BenevoiaU and Mmionary Qpentifums.—In the earli- est history of American Congregationalism efforts were directed to the conversion of the Indians, of which the work of John Eliot is the most noted. Later, when the country became settled westward, missionary societies, of which those of Connecticut were perhaps most impor- tant, sent ministers to the new settiements of New York, Ohio, etc. In 1825 an American Home Missionary So- ciety was suggested by Congregationalists, and was or- ganized to embrace the several state societies and the Presbyterians. In Home Missions, the efforts of the denomination have been made through this channel, which has now really become Congregational by the withdrawal of the Presbyterians since 1860. Foreign Missions have been carried on through the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, which was formed by the General Association of Bfassachu- setts hi 1810, but through which the New School Pres- byterian Church also does its mission work. An im- petus was given to assisting Congregational churches in building meeting-houses by the Albany Conven- tion, under whose recommendation a large amount was immediately raised. That work is succMsfhlly carried on by the American Congregational Union, which was organized at New York in 1858. The American Con- gregational Association has collected a fine and rapid- ly-increasing Congregational Library in Boston, and a large ftind to be devoted to the erection of a Congre- gational House. Large amounts of money have been collected through co-operative societies for ministerial education, Sabbath-Schools, tract and other religious publications, seamen, temperance, education at the West, etc. The denomination, flrom its polity, has no Church Boards. Its benevolent operations have been carried on through such channels as the churches pre- ferred. The National Council, in 1865, recommended the American Board, the American Home Missionary Society, the American Missionary Association, the
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CONGREGATIOKrALISTS 478 CONGREGATIONALISTS
Americftn Education Society, the Society for promot- ing Ck>llegiate and Theological Education at the West, the American Bible Society, the American and For- eign ChriBtian Union, the Congregational Board of Pablicatlon, the American Congregational Aflsocia- tion, the Massachusetts Sabbath-school Society, and the objects of the American Tract Societies. While co-operation is still adhered to, there is an evident drift in the denomination towards separate methods of work, due undoubtedly to an increasing conviction of the scripturalness, importance, and efficacy of the de- nominational polity.
Pro^em.—^The denomination, while always predom- inant in New England, was retarded in its growth be3rond the Hudson River partly by the "Fliui of Union," and partly by the advice of theological in- structors to their pupils going westward to become Presbyterians. The result has been that the Congre- gational churches have given a large number of min- isters to the Presbyterian Church, and ftmushed the material of many of its churches. Not a few of the eariy New York churches became Presbyterian, and Congregational associations were disbanded lest they should interfere with harmony. But the gradual in- crease of ministers who, removing to the West, refused to give up their ecclesiastical feUowship, and a grow- ing conviction that the Congregational polity demand- ed its own preservation, has changed the current. The oldest church in Ohio was founded in 1796 ; in 1866 the number was 166. Commencing in Illinois about 1880, the churches numbered in 1866, 221. Commen- cing in Michigan about 1827, the number in 1866 was 160. The oldest in Minnesota dates from 1861; in 1866 there were 68. In Iowa, from the first in 1889, the number increased to 166 in 1866. In Missouri, from 2 in 1864, they increased to 41 in 1867. In Kan- sas, from 1 in 1864, to 88 in 1866. In Califbmia, ftxnn 10 in 1869 to 82 hi 1866. In the Southern States the denomination had no foothold prior to the war of 1861- 6 ; but beginnings have since been made in Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee; and Congrega- tionalists have planted the first church, other than Mormon, in Utah.
2. In ike British Islands.— The removal of Robin- son and others to Leyden, and the large emigration of Puritans to America, left many others in England whose views coincided with theirs. The Southwark church, organized in 1616, continued. In the latter part of Mr. Lathrop*s pastorate, the Baptists, hitherto mingled with the Psdo-Baptists, by the cheerftil con- sent of those remaining, withdrew and organized the first Baptist church in England. Mr. Jade succeed- ed Mr. Lathrop, and, with his congregation, suffered much perseculion. Another church appears to have been organized in Southwark in 1621, which soon em- igrated to Ireland to avoid the severities under which they suffered ; but it returned to England, and chose Rev. John Canrie as pastor, who, with others, was soon driven to Holland. In 1640, sixty-six of that congre- gation were imprisoned at once, who, on trial, boldly declared that they could acknowledge no other head of the Church than Jesus Christ From these roots grew the denomination which came to exercise potent influence in England. Its adherents increased, and might soon have had comparative quiet but for the opposition of the Presbyterians. In the Westminster Assembly were a few Congregationalists, who steadily upheld their views, such as Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, Jeremiah Burroughs, William Bridge, and Sid- rach Simpson ; but they were overpowered by a vast majority of Presbyterians. The five named issued, during the session, "An Apologetical Narration,** in which they asked for toleration, and set forth their dis- tinctive views of polity. " We do here publicly pro- fess," said they, ** we believe the truth to lie and con- ^st in a middle wjy betwixt that which is fidsely