Chapter 13

LITERARY AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS FOR THE WEST.

Colleges;--Statistical Sketches of each Denomination;--Roman Catholics;--Field for effort, and progress made.

In giving a sketch of literary and religious institutions in the West, the very limited space remaining to be occupied in this work, compels me to throw together a few general facts only. The author has made some progress in collecting materials, and he designs to prepare another work soon, in which a variety of particulars and sketches will be given of the early history, progress of literary and religious institutions, colleges, seminaries, churches, Bible, Sunday school, education and other kindred societies in the Western Valley, with the present aspect of each denomination of Christians. The interest taken in the affairs of the West, and the anxiety evinced by the community for facts and particulars on those subjects, demand that they should be treated more in detail than the limits of this Guide will allow.

I. COLLEGES.

OHIO.--_Ohio University_, at Athens, was founded in 1802;--has an endowment of 46,030 acres of land, which yields $2,300 annually. A large and elegant edifice of brick was erected in 1817. The number of students about 90. _Miami University_, was founded in 1824, and is a flourishing institution at Oxford, Butler county, 37 miles from Cincinnati. It possesses the township of land in which it is situated, and from which it receives an income of about $5000. Number of students about 200. Patronized by Presbyterians. The _Cincinnati College_ was incorporated in 1819, continued to be sustained as a classical institution for some years, and then suspended operations. It has been revived and re-organized lately, and will probably be sustained. _Kenyon College_, at Gambier, Knox county, in a central part of the State, was established in 1828, through the efforts of Rev. Philander Chase, then bishop of the Ohio Diocess, who obtained about $30,000 in England to endow it. Its chief patrons were those excellent British noblemen, Lords Kenyon and Gambier. It is under Episcopal jurisdiction, and has a theological department, for the education of candidates for the ministry in the Episcopal church. It has about 150 students. _Western Reserve College_ is at Hudson. It was founded by Presbyterians and Congregationalists in 1826, and has 82 students in all its departments. _Franklin College_ is in New Athens, Harrison county, on the eastern side of the State, and has about 50 students. The _Granville Literary and Theological Institution_ originated under patronage of the Baptist denomination in 1831. It is designed to embrace four departments,--preparatory, English, collegiate, and theological. It is rapidly rising, and contains more than 100 students. _Oberlin Institute_ has been recently established in Lorain county, under the influence of "new measure" Presbyterians, with four departments, and has 276 students, as follows: In the theological department, 35; collegiate, 37; preparatory, 31; female, 73. The citizens of Cleveland have recently contributed to it $15,000, of which six persons gave $1000 each. The _Willibough Collegiate Institute_ is in the lake country of Ohio, and has been gotten up within a few years past. The _Marietta Collegiate Institute_ is said to be a flourishing and respectable institution, having a large number of students in various departments.

INDIANA.--_Indiana college_ is a State institution, established at Bloomington, and commenced operations in 1828. Present number of students not known. In 1832 the number exceeded 50.

_Hanover College_ is at South Hanover, six miles below the town of Madison, and near the Ohio river. It is a flourishing institution, with arrangements for manual labor, and is styled "South Hanover College and Indiana Theological Seminary." The number of students exceed 100. _Wabash College_, at Crawfordsville, has just commenced operations under auspicious circumstances. Under patronage of the Presbyterians.

ILLINOIS.--_Illinois College_, near Jacksonville, commenced as a preparatory school in 1830, and has made rapid progress. Large funds for its endowment have been recently provided in the Eastern States. The number of students about 80.

_Shurtleff College of Alton, Illinois_, was commenced under the efforts of Baptists at Alton in 1832, as a preparatory institution;--chartered as a college in February, 1835, and has been recently named in honor of a liberal patron, Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff, of Boston, Mass., who has presented the institution with $10,000. It has 60 students, and its prospects are encouraging. _McKendreean College_ has been chartered, a building erected, and a school commenced at Lebanon. It is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Charters have been recently granted for other colleges in this State, and measures adopted to bring some of them into existence. The Rev. Philander Chase, whose persevering labors brought into existence and successful operation, Kenyon college in Ohio, and who is now bishop of Illinois, is at present in England, where, by recent advices, he has obtained $50,000 to invest in Illinois lands, and to establish a college for the interests of the Episcopal church.

