsylvania, twentysix churches, and five hundred and sixty-five church members.t The Congregational Almanac for 1848 furnishes a list of sixteen towns in which there were then Congregational churches in Pennsylvania, which were served by nine ministers; and estimates the number of church members at four hundred and fifty-six. About half of these churches are not now found upon our denominational list. The Congregational Year-Book for 1855 could find but thirteen Congregational churches in all Pennsylvania, and eight ministers of the same order. But four years later, in 1859, it was able to report * American Quar. Reg., vol. 111, February, 1831, pp. 211–13. ↑ Congregational Register, for 1847; edited by the Rev. Parsons Cooke. twenty-seven churches in the State, twenty Congregational ministers, and about fifteen hundred church members.* In 1868 the number of our churches had increased to sixty-six; our ministers to forty, and our church members to more than four thousand. Since that date there has been a steady growth, though not a rapid one; making a gain of one church, every year, over all losses, and an average yearly gain of over two hundred church members. The gain in 1877-78 over 187677 was four hundred and seventy-four members; but in 1878-79 there was a loss of seven hundred and nineteen.t NOTE.-In 1848 the Congregational Almanac published the following list of Congregational parishes and ministers in Pennsylvania, which was doubtless as full and accurate as could be obtained: Alleghany City, Rev. J. Tassey, minister. *New Milford and Jackson, Rev. J. Davidson, minister. *Wayne, Rev. Nelson Shapley, minister. *West Greenville, Rev. D. C. Sterrey, minister. *Smithport, Rev. Joshua Lane, minister. *Concord and Columbus, Rev. E. Coleman, minister. Randolph and Troy, Rev. L. L. Radcliffe, minister. Conneaut, Rev. L. B. Beach, minister. *Evansburg and Sterling, no minister. *Green Township, Rev. J. Williams, minister. All in this list that are starred (*) have disappeared from our denominational list. Some no doubt appear under different names. *The returns give one thousand four hundred and thirty church members; but nine churches made no returns. ↑ Cong. Quar., statistics, January, 1878; Year-Book, 1879. CHAPTER III. CONGREGATIONALISM IN THE SOUTH-INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES -CHURCHES IN MISSISSIPPI-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - PRESENT CONDITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM IN THE OLD SLAVE STATES-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WORK OF THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. THERE have been many attempts to build up Congregational churches in slave-holding communities, but with very indifferent success. One of the most remarkable and promising movements of this kind, in modern times, was made by several Presbyterian churches in South Carolina and North Carolina, about the year 1810. On the 15th of October, of that year, the Presbyterian church at Bullock's Creek, York district, S. C., formally withdrew from Presbytery and declared itself Independent. And soon after, the church at Shiloh, in the same district; and the church at Olney, Lincoln county, N. C.; and the church at Salem, Forsyth county; and that at Edmonds, N. C., all followed the example of the Bullock's Creek church, and withdrew formally from the Presbyterian church of the United States, and declared themselves Independent. Having thus cut themselves loose from their old ecclesiastical connections, it was soon found essential to their highest usefulness and happiness to organize a church and ministerial association of their own. Accordingly, a convention was called, in 1813, and a Constitution and Form of Government was adopted and presented to the churches, and by them made their standard of faith and practice, next to the sacred Scriptures themselves. After a few years the pastors of two of these churches, and one of their licentiates for the ministry, with a number of church members, emigrated to Tennessee, and there formed a church in Rutherford county, near the centre of the State. This movement was made with the expectation that Tennessee might soon become a Free State. Disappointed in this, the ministers and several of their followers, after six or seven years' residence in Tennessee, returned to South Carolina, to the great joy and encouragement of their old Christian friends and associates there. New life was infused into the drooping churches; and a new church was soon formed at Yorkville, to take the place of the church at Shiloh, which had languished and died under the loss of its pastor. After ten years' experience it was thought necessary that the original Constitution and Form of Government adopted by these churches should be revised and reasserted, especially as the Constitution and Articles adopted in 1813 had never been printed. On the 15th of October, 1823, therefore, another convention of ministers and lay delegates met at Yorkville, S. C., to do this important work; and it was done carefully and thoroughly, |