UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, THE, OF NORTH AMERICA.
The United Presbyterian Church of North America is directly descended from the Scotch dissenting churches, The Associate, and The Re formed. The great immigration from Scotland and Ireland during the last century brought many members of these churches to America in search of personal freedom and permanent homes. They settled chiefly in New York, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas, moving westward to the new lands as these were opened up. They kept up their church relations, and maintained their spiritual life, by organizing societies for worship and the study of the Word. For many years they were without ministers, but in every group there was a man abundantly qualified to lead in the exercises. At length ministers were sent to them, and on Nov. 2, 1753, the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania was organized, and three years later the Presby tery of New York. The Reformed Presbytery was organized May to, 1774, near Harrisburg, Pa.
(1) Cause of Separation from Mother Church. Separated from the original causes of division, living under new conditions, intensely loyal to the cause of the Colonies, these churches soon felt themselves drawn together. During 178o-1782 the several presbyteries agreed upon a basis of union, and on the first day of November, 1782, the synod met in Philadelphia, and constituted The Associate Reformed Church. After a few statements concerning the atonement, faith, the Gospel offer, and civil government in its relation to the church, the basis of union declared "that both parties, when united, shall adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Catechisms and Propositions Concerning Church Govern ment." They separated themselves from the par ent churches by declaring "that they shall claim the full exercise of discipline, without dependence on foreign judicatories." At its first meeting the synod adopted an exhibition of principles, after wards known as the "Little Constitution," in which, among other things, they said that they held the chapters of the Confession of Faith re lating to the power of the civil magistrate in re ligion and church affairs open to consideration and amendment. In relation to discipline they said that notorious violations of the law of God, and such errors in doctrine as unhinge the Chris tian religion, shall be the only scandals for which deposition and excommunication shall be passed; and the highest censures of other offenders shall be dissolution of the connection between the synod and the offender. "The terms of admis sion to fixed communion shall be soundness in the faith as defined in the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms, submission to the government and discipline of the Church, and a holy conver sation." In 1799 the Synod changed the Confes sion of Faith as to the powers of the civil magis trate so as to express clearly the principle of re ligious freedom—"a free church in a free state." (2) Refusal of Some to Unite. Some of the Associate Presbytery, at the last moment, refused to enter the union, and continued the existence of the Associate Church. The large immigration
from the parent church increased their number rapidly, congregations were multiplied, and in 18o1 a synod was organized with four presby teries. In 1804 the General Synod of the Asso ciate Reformed Church was organized, with four subordinate synods, and presbyteries extending from New York to the Carolinas on the south, and to Central Ohio on the west. Both churches prospered, occupying the same general field. Many of the congregations of the Associate Church in the South became involved in slavery. In 1811 the Synod directed that all slaves be set at lib erty, or, at least, be treated as free, and in 1831 all slave holders were excluded from communion. This practically destroyed the Associate Church in the South. Troubles arose in the Associate Reformed Church. The great distance and the fatigue of travel made it impossible for the re mote presbyteries to be fully represented in the General Synod, which always held its meetings in the East. Divergencies began to appear, mis understandings arose, some cases of discipline created dissatisfaction, and the Synod in the West and the Synod in the South withdrew; an attempt was made to unite the remaining synods of New York and Pennsylvania with the Presbyterian Church, with the result of the dissolution of the Synod of Pennsylvania, 182o-1822. Thus the Synod of New York, the Synod of the West and the Synod of the South became independent, but co-ordinate synods. The Synod of the South con tinues its existence until the present time. In 1841 the General Synod of the West was organized. and in 1855 the Synod of New York and the Gen eral Synod of the West united under the name of "The Associate Reformed Church of North America." (3) Union Perfected. Occupying the same territory, composed of the same class of people, having substantially the same standards, the Asso ciate and the Associate Reformed Churches gradu ally drew together, and after negotiations through many years they agreed upon a basis of union, the same to be a part of the organic law of the United Church. On the 26th of May, 1858, the union was consummated under the name "The United Presbyterian Church of North America." By common consent, without formal action, the words of one of the moderators on the day of the union became the motto of the Church: "The Truth of God—Forbearance in Love." The organization was completed by the General Assembly of the next year appointing boards for missions at home and abroad, church building, education, and publication; subsequently, also for missions to the Freedmen and for ministnlal re lief. A general committee on home missions, com posed of a delegate from each presbytery, meets one week before the General Assembly, and makes the appropriations for the coming year. The con tributions for all purposes average twelve dollars and fifty-one cents per member: the average sal ary of pastors is one thousand and fifty-six dollars.