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Religious Denominations, &c.

Present State of Religion, &c.

den and Louvain are famous. Since the erection of the kingdom of the Netherlands, in 1814, this country has been fast improving. The national Bible Society is highly respectable, and the means of education are diffused throughout the country.

DENMARK and its Islands.
Lutherans, Calvinists, and

from the original principles of the Reformation, than any other part of the Lutheran Church.

DENMARK.

The Danes have formerly

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Catholics ; the latter with taken an active part in MisMennonites (or Baptists) exist sions to the Heathen, particuunder some restraints and disa-larly in India, and have parbilities. Population, 3 mil- ticularly countenanced the Unilions. Government, absolute ted Brethren in Greenland, and monarchy. The Lutherans of in the West-India Islands. Denmark have departed lose They had also the honour to patronize and foster the Baptist Mission at Serampore, when discountenanced by our East India Company. The King, it is said, has expressed a great desire for the instruction of his subjects, and the British system of Education is intended to be introduced. The Scriptures have been printed at Copenhagen in the Icelandic Dialect, for the use of Iceland.

SWEDEN, Norway, and their

dependencies.

SWEDEN.

A Bible Society has been Lutherans, Calvinists, formed at Stockholm, which Catholics, and Swedenborgians has co-operated with that in (or New Jerusalem Church) London, in printing the Scripwhich are in Sweden numerous tures in the Swedish language and respectable. The Catho- and that of Lapland. The lics are under some restraints Stockholm Society is also acas to the Publicity of the Re- tive in the circulation of Religious ceremonies. The re- ligious Tracts in those lancent union between Norway guages. A Bible Society bas and Sweden will make no al- been also formed at Abo in teration in the state of Reli- Finland, by the aid of the Longion,as they were both Protest- don Society, for the printing ant kingdoms. Population of the Finnish Scriptures, to 4,000,000.

which

Religious Denominations, &c.

4,000,000.

of Sweden is a limited monarchy-of Norway monarchical. The latter kingdom, which has long been in a state of partial civilization, is expected to derive much benefit from its union with Sweden.

Present State of Religion, &c.

The government which the present Emperor of Russia has contributed 5000 rix-dollars. There are many Scientific and Library societies in this country, and increasing attention is paid to the establishment of primary schools. Most of the children are taught to read. The present monarch is anxious to make himself and his family popular with his native subjects by promoting their best interests and general happi

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Berlin is famous for an ex

cation of Protestant Ministers; and several Missionaries to the heathen have been furnished from that quarter to different Societies in England. A Bible Society was formed at Berlin in 1806, to which the King himself was both a contributor and patron.

Lutherans, Calvinists, and Catholics, with with a free tol-cellent Seminary for the Edueration to others; which may partly be attributed to the infidel principles of Frederick the Great, and partly to the influence of Protestant principles in the country. It is doubtful whether this general toleration has been favourable to the interests of religion. Population 8,000,000. Government, bereditary monarchy. The military profession, from the time of Frederick the Great, has been very popular in Prussia, and education has been too much neglected. At this time many of the Prussian States are well furnished with elementary schools.

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Is to be divided, which will Little is known of the religive nearly a million of sub-gious state of Saxony, which jects to Prussia (included has been wholly occupied with above) and leave about 1,200,- political events. Yet no one 000 subjects under the old gov- can contemplate the religious ernment. The inhabitants are history of this country without chiefly Lutherans or Calvinists. the deepest interest. The naPopulation 1,000,000. Gov- tive country of Luther and the ernment, monarchical. cradle of the Reformation, Sax

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Religious Denominations, &c.

POLAND.

Catholics, with toleration to Protestants under certain disabilities. The Lutherans are governed by a consistory, and the Calvinists by a Principal and three Seniors. This state is about being again formed into a distinct government, under the protection of Russia. Transylvania in 1787 contained 28,700 Socinians, usually called the Polish Brethren. Population 6,000,000. Government of the pres`ent "Kingdom of Poland," a constitutional monarchy, vested in a viceroy, who is appointed by the Emperor of Russia; with a Senate of thirty members; and a diet of 77 deputies.

Present State of Keligion, &c.

ony, like Judea, has now lost, to a great degree, its share in the privileges of the Church of Christ. The greater part of the population are nominally Lutherans, though far degenerated from the principles and practices of the Reformers. The present reigning family, and a part of the subjects are Catholics. Some sciences are much cultivated, and the lower classes are generally taught to read and write. The annual Book-fair at Leipsic is the greatest in Europe.