MISSOURI.--The Roman Catholics have two institutions of a collegiate character, established in this State, _St. Mary's College_, in Perry county, was established by Bishop Du Bourg, in 1822. It has 6,000 volumes in the library. Including the _nunnery_, and school for females, a seminary for the education of _priests_, a preparatory, and a primary school, the number of teachers and students are about 300.

_St. Louis University_ was founded in 1829, and is conducted by the Fathers of the society of Jesuits. The edifice is 130 feet, by 40, of 4 stories, including the basement, and is situated on elevated and pleasant ground, on the confines of the city.

For the Protestants, the following institutions have been established. _Columbia College_, adjacent to Columbia, Boon county. The institution opened in 1835, under encouraging circumstances. _Marion College_ is in a delightful tract of country, a prairie region, in the western part of Michigan county,--and has between 80 and 100 students. It is connected with the Presbyterian interests. The project as developed by some of its founders, is an immense one, including English, scientific, classical, theological, medical, agricultural, and law departments,--all to be sustained by manual labor, and the proceeds of extensive farms. Doubtless, by prudent and persevering efforts, a respectable college may be brought into successful operation. A _college_ at St. Charles, has been founded, principally by the liberality of George Collier, a merchant of St. Louis, and two or three other gentlemen, and a classical and scientific school has been commenced.

ARKANSAS.--Efforts are making to establish a college by Presbyterian agency, at Cane Hill, in this newly formed State. Two or three collegiate institutions will soon be needed in this region.

KENTUCKY.--_Transylvania University_, at Lexington, is the oldest collegiate institution in the West. It was commenced, by a grant of 8,000 acres of land by the legislature of Virginia, in 1783, and was then called "Transylvania Seminary." The "Kentucky Academy" was founded in 1794, and both institutions were united and incorporated in 1798, under the present name. It has classical, medical, law, and preparatory departments,--and including each, from 300 to 400 students.

_Center College_, at Danville, was founded by the Presbyterian church, in 1818, for which the synod of Kentucky pledged $20,000. Number of students about 100. _Augusta College_ was founded in 1822, by the Ohio and Kentucky conferences of the Methodist Episcopal church. It adopted collegiate regulations in 1828. Number of students in the collegiate, academical and primary departments, about 200.

_Cumberland College_ was incorporated in 1824, and is established at Princeton, in the western part of the State. It is under the patronage and jurisdiction of the Cumberland Presbyterians. A farm, including a tract of 5,000 acres of land, with workshops, furnish facilities for manual labor. It has about 80 students.

_St. Joseph's College_ is a Roman Catholic institution, at Bardstown, with college buildings sufficient to accommodate 200 students, and valued at $60,000. It commenced with 4 students in 1820. In 1833 there were in the collegiate and preparatory departments, 120 students. The St. Thomas and St. Mary Seminaries are also under the charge of Roman Catholic priests, the one in Nelson county, four miles from Bardstown, and the other in Washington county.

A college was founded by the Baptists at Georgetown in 1830, but from untoward circumstances, is probably relinquished by the denomination.

TENNESSEE.--The _University of Nashville_ is a prominent institution. The laboratory is one of the finest in the United States, and the mineralogical cabinet, not exceeded, and this department, as well as every other in the college, is superintended with much talent. The number of students is about 100. _Greenville_, _Knoxville_ and _Washington_ colleges are in East Tennessee. _Jackson College_ is about to be removed from its present site, and located at Columbia. $25,000 have been subscribed for the purpose. A Presbyterian Theological Seminary is at Maryville.

