Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-02

PRESBYTERIAN. A writer in the Journal OF
Commerce gives the following statistics respecting
the Presbyterian family in the United States:
The great Presbyterian family of churches in
these United States embraces no less than eight
branches, namely, the "Old School," the "New
School," q use these terms for the want of bet
ter,) the I" Associate" the Associate Reformed"
the Reformed Dutch" the &" German Reformed, !"
and the Cumberland Presbyterians." All these
bodies are Presbyterian in form of church govern
ment-holding to the purity of the clergy, and an
order of "ruling" as we'll as teaching" elders.
These eight branches of very unequal size and
influence. The Old and New School, between
them have not less than $500 ordained ministers,
5000 churches or congregations, and not far from
375,0 900 communicates, or actual members. Pro-
baby as many as million and half of people,
if not more, are more or less under the influence
and instruction of these two great branches of the
Presbyterian family of churches. They have no
less than ten thousand semnares and theological
faculties, and more than twice as many colleges.
They have large number of religious Reviews"
Magazines" and newspapers" under their con-
troll, and it is not denied that there is large "a
mount of cultivated talent in these bodies, whose
influence is felt throughout our country.
The Associate Presbyterian Church." the I" As
sociate Reformed" and the Reformed Presbyte-
rian are three bodies of Presbyterians who are of
Scotch and Irish origin. Combined, they have
more than 400 churches and ministers, and $4,000
members The Reformed Dutch Church ," and
the German Reformed represent the Presbyte-
rianism of Holland and Germany among US. The
former is a compact, homogeneous, and steadily
increasing body; the latter far less consolidated,
instructed, and reliable. The one is thoroughly
naturalised and Amercanised; the other is still
foreign in its elements and character but increas-
ing with considerable rapidity, through immigra-
ton from the Father!and.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is an
ofshoot of the two first named bodies whilst they
were united, and has not yet had an existence Of
half a century. 1t arose in Kentucky and is chief
ly to be found in the West and Southwest In
doctrine it is intermediate to the Calvinists and
Armenians; whilst in form of government it differs
il some particulars, but not in substance from the
other Presbyterian bodies. 1t has nearly 100000
members.
1t is believed that the number of members, or
communicates, in the above mentioned eight Pres
byteran Churches, or denominations, is not much.
short, if at all, of seven hundred thousand. No
other great family of churches in the United States
exceeds in numbers, save the Methodsts and Bap-
fists; and it will be conceded the writer thinks,
that neither of them Yields greater influence,
whether through the pulpit, the press, or the pro-
essors chair. Like the Great Presbyterian church.
es lin some countries called the Reformed1 of Scot
land and Northern Ireland, Holland, France, Swift
zeriand, and Germany, the Presbyterian Church
in the United States, whilst eminently conservative
has ever been the staunch friend Of civil and re-
igious liberty. zs