Part 26 (1/2)

The _Methodist Episcopal Church_, in addition to their regular system of circuits, are extending the influence of their denomination on the frontiers, by missionary operations, and their labors are prospered.

The _Baptist denomination_ have made some important movements in the Western Valley within the last three years. Their Home Mission Society has nearly 100 missionaries in the West. In November, 1833, the ”_General Convention of Western Baptists_,” was organized by more than 100 ministers and brethren, a.s.sembled from various parts of the West. It is not an ecclesiastical body, claiming jurisdiction either over churches or ministers, nor is it strictly a missionary body. Its business, according to the const.i.tution, is ”to promote by all lawful means, the following objects, to wit:--Missions both foreign and domestic;--ministerial education, for such as may have first been licensed by the churches; Sunday schools, including Bible cla.s.ses; religious periodicals; tract and temperance societies, as well as all others warranted by Christ in the gospel.”

At its second session, in 1834, the ”_Western Baptist Education Society_” was formed. Its object is ”the education of those who give evidence to the churches of which they are members, that G.o.d designs them for the ministry.” The executive committee are charged temporarily, with establis.h.i.+ng the Central Theological Seminary, already mentioned, at Covington, Ky.

Many other interesting a.s.sociations for humane, philanthropic, and religious purposes exist in the Valley, which are necessarily omitted.

VII. THE PERIODICAL PRESS.

The number of different periodicals published in the Valley of the Mississippi, must exceed 400, of which 12 or 15 are daily papers. There are 25 weekly periodicals in Mississippi, 116 in Ohio, 38 in Indiana, 19 in Illinois, 17 in Missouri, 3 and probably more, in Arkansas, 2 at least in Wisconsin Territory. The _Western Monthly Magazine_, edited by James Hall, Esq., and published at Cincinnati is well known. The _Western Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences_, edited by Daniel Drake, M. D., Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine in the Cincinnati College, is published quarterly, in Cincinnati. There are a number of religious weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly periodicals, devoted to the interests of the princ.i.p.al denominations through the Valley. There are known to be at least one in Western Virginia, 2 in Western Pennsylvania, 7 in Ohio, 4 in Kentucky, 4 in Tennessee, 2 in Illinois, 2 in Missouri, and one in New Orleans. Supposing the average number of copies of Western periodicals equalled 750, this, estimating the different periodicals at 400, would give 300,000. We see no marked and essential difference in the talent, with which the editorial press is conducted, betwixt the Eastern and Western States. The limits of this work will not allow me to add further evidence that our Western population is not all ”illiterate,” and that ”not more than one person in ten can read,” than the following epitome of the issues, of one of the publis.h.i.+ng houses in Cincinnati, as exhibited in the Cincinnati Journal:

”_Western Enterprise._--The enterprise of the West is not generally appreciated. As a specimen, we have procured from Messrs. Corey & Webster the following LIST OF BOOKS published by them within the last three years. These books, with the exception of the Life of Black-Hawk, are of sterling value.

The Western Primer, 60,000; Webster's Spelling Book, 600,000; the Primary Reader, 7,500; the Elementary Reader, 37,000; Western Reader, 16,000; Webster's History of the United States, 4000; Miss Beecher's Geography, 15,000; Pocket Testament, 6,500; Watts' and Select Hymns, 8000; Dr. Beecher's Lectures on Scepticism, three editions, 1000 each; Prof. Stowe's Introduction to the Study of the Bible, 1500; the Christian Lyre, 2000; Mitch.e.l.l's Chemistry, 1000; Eberle on the Diseases of Children, 2000; Ditto Notes of Practice, 1500; Young Lady's a.s.sistant in Drawing, 1000;, Munsell's Map, 3,500; Chase's Statutes of Ohio, three volumes, 1000; Hammond's Reports, 6th vol. 500; total, _seven hundred and seventy eight thousand two hundred and fifty!!!_ Probably some of the many other publishers in the city have got out nearly or quite as many books. Truly, we are a book-making and book-reading nation.”

VIII. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

In exhibiting the following statistics, entire correctness is not attempted. In some of the States, the latest reports have been had,--in others, the author has taken data of two or three years date. Of the numbers of some of the numerous sects existing, the opinions of individuals have been the chief data he could obtain.

1. _Baptists._

----------------------+-----------+------------+---------------

Churches.

Ministers.

Communicants.

----------------------+-----------+------------+--------------- Western Pennsylvania,

50

30

2,569 Western Virginia,

89

48

3,306 Ohio,

332

175

13,926 Michigan,

60

30

1,700 Indiana,

320

175

15,000 Illinois,

240

163

6,741 Missouri,

180

115

6,990 Arkansas,

25

18

700 Louisiana,

20

12

1,000 Mississippi,

100

46

4,000 North Alabama,

125

53

5,700 Tennessee,

348

292

22,868 Kentucky,

558

296

38,817

Total, 2447 churches, 1353 ministers, and 123,317 communicants.

_Periodicals._--The _Cross and Journal_, weekly, and _Baptist Advocate_, monthly, at Cincinnati;--the _Baptist Banner_, weekly, at Shelbyville, Ky.;--the _Baptist_, a large monthly quarto, at Nashville, Ten.;--the _Pioneer_, semi-monthly, at Rock Spring, but shortly to be enlarged, removed to Upper Alton, and published weekly;--and the _Witness_, a small quarto, published weekly at Pittsburg.

2. _Methodists_, (_Episcopal._) This denomination is divided into Conferences, which are not arranged exactly with the boundaries of the States. A large book and printing-office is established at Cincinnati, where all the society's publications are kept for sale. Another depository is kept at Nashville.

-----------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+------------

Circuit

White

Colored.

Indians.

Total number Conferences.

Preachers

members.

of members.

&c.

-----------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+------------ Mississippi,

55

6,358

2,622

727

9,707 Alabama, (one District,

in the Valley,)

16

3,051

492

3,543 Pittsburg,

156

40,155

296

40,451 Ohio,

204

62,686

544

217

63,447 Missouri, (including

Arkansas,)

57

7,948

1,061

889

9,898 Kentucky,

100

25,777