In addition to these, the Southwestern Presbyterian University at Clarksville, Tenn., has a theological department, and there is also a theological seminary at Austin, Tex. For the education of the colored ministry there is the Stillman Institute at Tuscaloosa, Ala., mak ing a total of six theological seminaries. This branch of the Church, while holding in common with other Presbyterian churches the West minster Confession and Cathechisms, Larger and Shorter, lays special emphasis upon the spirituality of the Church in its functions. It insists that church courts shall be governed by the articles of the Confession, which says, •synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical?) The latest statistics for this Church are as follows : Number of ministers, 1,861; number of communicants, 348,223; number of Sunday school pupils, 328,252; and total contributions, $4,967,852.
The United Presbyterian Church of North America.-- This organization is the result of a union between the Synod of the Associate Re formed Church and the Associate Synod, com monly known as the Seceders. This union took place in Pittsburgh 26 May 1858. The basis of it was the Westminster Confession of Faith, with a modification of the chapter on the power of the civil magistrate, the Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, and a Judicial Testimony. Most of the articles in this testimony are held in common by all Evangelical churches, but there are five which are special to this denomination. The first declares that slave holding is a viola tion of the law of God and contrary both to the letter and spirit of Christianity. The second de clares that all secret and oath-bound societies are inconsistent with the genius and spirit of Christianity, and that church members ought not to have fellowship with such associations. The third is a declaration in favor of close communion; none are to be admitted to the sealing ordinances of the Church except such as give their assent to its doctrines. The fourth declares the duty of public social covenanting at special times. The fifth affirms that it is the will of God that the songs contained in the Book of Psalms should be used exclusively in public worship, and that hymns, the composition of uninspired men, should not be employed in such service. In all other respects, the laws, government and discipline of this Church are the same as those of other branches of the Presbyterian Church. It has been distinguished for the careful training of its ministry. It has in its connection two theological seminaries and six colleges. For the execution of its work the United Presbyterian Church has seven boards, namely: Home, Foreign, Freedmen's Mission, Church Erection, Publication, Education and Ministerial Relief.
Its foreign mission work is now carried on in India, Egypt and the Soudan. In home mis sions it has been progressive in work in the mountains of the South, among the foreigners and the and the freedmen of the South. It also has departments of work in Bible schools, evangelism, social service and industrial conditions. The latest statistics give 1,143 ordained ministers and 1,150 congrega tions. The communicants in America are 156,954. The total membership, including the foreign field is 200,879. Its contributions in 1916 were $3,006,508.
The Reformed Church in the United States (German Reformed).— Previous to the Revolutionary War a considerable number of emigrants from the Palatinate, a district of Germany, emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania. They were members of the Re formed Church in Germany and were men of sterling character and devoted piety. They be came important factors in the settlement of middle and western . Pennsylvania, and also took part in the Revolutionary War. The first German Reformed minister settled among these emigrants was Philip Boehm, who came to America in 1720. In 1747 there were five or dained ministers and 46 organized churches. In 1793, at which time the Synod was divided into classes, there were 22 ordained ministers and about 150 churches. Subsequently affiliated synods were organized in Ohio and in the neighboring States; but it was not until the year 1863 that organic union was established between them. The General Synod was organ ized 18 Nov. 1863 in Pittsburgh, Pa. It holds its sessions triennially. It is a delegated body composed of an equal number of ministers and elders, elected by the several classes, constitut ing eight synods. The General Synod has under its control the various boards to which are en trusted the work of home and foreign missions, and also that of the Sunday school. The mem bership of the Church is located in the northern belt of the country extending from the New England States to the Pacific slope and south ward as far as North Carolina.
The last statistics give the number of minis ters as 1,245 and of congregations 1.773, with a communicant list of 326,112 members. Their gifts for benevolence during 1916 were $687,446. Its principal foreign mission work is in China and Japan, where evangelistic, educational and hospital work is conducted. It conducts a growing home mission work at an expense • last year of $162,349.