Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-22
CHURCHES IN AMERiCA
Notes About Various Denominations Prom
Census Bulletin.

tons in this country.
The STAR has already given extracts from this
bulletin concerning several Of the denomina-
tions. The bulletin has the following concern
ing others:
THE REFORMED CHURCH IN rEE UNITED STATES.
The original source Of this body was the Re-
formed church established in the PalAtinate.
one of the provinces OF Germany. On account
Of severe prosecutions the Palatine reformers
were scattered. many finding refuge in this
country, in the early part Of the eigh-
teenth century. There were Germans
among the American colonists, however.
before this period. From LOO 90
l146 MANY thousands settled IN Pennsylvania
and elsewhere, and number OF Reformed con-
gregutions having been gathered, "cptus
ian ecclesiastical organization having advisory
powers) was formed in laiI. the same year that
| the Reformed Dutch organized their "catus'
il New York.
In response to most earnest appeals from the
Rev. Michael Schlatter. who was u sort OF gen
eral missionary and organizer. gathering scat
tered members together aud ministering TO
pastor.ess organizations. the Reformed church
OF Holland raised nearly 100000. the interest OF
which was devoted to the erection of churches
and school houses aud the support OF ministers
Help was also received for tho education OF
youth from a society IN London.
In 1893 the "cptus" became Q synod and the
Reformed German church an entirely ince-
pendent body. There now eight synods,
six of which are English and two German.
Below the synods are classes corresponding
TO presbyteries In the Presby terrain churches,
and above the synods is a general synod, which
| Is the supreme legislative and judicial body OF
! the church. 1t meets once every three years.
and was organized in 1868.
The Reformed (German) church Ut dropped
/ the word German from its title in 1869 has
hfty-hve classes, besides many congregations
| In foreign mission fields Ii is represented in
twenty-elght states and in the District
OF Columbia Half its organizations
and considerably more than half its
/ communicates are in the state of Penn
| syivania- 1t is also particularly strong
in the state of Ohio, MARYLAND ranking third.
| lie total value of its church property is
| S.,9iooS3 Its l,5l0 organizations own 1904 l-G
| editices. with an average seating capacity Of
4lO and an average value of S6,ll5.
THE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH.
This body is a branch of an organization Of
the same name in Holland. In 1885 there wasa
secession from the Reformed church of Holland
of ministers and others who were dissatisfied
with the prevailing tone OF the doctrinal teach
ing OF the state church and with some features of
| its government This was the origin of the
Christian Reformed church of Holland. 1t has
/ been represented in this country
many years. In 1882 its numbers were
Increased Dy a secession OF ministers
and members of the Particular synod
of Chicago, Reformed (Dutch) church, because
OF the refusal of the general synod of .he latter
body TO denounce Freemasonry and TO make
| connection with that order subject OF
church discipline. Finding the position
OF the Christian Reformed church more
to their mind they united with it.
In 1889 the church was still further
| increased by the accession of q number of
| congregations belonging to the True Reformed
church, organized in 1922 by number of
ministers who had seeded from the Reformed
Dutch church.
| The Christian Reformed church has seven
! classes and one synod. Connected with the
| Glasses are ninety-rine organizations. with LEG
edifices, valued at si2S 5OO and H. 470 commu-
nicants. More than half of the latter are TO be
| found IN the state of Michigan. The average
value of the church editices is S4,042, and the
average seating capacity 3ls.
THE REFORMED PREsBYTEnIASs
| The Reformed Presbyterlans of the United
States, of whom there are several branches are
enthusiastically descended from the Gamer onians
or Reformed Presbyterians of Scotland, other
wise called Covenanters. The first presb ytery in
Scotland was organized in 1743. Eight years later
| the first coyenante- minister arrived in this
country. and IN IVA the first presbytery Of this
church III America constituted. few
years later the members OF this presbytery.
joining with number of seceders. at
| they called, also Scot
tlsh Presbyterian division. organized
the Associate Reformed church. A division IN
| this body resulted in the formation of the
Reformed Dissenting presbytery, and the
original presbytery being resuscitated, there
were before the close of the century three
branches of Reformed Presbyterians.
| The question of the relation of the Christian
church to civil government has ever been a
prominent one among Reformed Presbyterian
| All accept the Westminster confession of faith
and form OF church government. and all occupy
| an attitude OF protest against civil governments
| which do not recognize the headship of Christ
| and the authority of God and His law. Thew
differ, however, among themselves as to the
exten: to which this protest should be carried.
| Some refuse, because the Constitution
| of the United States does not ac-
knowledge the existence of Almighty
| God. the supremacy Of Christ. and the author
ity of the scripture, to incorporate with the
! political body" and hence do not participate
| In elections and in certain other political
rights and duties. Others continue to protest
against IA goddess government" but do not re-
| frain from voting. The Reformed Prespy-
cieties pernicious and forbid communicates
| all connection with them. They do not use
modern hymns, but sing psalms only. They
were always opposed to slavery. In 1900, when
attention was called to the fact that some of
| the members owned slaves, the presbytery
enacted. without dissenting voice, that mo
STAKEHOLDER should be allowed the communion
| of the church,
THE ASSOCIATE PREsBYTERIANs.
The Associate Presbyterians began with a
secession in 1873 of Ebenezer Erskine and three
| other ministers from the Church of Scotland
Twenty years later the first associate presbytery
4 in this country, thai of Pennsylvania was organ
4 lied In 1882 most of these Presbyter ians, who
| held what are known as the Marrow doctrines
united with Reformed Presbyterians whence
| came in course of time various bodies
! of Associate Reformed Presbyterians
There were Associate Presbyterians.
however, who did not Join this union, and
| these organized in 1851 synod
embracing several presbyterie In 1858 there
| was a union of Associate and Associate Re-
| formed Presbyterians, resulting in the United
| Presbyterian church. Some Associate Presby-
terians, however, remained separate still These
! are known Is the Associate Church Of North
| America
The Associate Presbyterians we're very pro-
| nounced against slavery. As early as 1900 the
| associate presbytery denounced slavery as i'm
moral aud unjustifable. In 1871 it repeated
| this declaration, and in 1881 it resolved to ex-
| clude shareholders from Its communion, losing
thereby its southern congregations.
There are now four presbyteries, with thirty
| one organizations and LOSS communicates,
scattered among eight states, the majority of
| them being in Pennsylvania and Iowa. They
have twenty-three editces, with an average
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