POLAND.

The plan of a Bible Society for this country is just formed under the auspices of the Emperor Alexander. The principal part of this fine country is in feudal lordships, the most of the people are very ignorant, and the state of religion, consequently, low. There are more Jews in Poland than in any other country in Europe. Their number has been estimated at 2,000,000. They possess a great part of the trading capital of the nation. And should it please the God of Jacob to dispose them to unite their exertions to assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth," to the fold of Christ, it would seem they might be able to effect it. There is no efficient system of Education for the poor in this country.

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Religious Denominations, &c.

Present State of Religion, &c.

AUSTRIA.

AUSTRIA, Hungary, and Bohe

mia. The establishment of Bible The Established Religion and Missionary Societies in vaof this great Empire was the rious parts of Germany must Catholics, but from the inter-greatly subserve the cause of mixture of Protestant states, Christianity. On its being contains a considerable number represented to the British and of Lutherans, Calvinists and Foreign Bible Society, in Lonother Protestants of all denom-don, that there were upwards inations; and, by the new of a million of Protestants in Constitution, there is to be a Hungary, who were in great perfect equality of rights and want of Bibles, and too poor privileges among the Roman to purchase them, 500l. was Catholic, Lutheran, and Cal-given for the formation of a Sovinistic churches. In Hungaryciety in that country, for printit was calculated in 1787, that ing and circulating the Scripthe Catholics and Protestants tures in the Hungarian and were nearly equal: besides Sclavonian dialects, which has which, this kingdom was stated been effected. Bible Societies to contain 223,000 Jews, 50,- have also been lately formed 000 Gypsies, and a great num- at Dresden and Hanover. The ber of Greek Chrstians. Popu- United Brethren have spread a lation 20,000,000. Govern- sweet savour of Evangelical ment, monarchical, nearly ab- Religion throughout Bohemia, solute. Moravia, and various other parts of Germany, from whence also they have sent Missionaries to the remotest parts of the earth. Some of the Austrian Universities are richly endowed, but the great principles of education are but indifferently understood in that country, and, among the more numerous classes of the community, is much neglected.

SWITZERLAND.

SWITZERLAND, Piedmont, &c. Switzerland is divided into The Canton of Basle has of 22 Cantons: those of Berne, late been remarkable for acZurich, &c. are Calvinists; tivity in promoting the circuUri, Schweitz, &c. Catholic;lation of the Scriptures, and the some are composed of both Re-cause of Missions, so long as ligions, and the French intro- they had any means left them. duced a considerable portion of The modern Waldenses, which infidelity. The Vallais, or in-are a simple and pious people, habitants of the vallies of Pied-are divided into 13 parishes mont, were formerly called with each a minister; they had formerly

Waldenses,

Religious Denominations, &c. Waldenses, of which, there are still some remains; but a great part of the people were driven by a long and cruel persecution within the pale of the Roman Church, in which they still continue. Population 4,000,000. Government-each Canton is an independent republic, but the whole are united in a confederacy, governed by a general diet. In some of the Cantons the government is democratic, but in most of them it is obligarchic with few limits.-The government of Piedmont is monarchical.

FRANCE.

Present Stute of Religion, &c. formerly 15 great schools, 90 smaller, and two Latin schools. Both the ministers and schools subsisted in a great measure by charitable assistance from Holland, Switzerland, and even England: but the events of the late war have reduced them to much wretchedness and misery. Ever since the establishment of the free institutions of Switzerland, this country has been much distinguished for the general information of its citizens. The Protestant Cantons, at least, have educated their children as well as any part of Europe. Geneva, the largest city in the country, where the Reformation was matured by Calvin and his associates, and which became the nursery of the Presbyterian church, has always taken the lead in education, and has now a very flourishing university. At present, Switzerland is recovering from the desolations of the late wars. Education is provided for by the support of Primary Schools.

FRANCE.

Catholics, with free tolera- In the South of France the tion to Protestants, who are gospel is heard with eagerness, very numerous in the South of and evangelical ministers from France, but with a great num-other countries are received ber of Infidels throughout the with open arms; the fullest country. Jews, and all other denominations, are likewise tolerated. Population, 24,000,000. Government,limited monarchy

liberty of conscience is allow ed, and there is an university for the education of the pro testant clergy. Mr. Martin, a young minister from Bours deaux, is now in England for the express purpose of learning the new system of education, with a view to introduce it into his native country. Religious

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