MISSISSIPPI.--_Jefferson College_ is at Washington, six miles from Natchez. It has not flourished as a college, and is now said to be conducted somewhat on the principle of a military academy. _Oakland College_ has been recently founded by Presbyterians, and bids fair to exert a beneficial influence upon religion and morals, much needed in that State. The Baptist denomination are taking measures to establish a collegiate institution in that State.

LOUISIANA.--Has a college at Jackson, in the eastern part of the State, The Roman Catholics have a college at New Orleans.

There is a respectable collegiate institution, under the fostering care of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Lagrange, in the north-western part of ALABAMA.

Academies have been established in various parts of the West, for both sexes, and there are female seminaries of character and standing at Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Granville, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, and many other places. Several more colleges, and a large number of minor institutions, will be needed very shortly to supply the demands for education in the West. The public mind is awake to the subject of education, and much has already been done, though a greater work has yet to be accomplished to supply the wants of the West in literary institutions.

An annual convention is held in Cincinnati, on the first Monday in October, denominated the "_Western Institute and College of Professional Teachers_." Its object, according to the constitution, is, "to promote by every laudable means, the diffusion of knowledge in regard to education, and especially by aiming at the elevation of the character of teachers, who shall have adopted instruction as their regular profession." The first meeting was held in 1831, under the auspices of the "Academic Institute," a previously existing institution, but of more limited operations. The second convention, in 1832, framed a constitution and chose officers, since which time regular meetings have been held by delegates or individuals from various parts of the West, and a volume of Transactions of 300 or 400 pages published annually.

II. THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS.

The _Western Theological Seminary_ at Alleghany town, opposite Pittsburg, is under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. It commenced operations in 1829. At _Canonsburg_ is a seminary belonging to the Associate church, of which Dr. Ramsey is Professor. The Associate Reformed church have a theological school in Pittsburg, under charge of the Rev. John T. Pressly D. D. The Baptist denomination are now engaged in establishing a manual labor academy in the vicinity of Pittsburg, for both ministerial and general education.

The theological departments of Oberlin, Granville, and other collegiate institutions, have been noticed already. _Lane Seminary_, near Cincinnati, was founded in 1830, by Messrs. E. & W. A. Lane, merchants, of New Orleans, who made a very liberal offer of aid. Its location is excellent, two and a half miles from Cincinnati, at Walnut Hills, and is under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Beecher, and a body of professors. Number of students about 40. The _Hanover Institution_ in Indiana, has been noticed already. In the theological department are three professors and 12 students. The Baptists in this State are about establishing a manual labor seminary for ministerial and general education.

A valuable property has been purchased, adjoining Covington, Ky., opposite Cincinnati, and measures have been put in train to found a theological seminary by the Baptist denomination. The executive committee of the "_Western Baptist Education Society_," have this object in charge. The "_Alton Theological Seminary_," located at Upper Alton, Illinois, is under an organization distinct from that of _Shurtleff College_, already noticed. This institution has 50 acres of valuable land, and a stone edifice of respectable size, occupied at present in joint concern with the college, and a valuable library of several hundred volumes. Its organization has been but recently effected. Rev. L. Colby, is professor, with 8 students. Other institutions, having theological education, either in whole or in part, their object, are in contemplation.

Two remarks, by way of explanation are here necessary. 1. Most of the colleges and theological schools of the Western Valley have facilities for manual labor, or are making that provision. In several, some of the students pay half, and even the whole of their expenses, by their own efforts. Public sentiment is awake to this subject, and is gaining ground. 2. In enumerating the students, the members of the preparatory departments are included, many of whom do not expect to pass through a regular collegiate course. The circumstances and wants of the country, from its rapid growth, seem to require the appendage of a large preparatory department to every college.

It may be well to observe here, that a great and increasing demand exists in all the Western States, and especially those bordering on the Mississippi, for teachers of primary schools. Hundreds and thousands of moral, intelligent, and pious persons, male and female, would meet with encouragement and success in this department of labor. It is altogether unnecessary for such persons to write to their friends, to make inquiries whether there are openings, &c. If they come from the older States with the proper recommendations as to character and qualifications, they will not fail to meet with employment in almost any quarter to which they may direct their course. There is not a county in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, or Indiana, where persons would not meet with constant employment in teaching, and especially where teachers in Sabbath schools are needed. Persons desirous of such a field, of humble, yet useful labor, should come here with the fixed purpose to mix with, and conform to the usages of the Western population, to avoid fastidiousness, and to submit to the plain, frank, social, and hospitable manners of the people.

III. DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUMS.

There are two institutions of this description in the West,--one at Columbus, Ohio; the other at Danville, Ky. The one in Ohio contains about 50 pupils.

IV. MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

The medical department in Transylvania University, Kentucky, has six professors, and usually about 200 students to attend the lectures. Fees for an entire course, with matriculation and library, $110. Two medical institutions of respectable standing exist in Cincinnati,--one connected with the Miami university, the other with Cincinnati college.

The _Ohio Reformed Medical School_, was established at Worthington, 9 miles north of Columbus, in 1830. No specified time is required for study, but when a student will pass examination, he is licensed to practice.

V. LAW SCHOOLS.

The law department of Transylvania University, is under the charge of two able professors, who hear recitations and deliver lectures. The average number of students is about 40.

A law school was established at Cincinnati, in 1833, with four professors,--Messrs. John C. Wright, John M. Goodenow, Edward King, and Timothy Walker. The bar, the institution, and the city have recently sustained a severe loss in the decease of Mr. King.

VI. BENEVOLENT AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

To enumerate and give particulars of all these, would make a volume. We can but barely call the attention of the reader to some of the more prominent organizations, amongst the different Christian denominations in this great Valley, for doing good.

The _Foreign Missionary Society of the Valley of the Mississippi_, is a prominent auxiliary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Its seat is Cincinnati, but by agencies and branches, it operates throughout the Valley. The Report of November, 1835, states that _eighteen thousand six hundred and fifty eight dollars_ had been received into the treasury the preceding year. An edition of 3000 copies of the Missionary Herald is republished in Cincinnati, for circulation in the West.

The _Western Education Society_, connected with the American Education Society, has also its seat of operations at Cincinnati. Auxiliaries also exist in most of the Western States. 71 beneficiaries were under its charge at the last anniversary.

The _American Tract Society_ has auxiliaries and agencies in most of the Western States. The operations of the _American Bible Society_, through its numerous auxiliaries, is felt to the remotest parts of the West.

The _American Sunday School Union_ has recently established a central agency in Cincinnati, and is preparing to renew, and greatly enlarge its very important efforts for the benefit of the rising generation in the West.

A series of very interesting anniversaries are held in Cincinnati, the first week in November, when all the great objects of Christian effort receive a renewed impulse.

The _American Home Missionary Society_ has more than 200 missionaries, laboring in the States, west of the mountains. In 1835, they assisted 217 Presbyterian ministers in this field.

The _Temperance Effort_ has not been neglected, and an interesting change is going forward, in a quiet and noiseless way, in the habits of the people, in reference to the use of intoxicating liquors. It is to be hoped that more prompt and vigorous efforts will be made to promote this cause, but even now, there are many thousands, who abstain from the use of spiritous liquors, without any formal pledge.

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, assembled 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 constitution, 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 classes; 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 God designs them for the ministry." The executive committee are charged temporarily, with establishing the Central Theological Seminary, already mentioned, at Covington, Ky.

Many other interesting associations 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 principal 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 publishing 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; Mitchell's Chemistry, 1000; Eberle on the Diseases of Children, 2000; Ditto Notes of Practice, 1500; Young Lady's Assistant 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 | 5,592 | | 31,369 Illinois, | 61 | 15,038 | 59 | | 15,097 Indiana, | 70 | 24,984 | 229 | | 25,213 Holston, | 62 | 21,559 | 2,478 | | 24,031 Tennessee, | 120 | 29,794 | 5,043 | 508 | 35,345 +---------+--------+--------+--------+------------ Total, | 901 |237,350 | 18,416 | 2,341 | 258,101

Allowing two _local_ to one _circuit_ preacher, which is rather under than over the proportion, would make 1802, which, added to the number of those whose names are on the Minutes of the Conferences, would make 2703 Methodist Episcopal ministers of the gospel in the Valley of the Mississippi. The Pittsburg Conference Journal, Western Christian Advocate, and Western Methodist, are their periodicals.

