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UNITED STATES.

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UNITED STATES.

Christians, of all denomina- The most numerous religious tions, Infidels, and Jews, with denomination in this country is equal rights and privileges. The the Congregationalists and PresNational government and most of byterians, who are united in comthe State governments explode munion and constant intercourse. all religious establishments, as Next to this is the Baptists, who inconsistent with the full enjoy-are in all parts of the country. ment of civil liberty. Public The Methodists are also numersentiment requires that no man ous, and not less extensive. shall have any better prospects There are also many Episcopaof civil privileges and promotion, lians, a considerable number of in consequence of being a Chris- Quakers, Dutch Reformed, Gertian, and that no one shall be re- man Lutherans, and others. The quired to support any of the in- Baptists, generally, agree with stitutions of religion but by his the Congregationalists, in docexplicit consent. There is, how-trine and ecclesiastical_governever, in most of the constitutions, ment, differing only in Baptism. or, at least, in the practice of the The Methodists are generally governments, a general acknowl-agreed with the Episcopalians in edgment 21*

Religious Denominations, &c.

Present State of Religion, &r.

doctrine and ecclesiastical government, the principal difference being in the use of the liturgy. The number of worshipping as

edgment of the truth and obligations of Christianity. At the same time, the great question whether a community can exist, or will exist, without the influ-semblies on the Sabbath, and the ence of religion, can receive very number of persons devoted to the little light from this experiment. work of the ministry, are less, The United States were original- in the United States, in proporly settled by Europeans who had tion to the population, than in been accustomed to the estab- most other Christian countries. lishments of Christianity in their The only religious Institution, native countries. They brought which unites all denominations in their religious opinions and this country, is the American Biusages with them, and these con-ble Society. The annual income tinue to this day. Associations of that society is about 45,000 for religious purposes and regu- dollars. The American Board lar worshipping congregations of Foreign Missions is doing were founded in all the settled much for the heathen, and has parts of this country, and conve- an income of near 60,000 dollars. nient edifices were erected for The Baptist Board of Foreign the worship of God, with all their Missions is active and useful. necessary attachments and ven- All Christian denominations in erations, before this general re- the United States send missionlaxation of the laws took place. aries to the destitute parts of our This state of things, in our early own country, and several to forhistory, gave an impulse to the eign parts. No Christian country interests of religion, which will is more favoured with religious long have a powerful influence. revivals than this. Population, about 10,000,000.

The United States have no extensive Universities, like those of Europe, but we have numerous Colleges, which are more suited to our state of society, and many of them highly respectable. And no country in the world is so well supplied with academies and common schools. The rudiments of education are accessible to all, and a liberal classical education may be obtained by a large portion of the community.

In the slave states, more liberal sentiments begin to prevail with regard to that unhappy portion of our population, and prudent persons are permitted, in many instances, to teach the rudiments of education and the

leading

Religious Denominations, &c.

BRITISH Dominions in America.
Protestants and Catholics, the

half a million.

Present State of Religion, &c.

leading principles of the gospel to slaves.

BRITISH Dominions.
There are several missionary

latter being the established Reli- stations also in the Back Settlegion in Canada, while the estab-ments of Canada, &c. supported lishment in New Brunswick, by various American Societies, Newfoundland, &c. is that of the by some in England, and by the Church of England. Population, United Brethren. The Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts' employs Chaplains in many towns of Canada, NewBrunswick, and Newfoundland, but few of them preach to the heathen. The Methodists have also a number of missionaries in the same parts, and some considerable congregations.

The Coasts of Labrador and West Greenland are too thinly peopled to admit a distinct enu

meration in this brief Sketch.

S. AMERICA.

CARACCAS.

The United Brethren have long established settlements in West Greenland, and on the coast of Labrador, which have given an evangelical tint (so to speak) to those inhospitable regions.

S. AMERICA.
The population of South Amer-

The inhabitants of this pro-ica in the interior consists chiefly vince, at the time of the French of independent Tribes of Indians. invading Spain, declared them- The inhabitants on the coast are selves independent; and are not mostly of European origin.-The willing to resign their independ- colonies, with the exception of ence, though the ancient family Peru, have established their inis restored-They are Catholics. dependence-though the governPopulation, one million and a ments are in their infant state. half. Government, Republican. The Portuguese and Spanish Colonies in South America and Mexico, as it regards education, are grossly ignorant; schools are almost unknown. In Brazil there is scarcely the appearance of education. Some efforts are now making to promote education in the countries which have become independent. Lancasterian

NEW-GRANADA.

Catholics. Population, one million and a half. Government, Republican.

PERU.

Catholics. Population, two millions. Government, Spanish Monarchy.

Schools

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GUIANA.

GUIANA.

The United Brethren, who penetrate all the most desolate

What was called French and Dutch Guiana has been conquered by the British, and the Estab-parts of the earth, haye here sevlishment is Protestant; but the pupulation is inconsiderable.

WEST INDIES.

BAHAMA ISLES.

eral settlements: viz. at Paramaribo, Bombay, Somelsdyk, and Hope on the Corentyn. The Missionary Society of London have also Missionaries at Demarara, Mahaica, and Esequibo,and the gospel has been attended with such success and advantages among the slaves, that some of the planters have encouraged it.

WEST INDIES.

BAHAMA.

The Methodists have a pro

Numerous and fertile, and subject to England; but few inhab-mising interest here, and have ited, and the population very inconsiderable. Government,

monarchical.

built a Chapel which is well attended, both by the white and black inhabitants. The Moravians have four missionaries here.

Religious Denominations, &c.

Present State of Religion, &c.

CUBA.

Spanish Catholics, all the natives being extirpated, and the island cultivated by negroes. The capital, Havanna, was reckoned to contain 30,000 inhabitants many years since. Population, half a million. Government, monarchical.

JAMAICA.

JAMAICA.

Church of England, and Pa- Kingston contains about fifty gans, with a legal toleration, of thousand inhabitants, with only ten impeded by the high-church one small Church! But the zeal of the Colonial Assembly, Methodists have a considerable which is discouraged by the gov-interest here, and the United ernment at home. Population, Brethren two small settlements half a million. Subject to the upon the island.

English.

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