3. _Methodist Protestants._--There are two conferences of this denomination in the West,--the Pittsburg, and Ohio conferences, and their circuits, preaching stations and members extend through the States north of the Ohio river, with a few stations and churches south.

_Pittsburg Conference_ has 28 circuits, and 85 local preachers and licentiates, 25 circuits, 4 stations, and 2 mission circuits, with 6,902 members in society.

_Ohio Conference_, has 28 circuit, 90 local preachers, 22 circuits, 3 stations, 3 missionary circuits, and 3667 members. The Methodist Correspondent, a neat semi-monthly quarto periodical, published at Zanesville, Ohio, is devoted to their interests.

4. _Presbyterians._--The following table (with the exception of Illinois) is constructed from the returns to the General Assembly in 1834,--the Minutes of 1835, we understand, have not been printed.

------------------+-----------+------------+--------------- States and parts. | Churches. | Ministers. | Communicants. ------------------+-----------+------------+--------------- W. Pennsylvania | | | and W. Va. | 212 | 135 | 22,687 Michigan, | 32 | 20 | 1,397 Ohio, | 400 | 255 | 27,821 Indiana, | 99 | 55 | 4,339 Illinois, | 71 | 50 | 2,000 Missouri, | 33 | 29 | 1,549 Arkansas, | 12 | 9 | 390 Kentucky, | 120 | 83 | 8,378 Tennessee, | 121 | 90 | 9,926 North Alabama, | 15 | 12 | 725 Mississippi, | 33 | 24 | 761

Total, 56 Presbyteries, 1,148 churches, 753 ministers, and 79,973 communicants.

_Periodicals._--The _Cincinnati Journal and Western Luminary_, published at Cincinnati;--_Christian Herald_, at Pittsburg;--_Ohio Observer_, at Hudson, Ohio;--_Western Presbyterian Herald_, at Louisville, Ky.;--_New Orleans Observer_, at New Orleans;--and _St. Louis Observer_, at St. Louis, Mo.,--all weekly;--and the _Missionary Herald_, republished at Cincinnati, monthly.

5. _Cumberland Presbyterians._--This sect originated from the Presbyterian church in 1804, in Kentucky, but did not increase much till 1810, or 12. They are spread through most of the Western States, and have 34 Presbyteries, 7 Synods, and one General Assembly. The Minutes of their General Assembly, now before me, are not sufficiently definite to give the number of congregations. These probably exceed 300. An intelligent member of that denomination states the number of ordained preachers to be 300, licentiates, 100, candidates for the ministry, 150, and communicants, 50,000.

_Periodicals._--The _Cumberland Presbyterian_ is a weekly paper, published at Nashville, Tenn. Another has been recently started at Pittsburg.

6. _Congregationalists._--In Ohio, especially in the northern part, are a number of Congregational churches and some ministers, as there are in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. There are 2 or 3 ministers, 12 or 15 congregations, and about 500 communicants in Illinois, who are organized into an association in Illinois.

7. _Protestant Episcopal Church._--This denomination has 7 Diocesses in the Western or south-western States, exclusive of Western Pennsylvania, and Western Virginia, which belong to the Diocesses of those States. They are, Ohio,--Michigan,--Illinois,--Kentucky,--Tennessee,--Mississippi, and Indiana, and Missouri. There are about 75 or 80 ministers, and twice as many churches in the West. Provision has been made in part, for the endowment of the theological seminary at Gambier, O., in England, and Bishop McIlvaine has obtained about $12,600, to be appropriated in the erection of a gothic edifice to be called "Bexley Hall," with three stories, and accommodations for fifty students. A weekly periodical is issued at the same place to support the interests of the denomination.

8. _German Lutherans._--We have no data to give the statistics of this denomination. There is a Synod in Ohio, another in Western Pennsylvania, and perhaps others. There are probably 50 or 60 ministers in the West, and 150 congregations.

9. _German Reformed Church._--There are 80 congregations in Ohio, 20 in Indiana, and probably 50 others in the West, with 40 or 50 ministers.

10. The _Tunkers_, or _Dunkards_, have 40 or 50 churches, and about half as many ministers in the Western States.

11. The _Shakers_ have villages in several places in Ohio, and Kentucky, but are losing ground.

12. The _Mormons_ have a large community at Kirkland, Ohio, where, under the direction of their prophet, Joseph Smith, they are building a vast temple. They have probably 200 preachers, and as many congregations in the West, and still make proselytes.

13. _Christian Sect_, or _Newlights_, have become to a considerable extent amalgamated with the "_Reformers_," or "_Campbellites_." I have not data on which to construct a tabular view of this sect,--but from general information, estimate the number of their "bishops," and "proclaimers," at 300, and their communicants at 10,000 or 12,000. They have three or four monthly periodicals.

Alexander Campbell, who may be justly considered the leader of this sect, (though they disclaim the term _sect_,) is a learned, talented, and voluminous writer. He conducts their leading periodical, the _Millennial Harbinger_.

14. The "_United Brethren in Christ_," are a pious, moral and exemplary sect, chiefly in Ohio, but scattered somewhat in other Western States. They are mostly of German descent, and in their doctrinal principles and usages, very much resemble the Methodists. They have about 300 ministers in the West, and publish the _Religious Telescope_, a large weekly paper, of evangelical principles, and well conducted. It is printed at Circleville, Ohio.

15. _Reformed Presbyterians_, or _Covenanters_, have 20 or 30 churches, and as many ministers, but are much dispersed through the Northern Valley.

16. The _Associate Church_, or _Seceders_, are more numerous than the Covenanters.

17. The _Associate Reformed Church_. The Western Synod of this body still exists as a separate denomination. Their theological school, at Pittsburg, has already been noticed. I know not their numbers, but suppose they exceed considerably the _Associate Church_.

18. The _Friends_ or _Quakers_, have a number of societies in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, &c.

19. The _Unitarians_ have societies and ministers at Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, and probably in other places.

There are many other sects and fragments in the West. The Valley of the Mississippi, like all new countries, is a wide and fertile field for the propagation of error, as it is for the display of truth.

IX. ROMAN CATHOLICS.

The number of Papal Diocesses in the Valley, including the one at Mobile, is _seven_, of each of which a very brief sketch will be given, commencing with,

1. _Detroit_, including Michigan and the North-Western Territory,--1 bishop, with sub-officers, 18 priests, and as many chapels. At Detroit and vicinity, for 2 or 3 miles, including the French, Irish and Germans, Roman Catholic families make up one third of the population; probably 3,500, of all ages. At Ann Arbor, and in the towns of Webster, Scio, Northfield, Lima and Dexter are many. At and near Bert rand on the St. Joseph's river, adjoining Indiana, they have a school established and an Indian mission. Including the fur traders, and Indians, they may be estimated at 10,000 in this Diocess.[12]

2. _Cincinnati._--A large cathedral has been built in this place, and 15 or 520 chapels in the Diocess. Ten years ago, the late bishop Fenwick could not count up 500. The emigration of foreigners, and the laborers on the Ohio canals, and not a little success in proselyting, account for the increase. There are 25 congregations, and 18 priests. A literary institution, called the _Athenaeum_, is established at Cincinnati, where the students are required to attend the forms of worship, and the Superior inspects all their letters. St. Peter's Orphan Asylum is under charge of 4 "Sisters of Charity." The number of Catholics in Cincinnati is variously estimated, the medium of which is 6000, and as many more dispersed through the State.

3. _Bardstown._--This includes the State of Kentucky, and has a bishop, with the usual subordinates, 27 congregations, and 33 priests, 11 of whom reside at Bardstown. A convent of 6 Jesuit priests at Lebanon; another of 5 Dominicans, called St. Rose, in Washington county; the college at Bardstown, already noticed, and St. Mary's Seminary in Washington county, for the education of priests. Of _female_ institutions, there are the _Female Academy of Nazareth_ at Bardstown, conducted by the "Sisters of Charity," and superintended by the bishop and professors of St. Joseph's college,--150 pupils; the female academy of Loretto, Washington county, with accommodation for 100 boarders, and directed by the "_Sisters of Mary at the foot of the cross_." This order have six other places for country schools, and are said to be 135 in number. The _Convent of Holy Mary_, and the _Monastery of St. Magdalene_, at St. Rose, Washington county, by Dominican nuns, 15 in number, and in 1831, 30 pupils. The Catholics have a female academy at Lexington with 100 pupils.

I have no data to show the Roman Catholic population of this State, but it is by no means proportionate to the formidable machinery here exhibited. All this array of colleges, seminaries, monasteries, convents and nunneries is for the work of proselyting, and if they are not successful, it only shows that the current of popular sentiment sets strongly in another direction.

4. _Vincennes._--This is a new Diocess, recently carved out of Indiana and Illinois by the authority of an old gentleman, who lives in the city of Rome! It includes a dozen chapels, 4 or 5 priests, the St. Claire convent at Vincennes, with several other appendages. The Roman Catholic population of this State is not numerous, probably not exceeding 3000. Illinois has about 5000, a part of which is under the jurisdiction of St. Louis Diocess. In Illinois there are 10 churches, and 6 priests, a part of which are included in the Diocess of Indiana. A convent of nuns of the "_Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary_," at Kaskaskia, who conduct a female school, with a few boarders and about 30 or 40 day scholars.

5. _St. Louis._--This Diocess includes 18 congregations and 19 priests, with the following appendages:

1. _St. Louis University_, already noticed, with 6 priests for instructors, and 150 students, of which, about 80 are boarders. The rules require their attendance on morning and evening prayers, the catechism, and divine service on Sundays and holidays. 2. St. Mary's College, also noticed in our description of colleges. 3. Noviciate for _Jesuits under St. Stanislaus_, in St. Louis county. Of female institutions there are,--1. Convent of the "_Ladies of the Sacred Heart_," at St. Louis; 2. another of the same description, and their noviciate, at Florrissant;--3. another of the same order at St. Charles;--4. a female academy at Carondalet, six miles below St. Louis, by the "_Sisters of Charity_;"--5. a convent and academy of the "_Sisters of Loretto_," at New Madrid;--6. a convent and female academy at Frederickstown, under supervision of a priest;--7. a convent and female academy of the "_Sisters of Loretto_," in Perry county. The Roman Catholic population in Missouri does not exceed 15,000. Their pupils, of both sexes, may be estimated at 700. To the above may be added the hospital, and the asylum for boys, in St. Louis, under the management of the Sisters of Charity.

Roman Catholic teachers, usually foreigners, disperse themselves through the country, and engage in teaching primary schools; availing themselves of intercourse with the families of their employers to instruct them in the dogmas of their religion. The greatest success that has attended the efforts of the priests in converting others, has been during the prevalence of the cholera, and especially after collapse and insensibility had seized the person! We know of more than 60 Roman Catholics who have been converted to the faith of Christ and joined Christian churches within 3 or 4 years past, in this State.

6. _New Orleans._--The Roman Catholics in Louisiana are numerous, probably including one third of the population. Relatively, Protestants are increasing, as a large proportion of the emigration from the other States, who care any thing about religion, are Protestants. There are 26 congregations, and 27 priests with several convents, female seminaries, asylums, &c.

7. _Mobile._--A splendid cathedral has been commenced here. This Diocess extends into Florida.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] The reader will note that our estimates of Roman Catholics include the whole family of every age. Whereas, our statistics of Protestant denominations included only communicants.